Fascinated with the richness of the living crafts tradition which he discovered on his first trip to Delhi, Michael would seek out craftsmen in the old city by listening for the sound of metal being beaten and by searching for the aroma of baked molasses, a signal of the sand casting process.

The artisans he encountered were making ordinary objects such as buckets, shovels, and scissors, but for Michael, their traditional techniques were extraordinary. Michael spent hours observing artisans as they made things the same way families had made them for centuries. Touched by the talent and humility of these gifted artisans, Michael set up a studio in India where he has created his work for over 30 years.

Today, over 200 artisans work alongside him in his workshop where the same creative interaction between artist and artisan remains the source of every object that Michael makes.