Greetings to the Populace of the Principality of the Mists
From the Mists Ministers of Arts & Sciences

We are hoping to expand Arts and Sciences activities in the next two years, and to do a few familiar things a little differently. We are also very excited that Prince Roric and Princess Syele are supporting the Silver Muse.

Arts and Sciences Competitions

We are trying to make the categories broad enough that all medieval cultures can be included. We are also trying to make the documentation a bit less daunting for those who may be competing for the first time.

With each entry include a photocopy of the piece of art in which your entry is depicted. This is required. Please present additional notes on dates, materials, techniques, etc. This can be as simple or as complex as you like.

James and Urtatim could not find a clear definition of the differences between the arts and sciences in the SCA, and we agree that the division is a bit artificial, so there are no separate arts and sciences categories this year. However, there are still 8 competitions.

The primary theme for 2009 is: Items found in the background of a painting – this includes illuminations, frescos, encaustic, oil paintings, etc.

For Cooking and Dance Competitions, see Silver Spoon and Saltatoris Nebularum

Mists Spring Coronet
* Painting on any surface found in the background of a painting, including on walls, on pillars, on sculpture, on furniture, on wood, on vellum, on paper, etc.
* A musical or vocal performance from any SCA time period or culture.

Mists Spring Investiture
* Any item in the background a painting used for dining, including utensils, dishes, drinking vessels, serving ware, nefs, aquamaniles, linens.
* Any furniture in the background a painting, including stools, chairs, tables, chests, sideboards, beds, etc.

Mists Fall Coronet - Field and Farm
* An item in the background a painting used in the course of hunting or other sport or in domestic animal husbandry or farming. Field includes bows, quivers, nets, snares, traps, hawking accoutrements, game bags, etc.; Farm includes seed bags, harnesses, harvesting tools, scythes, buckets, shovels, wheelbarrows, plows, etc.
* A paper on such items, or on any aspect of hunting, sporting, farming, or animal husbandry.

Mists Fall Investiture - By Lamp Light
* Any method of lighting seen in the background of a painting, including candles, candleholders, lanterns, oil lamps, torches, etc.
* A paper on such items, or on lighting technology, fuel, uses, variations with the seasons, etc.

 

Open Displays

There will be an open A&S display at every event. Bring your projects - finished or unfinished - and show off what you're doing. Documentation is not required, but if you have some notes on your work, we're sure some visitors will be interested to see them.

Tune Up Your Documentation

We've heard your pleas, so we plan to have a documentation consultation table at each event. We won't write your documentation for you, but we are more than happy to help you figure out how to approach documentation, how organize it, how to improve it, etc. We are also looking for A&S mavens who write good documentation to volunteer to help out at the table.

But Wait, There’s More!

We have additional ideas that we will develop as the year progresses, such as classes at events and on-site tours to view period campsites and camp furnishings. As these plans are finalized we will announce them.

And if you have any suggestions for us, please let us know.

Respectfully,

Master James Macllister, Minister of Arts
al-Sayyida Urtatim al-Qurtubiyya, Minister of Sciences