A couple of recent things have made me think more, and reflect, on my course. One of the things I have seen was some works-in-progress from some very excellent artisans. These are not people I know well (in some cases, do not really know them at all), but as I watch these projects build out I am really impressed with the level of work that not only is going into the current items, but the amount of work that had to go into getting their skill to this high level. I am not comparing myself in any way to them in terms of those things, but rather, I look at their work and it is easy to categorize what they are doing. Likewise, I have heard some conversations with others as they discuss what paths they should take in their arts, whether they are looking for direction or trying to find a smaller focus in a broad field. Both of those things make me look at myself, and my work, and try to see how it fits into world of SCA A&S.
To me, arts and sciences in the SCA are about more than just producing work. There is another step that goes beyond making the pretty thing and that is sharing it. It might be a period feast served at an event that gives others a taste of medieval life. It might be an exquisitely crafted costume that inspires someone else. That can lead to a conversation with an artisan, a class, or even just inspiration for others to make something similar. Even in the mundane world art is a thing that is shared, but the environment in the SCA that fosters education allows us to take that a step further.
It is one of the things that drew me to the SCA, and keeps me coming back. I am happy that over the years I have found my own place in that cycle of artistic sharing as well.
Now, to discuss my more personal take on this... I will say that I am happy with my progress of late. I have some very exciting things that I am working on that I am absolutely thrilled to be able to share with others soon. It is, however, a bit difficult to compartmentalize exactly what it is that I do. I research (excessively, lol). But I do not write research papers (though someone that has looked at my tomes of documentation might disagree with that). I do have a focus in terms of time and place -- Viking Era Scandinavia (though I do branch out to the the early Norse in the British Isles as well). I am a costumer to some extent, I research and have taught others to craft garb, but that is not my first love. Fiber arts is definitely key in what I do. I love weaving, and I am decent at spinning (even if the car accident this past winter has made spinning for any length of time difficult). But I am far from an expert at either, there is so much more to learn, do and put into practice in those arts.
What I do think that I am very good at is what I would guess I could call "illustrated research". I work to craft samples and items that can help others get a better feel for fiber, textiles and spinning as it was done in period. I illustrate charts with tactile objects that can help even a neophyte in the fiber arts get a sense of how wool has evolved over time. Reading a text that discusses thread count in cloth means nothing, until you can feel what a period weight fabric actually could be or see the fine grist of the yarn that people in the past actually could have used. I read about things that make me curious (things like Z/S fabric, where the spin direction is different in each system - something very uncommon to find these days, especially in fiber types and thread counts that are comparable to what was used in period), and I learn to craft the item and then can share that with others. Yeah, this is what I do and what drives me to read more, research more, drive the ILL librarians nuts and spend copious amounts of time weaving a tiny sample that can help me (and hopefully others) better understand how something possibly could have looked, felt or been done in the past.
Illustrated Research, I am not sure that is even a valid thing, but it very much describes my passion as an artisan in the SCA.
To me, arts and sciences in the SCA are about more than just producing work. There is another step that goes beyond making the pretty thing and that is sharing it. It might be a period feast served at an event that gives others a taste of medieval life. It might be an exquisitely crafted costume that inspires someone else. That can lead to a conversation with an artisan, a class, or even just inspiration for others to make something similar. Even in the mundane world art is a thing that is shared, but the environment in the SCA that fosters education allows us to take that a step further.
It is one of the things that drew me to the SCA, and keeps me coming back. I am happy that over the years I have found my own place in that cycle of artistic sharing as well.
Now, to discuss my more personal take on this... I will say that I am happy with my progress of late. I have some very exciting things that I am working on that I am absolutely thrilled to be able to share with others soon. It is, however, a bit difficult to compartmentalize exactly what it is that I do. I research (excessively, lol). But I do not write research papers (though someone that has looked at my tomes of documentation might disagree with that). I do have a focus in terms of time and place -- Viking Era Scandinavia (though I do branch out to the the early Norse in the British Isles as well). I am a costumer to some extent, I research and have taught others to craft garb, but that is not my first love. Fiber arts is definitely key in what I do. I love weaving, and I am decent at spinning (even if the car accident this past winter has made spinning for any length of time difficult). But I am far from an expert at either, there is so much more to learn, do and put into practice in those arts.
What I do think that I am very good at is what I would guess I could call "illustrated research". I work to craft samples and items that can help others get a better feel for fiber, textiles and spinning as it was done in period. I illustrate charts with tactile objects that can help even a neophyte in the fiber arts get a sense of how wool has evolved over time. Reading a text that discusses thread count in cloth means nothing, until you can feel what a period weight fabric actually could be or see the fine grist of the yarn that people in the past actually could have used. I read about things that make me curious (things like Z/S fabric, where the spin direction is different in each system - something very uncommon to find these days, especially in fiber types and thread counts that are comparable to what was used in period), and I learn to craft the item and then can share that with others. Yeah, this is what I do and what drives me to read more, research more, drive the ILL librarians nuts and spend copious amounts of time weaving a tiny sample that can help me (and hopefully others) better understand how something possibly could have looked, felt or been done in the past.
Illustrated Research, I am not sure that is even a valid thing, but it very much describes my passion as an artisan in the SCA.
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