Way to promote the arts?

[gurdymonkey]

"There has been some grumbling as of late that those artisans not interested in competition have little outlet for showing off their work. There has also been some remarks made that people wish that there was a database of Laurels and what they can do and how to contact them. Well, I have been working with Lady Veronica da Lugano and others to create a new West Kingdom Artisans Social Network."

Thought number one: What grumbling? Seriously,  I almost didn't bother to read the rest of the announcement after such a negative opening.

Thought number two: I already HAVE a time-suck website so I can show off  share my work on Teh Internetz and network with people who are actually, you know, interested in the tiny, obscure niche I occupy.

Thought three: How about a cross post to the principality lists so that the people who Avoid SCA-Waste Like The Pox It Is might possibly have a chance to hear about it? And the guilds?  (Fine, I'll start with mistsprincipality, ClothiersGuild and Authentic_SCA, 'kay?)

Thought four: I don't need to join this thing.

Except. Except that somewhere someday someone in this kingdom might actually get up the nerve to want to do The Japanese Thing and Naysayers Be Damned.

I'm "It", so to speak.

EDIT: FIne, I'm signed up. I put my URL in my profile so I don't have to upload The Story Of Saionji In Photographs.(It's slightly terrifying, the thought of just how much schtuff I can document photographically.)    I've cross posted the announcement and told Madame Grumbles where so effort is not duplicated. On to laundry!!!!!!!!!!

Comments

[dorinda2212.livejournal.com]

I was agreeing with you up until the last little bit and... and... I still agree with you, since you're "It", you really should have a presence on the thing. _You_ don't need to be on it, but someday, someone might need you to be on it.

[danabren.livejournal.com]

There is a database like that in the East, I dunno how useful it has actually been, but there you have it.

http://eastkingdom.info/laurel/mugshot_gallery/ For the Laurel mugshot gallery and database and I'd link to the EK artisans showcase but it seems to be down right now, hmmm....

[katerit.livejournal.com]

It is an attempt to address a problem, and I'm sure ideas like cross-posting are strong and should be well-accepted. Perhaps "grumbling" is the wrong word - I would have been *tempted* to use whining, bitching, mewling, and other ones, but probably would have been more diplomatic. I'm a language person, however.

It won't solve the problem, but it may create an on-line community that could do lovely things and be an outlet for others who don't have so many internet time-sucks. We'll see.

My physical art attempts aren't pretty, so I will not show them, but it might work for others.

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

"Discussion" is a good word. "Suggestions" is nice. If you want to sell an idea, being positive and enthusiastic is a good start.

[kareina.livejournal.com]

Indeed! The prompt for creating it may have been "grumbling", but that part doesn't need to be mentioned in the announcement. Just tell the world what you've come up with and how it will be a Good Thing (TM). Not everyone has heard the grumbles, and they don't need to be told about them. Those who have will likely notice that this is a tool which might help solve the problem.

[katerit.livejournal.com]

Yes, certainly. I know that. I don't let my internal voice out often - after all, I work daily with habitual mewlers and have to sell them on things like essay writing.The wording could have been much better. The sentiment is understood, however.

What do you mean, this isn't the Society for Creative Anarchy?

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

It does not appear to have occurred to anyone yet that a "social" network might do well to have a "general" topic forum. It's already split off into interest group niches (all of which appear to be echoingly empty from the cursory look I took earlier), which is fine, but I'm all about equal opportunity brain pickage, you know?

Hey, I'm here, too! *waves arms*

[tatsushu.livejournal.com]

Okay, so I don't get to much stuff on the mainland, but I've joined, so at least there is a web presence of us in the kingdom. I need to do more stuff and get it organized, as you have, though.

-Ii

Re: Hey, I'm here, too! *waves arms*

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

My MAN!!!!!!!!! And Katherine from Far West did some kick-ass Japanese stuff at Pennsic (I wish she would come clean and post her photos on Tousando already). I am midori with envy at her traveling outfit and you should see her "Throne of Blood" inspired hitatare kamishimo. Well, maybe you will - I'm waiting for an answer for permission to snag stuff for Samurai Eye.