I ran into the term “generativity” recently. It was coined by psychoanalyst Erik Erikson in 1950 to denote a concern for establishing and guiding the next generation through caring, teaching and engaging in creative work that contributes to society.

I saw numerous examples of generativity at the MFA conference in Long Beach in January, and I am not alone. Many of the nearly 100 first-time attendees told me how struck they were by the willingness of experienced fabricators to share their creativity and expertise with less skilled members of the community.

This generativity is certainly evident among the 2019 MFA Fabrication Award winners featured in this issue. The skills and dedication to doing work that moves past high quality to creative excellence is what distinguishes these projects. They certainly establish aspirational guideposts for fabricators at every stage in their careers.

Helping fellow fabricators achieve success is a natural byproduct of generativity, and you’ll find many examples in this issue including the features, “What’s Underneath—Marine Flooring Options Continue to Expand and Improve” and “Canvas Repairs—Turning a Pain into Profit”. The advice from Vince Innocenzi, Chicago Marine Canvas, about combining digital and draping upholstery methods, and the seam finishing techniques from Terri Madden, Sand Sea & Air Interiors, provide detailed, actionable tips to help you improve efficiency and advance your skills.

Looking ahead to the May/June issue, our popular Premier Product Showcase will return with fabrics, films, software, equipment, hardware and more designed to increase your success. Readers always tell me how much they like learning about new products.

Two years into this job, I continue to be impressed by the generosity of the marine fabricator community. I look forward to experiencing more of everyone’s “generativity” in the months to come.