[Artemisia] scroll discussion

[Richard Samul]

I told myself that I'd stay out of this discussion, as I don't do  
calligraphy or scroll-making. After 15 years in the game, I don't even  
have a single award to hang a scroll for on my wall, so I can't even  
speak to the "fading and bleaching" issue that was raised.

But I did want to say this: When I first joined the Society, it was  
with the understanding that each member participated and was welcomed  
at the level that they felt comfortable with and could afford. Not  
everyone can afford a period encampment with a canvas tent that they  
use maybe 4 times a year if they're lucky. So, we allow people to use  
nylon tents, and we look past it to see to the "game". Not everyone  
can afford shiny steel armor, so we allow people to cut up pickle  
buckets and freon cans to make armor. And we look past it to see the  
"chivalry". Not everyone can afford high-end garb, not everyone can do  
embroidery, and so on and so on. The unwritten understanding was that  
we looked past the perceived shortcoming, to see the desire and intent  
behind it.

Scrolls (and the awards that they document) are, quite literally,  
gifts from Royalty. Seen in this light, it is natural that TRM would  
want to give the best gift possible. But, I fear that this push  
towards giving the best gift possible is happening at the expense of  
encouraging those artists who have plenty of skill and talent, but who  
can't afford to purchase the materials.

Think on this: Whenever an award is given in court, not only is the  
award recipient honored, but the creator(s) of the scroll are also  
honored by having their names read aloud. Something as simple as  
hearing your name mentioned in court, and the appreciation of the  
populace for your investment of time, skill and materials, cannot be  
measured.

-- 
Earc
Arn Hold


On Nov 18, 2009, at 8:33 AM, Danielle Perkin wrote:

>
>
> I have many beautiful scrolls on my wall.  Some are for me and some  
> for Aaron.  Some would meet TRM standards and some deffinatly would  
> not.  How unfortunat that my very favorite scroll would never have  
> been handed out under the current directions.  It is colored in  
> crayon.  The calligraphy is done in felt tip pen.  And if my house  
> was on fire and I could only grab one scroll off the wall, that  
> would be the one.  I don't even know who the artist(s) is.  But they  
> did a beautiful job and their work is much charished.
>
> I would imagine that if I saw the acctual scrolls in question, I may  
> feel differently on the subject.  Where I on the throne, I may not  
> want to hand them out eather.  But I would sure hate to be the  
> person to hand that scroll back to the artist and tell them it  
> wasn't good enough.  I would much rather be the recipiant of the  
> scroll.  You never know, that artist may move on to be a Laurel  
> someday and I would hold the proof that they started out as human as  
> the rest of us. ;)  Wouldn't it be fun to have some less than worthy  
> attempt by your favorite artist?
>
> Challe Carter
>
>
>
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