Pennsic A & S

[alysten]

I entered the Pennsic A & S display. Where I learned most things that get entered into A & S, will never, ever be worn or used.  There were a great many objects that were stunningly beautiful, which received many tokens of appreciation, that will never see the light of day outside of A & S competitions.

"How do you keep that clean?
Clean?  It never comes out of the box".  Sadness.

I found myself leaving tokens for the "interesting" things that were mostly overlooked. Boards of finger braids, leather shoes, felted hats and charge cases. One lady had some plain brown thrown pots.  They ended up being hand held incendiary vessels- clay bombs, with accompanying research. Wheeee!

It was a real eye opener. The quality of work was phenomenal and yet I was uninspired by a majority of the pieces. It breaks my heart to see such glorious work and articles of clothing that are relegated to a box. I felt less skilled, less of an artisan. I was pretty down on myself. And then I went through my Pennsic pictures.

I was reminded why I play. I cannot compare my skills and projects to those around me. I can only compare them to myself.  Have I grown as a costumer, cook, researcher?  Did I have fun?  Did it bring me joy? I want people to wear what I sew, skip around a list, get dirty, throw it into a bag/washer it so they can do it all over again the following week. 

It was a hard lesson to learn. I think I got it.

Comments

[femkederoas.livejournal.com]

This is why I have so much of a disconnect with the A&S Faire crowd. If something has no useful purpose to my play - I will not make it. If it can't be worn, grubbed in, painted with, written on, etc., etc.... what good is it? I will give up total authenticity to improve functionality. I sometimes think I am alone in this regard.

I'd much rather see stuff that can be used, myself.

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

No, you are not. There's one item of clothing I made that I have not worn, and that is primarily because I made a cutting error that made the underpants too low-rise.

(Yes, I made Roman leather underpants)

And I've said, in judging comments and display comments and other places, that I'd rather she someone finish an item and use it than see a bunch of embroidery samplers that show great technique, but do nothing with it.

[alysten.livejournal.com]

Roman under pants... That's pretty cool, actually. Do you have pictures?

[femkederoas.livejournal.com]

This. Oh my, yes.

Before I'd had enough and wandered off, I campaigned hard to keep the concept of doing samplers out of the MK textile guild's accomplishment levels. They serve no purpose, beyond practicing stitches. I'd rather see a finished project, instead. Even if it's a small one.

Some of it is because often, finishing a useful item requires more than one skill set.

Some of it is that I consider my diddlings somewhat in the nature of experimental archaeology. If it isn't something a normal person can use... possibly the concept of what is "authentic" about its making is not correct. I have a number of heretical theories right now regarding the German housebook style gown and brustlecks as a costume item. :-D