As an art historian one of my big interests and passions has always been for the material culture of different eras and areas. Recently I have spent a lot (possibly too much?) of time looking into material culture of the Viking age, the little day to day objects that tell us all about how people lived. Many art history books focus on the great masterworks, but what fascinates me most about other times and places is imagining how they lived and how different, or similar, they were/are to us. This is what makes the every day ephemera of cultures so interesting and important. And it goes hand in hand with the experimental archaeology that helps us figure out how they actually did things. It’s easy to look at a picture or an object and guess about how it was used, but things are often far simpler or far more complex than one expects at first glance. That is why so many of us are taken with reenacting various times and places, it’s not only an escape, but it’s a problem solving, exploration, and way to connect in the most basic fashion with our history.
One of the big things that I’ve brought to the show, Runestone, is my network of makers, historians, and reenactors. We have amazing props made by masters of their crafts. And one of the things that makes Runestone so different from other shows is that in most cases we are making a big effort to use the appropriate items they would have used in period. We are striving to have out actors really feel the weight of rivited chain mail, feel linen and wool on their skin, and learn how to use a spear and a drop spindle. I’ve already heard great reports from some of our actors on how the authentic clothing, weapons, armor, and every day sundries make them feel like they are really able to identify with and feel like their characters.
(Brooch by Toby Thew, glass beads by Valkyrie Lee Rady)
Runestone has been lucky to engage the services of some amazingly talented crafts people. We have pieces of armor and weapons made by master armorers.
(Helm by Vrin Thomas)
We have jewelry and metalwork by several artisans including our costume designer, Ted.
(Copper alloy needle cases and tweezers by Ted Robertson)
(Leather and Bronze Russ style pouch by Tobey Thew)
There are various carved bone accessories made by various artists.
(Bone needle case by Ted Robertson)
(Bone earspoon by Vandy Hall)
There is skilled woodworking, weaving, carving, building, and all sorts of crafts appropriate to the time period.
(Wooden comb by Catherine Cannon)
(Tablet weaving by Ann Taylor)
(Pit-fired cups by Jeanne Wood)
(Glass beads by Valkyrie Lee Rady)
As someone dealing with many props for the show, I’m in the lucky position of being able to hopefully share something I love – the how and why of life in the Viking age, with many people. Life was incredibly rich, varied, colorful, and interesting. It’s my goal to share some of that depth and breadth of culture with our cast and crew, and through them with the public.
Edited to add:
And on that note, Runestone was featured on tonight’s news! As are some of my glass lamps along with props we’ve gathered and commissioned from other local artists! You can view the spot here.