Sorry I did not post last week but, for the first time in a long time, Grimm was able to make it to an event! last week was dedicated to preparing my A&S entry and writing the documentation instead of writing the blog. I made it to Highland Havoc with my Wife and he horse. It was a very good event and I am sorry that there were so many other events up against it. I would have loved to see it better attended. I ended up helping with the equestrian for most of the day and had a good time helping out. I also brought a piece of work to enter in the A&S competition, a hand forged curry comb. And now that the event is over, the backstory:
After my wife and I decided that Highland havoc was the next event we would be attending, i quickly turned to the blue sheet to see if there would be an A&S contest. And joy of joys, there was one! and it was one of my favorite types. A direction to work in but no structure to the parameters:
Arts and Sciences Organizer: Baroness Sinn Larensdotter
There are two categories for Arts & Sciences competition entries : Useful Items and Representations
Useful Items
The Useful Items category encompasses any item that would be used by an equestrian, archer, or thrown weapons enthusiast. Examples include quivers, bridles, and targets. Don’t let these examples limit you, though— feel free to think of something useful to one of the martial activities at the event, and let your creativity take hold! Documentation preferred and encouraged.
Representations
The Representations category includes images and other depictions of the martial activities. This could mean illumination, embroidery, pottery— whatever you imagine— showing riders, archers, and thrown weapons. Documentation preferred and encouraged.
To me, and I only speak for myself here, this is the best form of A&S to have at an event. Does not restrict time period, or medium, or method, yet gives you a unifying theme. A contest where I could use it as an excuse to make something from history. And so I did. The object that I choose was a curry comb used in the middle ages. This was something I felt I could get done with the time restraints and still make a good reproduction.
The documentation can be found here: Combe of Curraynge.
The rest of the time sense my last post has been spent getting Grimmsfield ready for A&S nights to begin again. There have been 2 so far and things are going well. we have arrow making, shield painting, Medallion making, spinning and sewing going on this year.
