Worcester Business Journal

18 Worcester Business Journal • May 25, 2015 www.wbjournal.com It pays to be our business Customer. With a new way to go from fee to free. Avoid a monthly maintenance fee with TD Business Convenience Checking Plus. Use your business checking and personal checking account balance to maintain the low minimum daily balance of $1,500. Stop by one of our convenient locations, visit us online at tdbank.com/smallbusiness or contact James Ciociolo, Relationship Manager, at 1-508-368-6510 or Eric Torkornoo, Relationship Manager, at 1-508-368-6943. TD Bank, N.A. | Combine business checking and one personal checking account balance to meet the minimum daily balance requirement. | Please refer to Business Deposit Account Agreement for complete details. Other terms and conditions may apply. >> Continued from Page 12 A touch of modern Even as these artisans stay true to the classic techniques and care that goes into items, modern techniques find their way into their practices. Whether it's welding for Swalec, online marketing of what they make, or modern insulation techniques in the traditional homes cre- ated by Anderson, modern advances cannot be ignored. The same goes for the thoroughly modern technology found in a local brewery. Dave Howland, who has been brewing beer for six years, recently opened 3Cross Brewery in Worcester after becoming enamored with the pro- cess and social interaction that sur- rounds beer making. While brewing is one of the oldest traditions, he takes a modern approach, making use of as much technology as possible to main- tain the ideal conditions for his locally made beer. "There is such an emphasis placed on local products as well, and that only seems to be growing," Howland said. Learning the trade It takes time to build the skills neces- sary to create the high-end and unique pieces that will allow you to be a success- ful craftsperson, said Zaliah Zalkind, who has been working as a stone carver for two years. He took on the profession, following in his parents' footsteps, after working in community development positions and operating independent businesses. Being an independent artisan means putting in the time every day and hustling to make connections, he said. "The truth of the matter is: Being suc- cessful as an artist has nothing to do with the quality of your art. Just like every- thing else, it is a matter of who you talk to, where you go, how hard you work," Zalkind said. "Coming at it from a busi- ness perspective has been key to me." While working and honing your skills through practice is valuable, the tradi- tions of apprenticeship live on in the trades, Anderson said. But these can be hard to secure. Many people also seek to accelerate this process through intensive workshops and formalized training. Anderson is taking a furniture-making course at Boston's North Bennet Street School, even though he has been work- ing and learning furniture making on his own for years. "Within three months it can just line up all those tidbits of knowledge and connect everything into the big picture," he said. "After that, it's just practice, practice, practice." Programs such as Artists in Residence at the Worcester Center for Crafts also add to artisans' ability to hone their craft with additional access to studio time and a larger artistic community, said Dana Pomerantze, who is in the program. Many of these traditional trades also have strong communities supporting them, Swalec said. Blacksmithing has a number of industry groups, such as the New England Blacksmiths, which sup- ports continued knowledge in the trade by holding workshops and seminars. Local support Many of these artisans credit Worcester's communal attitude toward artistry as one of the factors allowing these trades to continue in the city. Both Swalec and Anderson make use of shops that have multiple professionals, increas- ing the use of expensive equipment that one professional alone could not justify. Zalkind drives from Watertown to his shop in Worcester. While he has tried making use of similar spaces in and around Boston, the cost proved prohibitive and the area lacked the kind of community support he has found in Worcester. "Worcester has been a very friendly city in which to do this," he said. "I've looked and looked and I can't find this in Boston. There isn't the community out there either." n Old skills in a new era Whatever one's craft, says stone carver Zaliah Zalkind, what matters most are who you meet and how hard you work. P H O T O / S A M B O N A C C I >> ENTREPRENEURSHIP/INNOVATION/SMALL BUSINESS

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