Sticking To One's Guns

Used to love to go to Renfests. The one in Kansas is great. The one in the city I'm in now sucks.

I often think about changing direction. I'm finally healthy enough to return to a day job. I'm making a bit with art, but just a bit. And then there's AI. Do talent and hard work and skill even matter anymore?

Being a huge proponent of s.t.e.A.m., STEM education infused with a large amount of Artistic skill development, I feel it is imperative that the youth learn to adapt with the power both off and on.

As a (s.t.e.A.m) professional instructor of some very brilliant youths transitioning to adulthood, it is also extremely important to instill ethical principles as well as understanding of physical laws governing our existence to progress positively as a member of the human species.

Part of that responsibility is honesty in all things. This includes understanding ones limitations and acknowledgement of others contributions. Without such governance, bearing false claims leads to nothing more than robbery of our fellow human companions and their creative contributions.

"Sticking To One's Guns" means to me that, no matter what the world threatens one with, if one caves into its pressure when that pressure goes against ones conviction then that is the definition of being a loser!

From an artistic perspective, stifling expression and the relative zeitgeist of the times to maintain ones status quo is selling out or tossing out the idea of " Sticking to ones guns". It is the opposite of the promotion of artistic expression.

Have a great day, FAA!

Bumping this because Roger's post is awesome.

Creating things to sell at Renaissance Festivals sounds like a dream to me.

Bump again.

Times have changed. Cost of putting a roof over one's head has increased significantly since those golden years. I'm surprise outside employment didn't come looking for that group in the form of the draft.

Roger, What a great time you must have had "back in the day".

Edward, good to see you! I was wondering where you had been.

Edward,

As someone that spent 2 years of military service, I feel that your snide comment was way out of place



Edit:

Here I am,(upper right) as a Specialist 4



Fort Monmouth NJ

Sometimes a partial story is a mystery....have they all spent thier lives living 365 days a year at a never ending Renaissance fair artists commune? That question requires no answer mystery is ok. I've never been to a Renaissance fair. Back when I was human once they always looked like they would be fun if you had the cost of admission days off and free time... which american style poverty wage jobs don't give to millions of american workers.... nice to know some people succeed and thrive pursuing self expression and self actualization. ...gotta go to work now....

Not sure what Edward meant.... whether criticism jealousy or simple observation I might observe myself that sometimes when "sticking to your guns" means you don't want to travel the world and shoot people with those guns there is a price to be paid .......to quote the late Sam Cooke "it's been a long ,long time coming but I know...change is gonna come "(emphasis ..not trying to be critical of anyone or argue politics. I say that because I've noticed since joining the interweb age a few months ago people can get mad and want to argue etc.Not what I mean!)

I used the "Renaissance Faire" venue as one example of "stick-to-itiveness"

I wish I could do what Roger and his friends did. I'd even consider living in my car for a bit if my car was in better shape, in order to travel to Renfests and sell art. The Renfest in Kansas has real buildings that artisans actually live in while the festival is going on. Sounds awesome to me.

Roger, to be fair I'm am not sure that Edward's comment was intended as a snide remark or maybe just as an observation about reality in the united states of america. I'm learning it's even easier online to misunderstand other people or for them to misunderstand you or me than in real life. The united states ain't shangri-la and shangri-la probably ain't the shangri-la of mythology. Some times trouble and mean people come looking for you when all you wanta do is be creative and have a place to live and enough food to eat. Best wishes everyone.

Gary,

RE:.... "employment didn't come looking for that group in the form of the draft."


To me, that is ,in essence, calling those in that photo as, "Draft Dodgers"

To paraphrase Bukowski, "Find what you love and let it kill you."

As a follow up

Here is a photo of myself and other experienced Rennies, comfortably enjoying weekday breaks at my booth, a few years ago.



(Note: This fine lady is also in that original photo)

Well Roger, if you are around 83 now and you were 40 then, then that picture was taken 43 years ago. In 1981, there was no military draft in the US of A after 1973. It simply looks like it is mathematically impossible for anyone in that picture to be a draft dodger.

We had an awesome one in Norman OK for many years but I haven't been to one of them lately so I don't know if it is still the same. The "players" lived the life and traveled the country all year.


Adding: We lived off the grid for 12 years by choice. Many times people who live an alternative lifestyle are misunderstood. Lots of people who knew us thought we did it because we had to, maybe they thought we were dirt poor or something? That is not why though, we just prefer to live as simply and self sufficiently as possible. Rennies are like that... they feel like they live in the wrong timeframe, or they want to keep the old ways alive or both.

Renaissance Fair 1981
https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/24/arts/3-day-renaissance-fair-on-park-ave.html?smid=url-share

That is not a bad thing to me. I can't quote Mohammad Ali the boxer in full but I think when he refused to be drafted he said something like "ain't no viet cong ever called me nxxxxx" and he eventually won his Supreme Court case after being removed and blacklisted from his chosen profession. I think if anyone in your photo had chosen prison or Canada over being drafted for Vietnam War that would not be a negative thing as far as I am concerned. Difficult choices can be thrust upon a nonviolent creative person. I've been thinking a lot lately about how the country has turned MLK JR into some kind of almost meaningless paper saint whose dreams have already come true because black kids can now go to kindergarten with white kids in our now economically segregated schools rather than officially race segregated schools. Millions of government employees including those who still hate him and everything he stood for get a paid holiday off to do whatever they want while Millions of private sector minimum wage workers and often less than minimum wage "independent contractors" will work extra days to pay for government employees paid days off. (Far more fair would be to give everyone over 18 a check for $100 but that would mean treating the working poor equal to $1000 a day government employees.) I have been thinking a lot about the way in which his radical economic views and commitment to nonviolence have been removed from his holiday. I recently decided to at the local city hall soon read from a 1967 speech he made that would still get him in trouble for giving today if he was alive to give it. I don't blame conscripts for wars. I don't criticize you for having been in the military...I also wouldn't criticize your friends if they chose not to...have gone to war.......I don't want to argue politics or war or peace in these discussions but back when I read lots of books on Vietnam way back when I thought it was too bad the world didn't recognize Vietnamese Independence after WW1 in 1919 when they asked for it or in 1945 after WW2 when they asked for it again. I apologize if I am saying anything controversial. As Rodney King(?) Once said "can't we all just get along? "

Roger, you know I cannot not comment on seeing what looks like turkey vultures in your recently added Renaissance Fair art fair photo. You know how they inexplicably cheer me up Thank you!. .....Shelli thanks for sharing your living off the grid for 12 years story. Not sure if you had solar panels and batteries etc or no electricity at all but either way good for you and your family..... I've long said Americans are spoiled...they turn on the light switch and expect to always have lights....they turn on the water they expect water....they turn on the hot water they expect hot water.......(I said "american" but of course that's excluding maybe the bottom 25% ish that would not be so surprised not to have service). I think the world would be better if every adult in the world had has or is having a year or two at least living completely or mostly "off the grid".... makes you feel more connected. While I didn't go 12 years I have lived off the grid so to for long enough to appreciate water and electricity. And solar lights at a minimum are easy

Drew,

Now, being 88, I was honorarily discharged after my 2 year stint, at the time the Marines in full gear, landed on the beaches of Beirut, in 1958, welcomed by damsels in bikinis..

We were all in fear that our stint would be extended'


Edit:

As that 3 day show, in April 1981 was happening, I was finishing up my Winter 3 month stint doing Renaissance and other fairs in Sunny Florida

Gary, we had no electricity at all and hauled all of our water in too. Now we have electric and a well out there. We still live in town right now because I have an elderly mother who needs us to be close by but the plan is to eventually get back out there to our 10 acres. as it is now hubby uses it for a shooting range and hunting.

Roger, have you ever been to the Renaissance Fair in Wyandotte, Kansas?

Shelli, I must confess to some jealousy but with my first million dollars I plan on buying 10 or 20 or 30 acres. One iowa winter 11 or so years ago in a house with out heat or electricity I purchased a solar battery and a harbor freight solar panel kit that came with wires and everything needed to use with 2 very low energy dim light bulbs. The electricity was not enough for any heat but it was enough to charge phone required for work and most nights at least a couple hours of lights and radio. While I currently have electricity I lost those solar panels when my city government destroyed them saying things like "we have different rules for higher class citizens In higher class neighborhoods than we do for lowlifes in lowlife neighborhoods". They were legally stored in cold frame (or unheated greenhouse) which they also tore down while racistly taunting me that I couldn't stop them even though I had called planning and zoning to get the rules 1st. Garages required a permit. Sheds and cold frames under a certain size do not. Currently trying to finalize complaints with us department of housing and urban development in Kansas city civil rights investigators which is who investigates housing discrimination by city governments in Iowa. I had to buy some replacement hardware but that Was intended to provide lights and radio outside in my cold frame and yard. That cold frame was a beautiful private work of art if I say so myself.... 7 feet deep 7 feet tall and I think fourteen feet wide.. perfectly legal according to the friendly city man who answered my questions before I ever began to purchase materials and build it. A beautiful work of functional art for any gardener wanting to extend the growing season both earlier and later. I am positive there will be civil lawsuits and I am pressing for us department of justice crime conducted under color of authority division headed by us ast at general Kristen Clark to do criminal investigations and criminal charges.. ..sometimes trouble comes to you when all you want to do is be creative and try to live a decent life.... I would not be on this site as public artist if not to document and defend myself.. my destroyed and surviving paintings are all 2 year old anyone could do that simple and I had dropped photography and or writing as a source of income until this all occurred. I've went on too long but I am sure you appreciate water and electricity when it comes on!

J L,

Sorry no,....I've just done Ren Faires along the East Coast...From the Keys to New York....Since I had to scavenge and create along the way

Yes, I do appreciate the things I used to take for granted. Just the other day I was doing dishes and thanking God for hot water. :)

I found the program for the 2023 Medieval Fair in Norman if any of you are interested in reading it.


https://medievalfair.org/Portals/1418/Assets/Documents/master_program_rvsd.pdf?ver=GG0rHu0UfSYczM3heAkFgg%3d%3d

Follow up

I just returned from a 4 day trip to Florida to celebrate the 71st birthday of the fine lady in the middle of both photos...( I replaced Joe in the current photo)



They are all doing quite well, and are still involved with Renaissance Festivals

Glad to see this, Roger!

I haven't been to a Renfest since I left Kansas (BIG mistake that I'll always regret). Bit by bit, everything I loved has been lost.

Glad to see them all! thanks for the update Roger! Good people!

Just got this photo, taken at the Floridian home of the Birthday Girl





Edit: Here I am feeding that 40year old guy on the left, at a Ren Faire campground, as his Mom, the birthday girl, continues cooking



( The lady next to him, in the top photo is his aunt, his mom ,the birthday girl, is in the background at the right)

Cool!

These old photographs are fascinating, it's nice that you shared them with us.

Gothicrow,

I see we have something in common

OBSESSION

Me with Vultures....You with Crows



Wonderfully Arresting Imagery

Roger good see you were in Florida. Are you still down there?

Gothicrow the animations on this link are me crowing on the audio lo-fi.

https://smashingsundrop.com/

David,

I'm back, now recovering from the four day long PARTYING


I did squeeze in some time for scavenging,

I performed in Renaissance and Medieval Festivals for many years, including ten seasons with the New York Renaissance Faire, and I still play in the Medieval Festival at Ft. Tryon Park in NYC. It is a full time job for some. There is always a Renaissance Faire happening somewhere, and some performers and artisans travel from one to another all year. Roger, I don't think I recognize anyone in your photos, but thank you for sharing!

Jodi,

I hope these photos might bring back memories of my original stint at the New York Renaissance Faire, Tuxedo, NY,



From the first year and many years after...My booth was the first, people would encounter

I left when REC bought the faire from Don Gaiti and Barbara Hope.

Recently I did come back, and have a small stand there.


Jodi, are you the "Glass Blower' I was very familiar with?

This reminds me a little of the Bob Weir documentary I just saw.

Roger,
I know exactly where your booth was! There would often be weddings across that lake. Opposite your booth, is a hill, and a rock I would sit on, during the opening every day, and watch the patrons come in! I so miss it!

The glass blower you're thinking of is Jodi Bove. Her work is beautiful! I'm a musician and my duo was The Broad Street Troubadours. Don and Barbara already owned the Faire when I started there. 2008 was my last year there, so I don't think our paths crossed. How fun that would have been!