Revoking Tribe Membership....Maybe

[dragonazure]

I know a lot of people have rather cluttered garages. We aren't in nearly the same class as some packrats, but we are definitely part of that tribe--but no where near as much as we once were. If we can't manage to actually leave the tribe, we are hoping to become a fringe element of the Cluttered Garage Tribe. On the other hand, we now have a

Comments

[gianetta]

I hate the idea of A&S competitions. Is there anything at all in period to justify them? I think that people who run competitions have good intentions, but are misguided in how to promote A&S.

I think that displays are great, and it's very generous of experienced artisans to give their time commenting on displays, but the notion of competing in that context turns my stomach, and asking judges to assign a numerical score sounds like a phenomenal way to crush eager souls. I haven't looked at the forms recently, but it might help if every judging form had a 'How you can improve' section so that everyone expects to get (constructive) criticism as well as praise.

[dragonazure]

The nearest equivalent would be a panel of guildmasters that would evaluate a journeyman's work to see if he was ready to be "promoted" in the craft. Not a great analogy, though.

This is a perennial discussion that crops up on multiple e-lists. I have mixed feelings about comeptitions. Perhaps the juried aspect of A&S competitions should be reserved for elevating someone to an A&S Order, but that, logistically, would be a nightmare. "People's choice" awards are even worse because it becomes a popularity contest.

The only need it serves is to become a semi-formalized channel for feedback to artisans. On the other hand, not only do many people not understand how to promote A&S (I don't), very few of us appear to be able to dispense or receive criticism/feedback in a constructive way. I think overall, we are collectively better than we were, but we're still not there yet.....

[gianetta]

That's the only equivalent I've ever heard mentioned.

I saw some fabulous help given at the A&S display at Pennsic. A few entries were horrible - someone suggested that they take a look at such and such resource. After reading that source, the artisan will know exactly what's wrong with her project without being humiliated in public.

I found the form online. If I ruled the world, it would have a strengths and criticisms section for each category with no points (what exactly does a 4.6 mean???) I haven't volunteered to revamp it and no one has asked for feedback on it, though, so I probably should pipe down.

[dragonazure]

As I said, it is a weak analogue.

I think the only reason the competitions exist is to provide a venue in which artisans can compete and have a chance to win prizes, "just like the fighters". What usually results is some crass hybrid of juried show and the Oscars. As much as we all seem to hate it and wish it would change, the inertia of having them and doing them is extremely difficult to overcome. Somewhere along the way, we seem to have forgotten that recreating the arts in the SCA is a collaborative rather than a competitive activity.

Every once in a while, someone attempts a competition in order to award a "service prize", but I have no idea how well those work out. Probably dismally since we so rarely see them.

[harleenquinzell]

Congratulations! It's insanely hard to make yourself do something that large-scale when its hot.

Go you. Re the broken tiles, you might see if your local YMCA, church, what have you would like them to use for mosaics. Art classes, art schools, etc.

[dragonazure]

The scale of it was intimidating regardless of the weather, but the imminent arrival of new doors and the need for space to actually install them gave us a LOT of incentive. ;)

We were thinking the tiles would be more useful to people trying to do restoration work.

[cellio]

I seem to have missed something: why the increased hostility from Aelf' lately?

[dragonazure]

Eau du Chat Fu

The Momma visited friends. The friends had a cat. The cat sprayed the Momma's stuff. The Momma taunted AElfgifu with newly scented bag. AElf' didn't like it. Therefore, it is all Ignatius' fault....

This is what passes Cat Logic at Ealdercote.

[dragonazure]

That's what you get for deciding not to play catch-up on your social media after being offlinee for a week. ;^)

[cellio]

I did actually see that; I just didn't expect the effects to last that long, nor did I understand why it's all Ignatius' fault. :-)