Video by Zachary Grey Phelps

In an increasingly digital, ephemeral world, what does it mean to go back to the basics? To explore this question, School of the Art Institute of Chicago magazine visited three classes: Drawing on Clay, Hand Knitting, and Building Diagnostics. For these students and professors, “the basics” mean engaging with the physical world—whether that’s a clay tablet, a knitted scarf, or a historic building. In this video, we talked with SAIC community members about the appeal of real-world connections, artistic heritage, and hands-on, tactile work.