Artistic Assays

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

(Kluane National Park. Photo by Almarëa.)

Hello everyone! I had a thread in old Plaza that was a pretty eclectic combination of things; true to form, this is also going to be a pretty wide-ranging thread, which will probably include some or all of the following:

1. Lighting designs and other theatre design work
2. Fiction excerpts
3. Acting/stage combat/music stuff (let's be honest, this is going to be mostly Shakespearean monologues at the moment)
4. Crochet and sewing projects
5. Baking projects
6. Nature photography
7. Whatever else comes up

Enjoy!

[Zôrzimril]

Alma! Yay! I'm glad you've made a Cottage thread - that is quite the variety of creative endeavors you've listed in your OP.

This picture is gorgeous. Mountainous landscapes are my favorites (a bias I think I acquired while living in Colorado :smiley10:) and this is amazing. I love the different textures you captured - from the poofy clouds to the dark mountains beneath the snow, to the dark ground and snow alternating in the foreground. It looks like such a vast expanse of unpopulated space, and that really appeals to me right now. Lovely!

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

Thanks Tarawen! I adore the mountains, and national parks, and Kluane in particular is very special. Glad you like the photo!



Almost all of my lighting work happened after I was no longer active on Old Plaza, so I'll start by sharing a few shots from theatre productions I have worked on as a designer.

(Side note: Credits below each photo/watermarks should hopefully make this clear, but I am in almost all cases not the photographer. Lighting designer only!)

My first major show as an LD was a student production of Anything Goes - let's start with some actual production shots:

"It's De-Lovely"


"Anything Goes"


Background dancers in "It's De-Lovely"


Chorus before "Blow, Gabriel, Blow". The musical/acrobatics/dance extravaganza that was a ten-minute sequence of constant cues. The DSM (who did not really read music) was not best pleased.
All previous photos by Benjamin Darwent

And a few snaps of lighting states (and the whole stage) without the actors:

[Burnt Toast]

Ahh! I'm glad you've started a thread. One of my housemates is a lighting designer-- currently about to start grad school in his field. I'm excited to try to absorb via osmosis. I'm sure it'll work. I love the lighting particularly in the black and white piece.

Also -- I don't think I've ever been in a production with a DSM-- how does that position differ? Also, not being able to read music in something that cue heavy or any kind of musical show... oof. That'd be a lot.

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

@Mor Toast DSM (deputy stage manager) is very much a UK-specific thing. Instead of having the SM call the show (normal in North America), the DSM does it. So DSM = on book in rehearsals, makes blocking notes, and then is the showcaller during tech week. It basically splits the load on the SM between two people. (I much prefer the North American version of the roles - but I am definitely biased. )

And yes, it was definitely a bit tricky. I had gone through in my planning and put various cues on specific beats in my score ... and then we got to the paper tech and the DSM (a student, to be fair, and she was very good, just not a musician) pointed out that she couldn't really read music, so we had to rethink a few things. A few cues ended up being on specific dance moves rather than on specific beats, since she could see (and follow) the dancers.


A totally unrelated project that I just finished: this cowl and fingerless gloves. The gloves were actually the first thing I made, and then I decided to try to make a cowl to match, since I had bought quite a bit too much yarn. It's an alpaca/cotton blend, from a small local yarn shop that is now temporarily closed, but is normally about a five minute walk from me.

[Burnt Toast]

@Mor Toast DSM (deputy stage manager) is very much a UK-specific thing. Instead of having the SM call the show (normal in North America), the DSM does it. So DSM = on book in rehearsals, makes blocking notes, and then is the showcaller during tech week. It basically splits the load on the SM between two people. (I much prefer the North American version of the roles - but I am definitely biased. )

Ah, that makes sense. I was going to say, after all these years of theatre on and off stage, on crews, I was a bit shocked I had no clue what you were talking about.

That is a large undertaking. She probably learned a lot, but what a learning curve, oof!

And I love the cowl and gloves-- I've always been partial to fingerless gloves.

[Bereth]

@Almarëa Mordollwen i really like your photo of the mountain, the crispness, colors and angle. I can’t tell if you took it on the ground or flying over it? I tend to take more pictures of landscapes/objects than people (just went on an outing with friends and had to keep reminding myself to try to add one of them in when I snapped things, lol).

And while I know nothing about the theater, I do love the crochet work. The gloves look like a shell stitch? What’s your favorite stitch to use? I don’t crochet anymore, after having made a few feeble attempts, but do enjoy knitting.

You are one very talented soul!

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

@Lucifer Yeah, I definitely spent my first six months in the UK re-learning theatre vocabulary - so much of the slang/jargon is different here! (Particularly in electrics, where, well, unsurprisingly they have a very different system. )

@Bereth Thank you! It is a shell stitch - which I hadn't used before, but the pattern was really clear and so it wasn't hard to pick up. I don't know if I really have a favourite stitch yet - but I have done a shawl that used popcorn and puff stitches to create a really nice raised texture, so maybe one of those? Not sure yet. I learned to crochet as a kid but only really picked it up again this winter (December, ish).

[Zôrzimril]

Alma! These are so cool. You are so multitalented.

I especially love the lighting and the angle of the photo for "Anything Goes" - your lighting design and the photographer's skill produce a really amazing photo. Not being in theater myself (unless you count that one time I was in pit orchestra in high school), it's amazing to see the varied moods you build through lighting.

Love the cowl and fingerless gloves, too. I would love to have some gloves like that for spring and fall!

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

Time for a change of pace. It has been suggested, by certain other members of the Plaza on Discord, that the presentation of one's youthful antics for the amusement of others is a laudable practice. As youngsters (ages 8-12, roughly), some friends and I had a tendency to improvise plays and musicals in our spare time, and then force our parents to watch them - with no shortage of silliness ensuing.

Sample titles include Movie Mix-Up, The Girl Who Had Bad Luck Eating Purple Jelly, The Cinnamon Story, The Crazy Camping Adventure, Animals vs. Flowers, Roman Times, Medieval Times, and The Russian Ballerina. The copies that I have of these plays exist because, well, if you think I’m organized now, you should have met my eleven-year-old self. After we had created a play, I would go home, sit down at the family computer upstairs, and type out not only a script, but also a complete cast breakdown by scene, and usually costume notes as well. In the same folder, I also kept copies of plays written by two or three members of the group, which were later performed with everyone – which brings us to the following.

I present, without further comment, an unedited excerpt from the unfinished play "Lost in the Silmarillion: Return to Aman", a sequel to Lost in the Silmarillion and Lost in the Silmarillion 2, written when I was no more than 10 or 11. Rachel (a girl from our world) is making an appeal to the Valar for the release of (her friend) Maedhros from the halls of Mandos, and the following chaos ensues. All errors of spelling, grammar, lore, or sanity are entirely the fault of my child self and I disclaim all responsibility for what follows.

Act Unnumbered:
The Council of the Valar

Rachel: [makes appeal]

Mandos: He cannot be let go. It is not possible. According to my list, he is not due to be released for 2000 years.

Aulë: He killed some of my dwarves!

Yavanna: Now, Aulë, stop crying like a baby. Your dwarves are more trouble than they’re worth! What about Menegroth?

Aulë: And I suppose you think your Oro- Ora- Orodh-

Yavanna: Orodrim; Ents.

Aulë: Whatever. I suppose you think that they’re better, right?

Yavanna: [Personally], I do, actually. They haven’t killed anyone but orcs.

Aulë: Well there you have it! Selfishness in a bottle!

Yavanna: Well, please explain why the bottle is sitting on YOUR chair? [Points to plastic bottle which is sitting on Aulë’s chair.]

Ulmo: Now, I’m supposed to break in here… What do I say? I rise in might! Wait, that’s Melkor’s line. It fits me well enough, though. Um…Well… Down under the Sea, Down under the Sea… Wait, I wasn’t supposed to say that [either].

Now, Mandos, don’t hold grudges. It’s ungrownuplike. Don’t blame the father for the son’s faults – I mean don’t blame the son for the father’s faults.

Estë: Can I go to sleep now?

Oromë: Maybe I should blow the Valaroma. NAHAR!

Estë: NO! I beg of you! It’s the bane of sleep!

Oromë: Oh brother.

Nessa: Can he dance? I need a dancing partner.

Tulkas: I thought I was your dancing partner.

Nessa: Only when you’re not chasing Melkor, which you do a lot.

Lorien: Melkor’s gone, people! Now we can finally have peace… and rest…

Manwë: Iluvatar, please council me! This is out of hand!

Varda: That’s the sensible way, Manwë. Get your directions from the One Who Knows Something.

Manwë: Meaning I don’t?

Varda: Manwë! Don’t mistake me purposely!

Manwë: Women!

Vairë: Will you all please stop arguing? Now I have to weave another whole tapestry depicting your bickering!

Nienna: This is so tragic!

Melkor’s undead spirit: I hate Fëanor!

Manwë: (Looking like a king concerned for loyal subjects) What was that?

Mandos: [Very afraid] Whatever it was, it reminded me of… of… of Tulkas fighting Eonwë!

Tulkas: I did no such thing!

Eonwë: He thought I was Melkor.

Nessa: How could you?

Tulkas: I couldn’t. For one thing, Melkor is much handsomer.

Lorien: Past tense.

Yavanna: Was past tense. I think Melkor is not quite as banished as we had hoped.

Mandos: Well, of course he’s not! Now really, in my records, his lieutenant will continue to trouble us for… 6000 years!

Varda: Will continue to trouble Middle-earth, you mean.

Nienna: And Numenor. This is so tragic!

Manwë: CAN WE PLEASE ADDRESS THE SUBJECT AT HAND???!!!

Aulë: Which is?

Varda: The appeal which was brought forward by Rachel daughter of [insert name here], concerning Maedhros’ imprisonment in the Halls of Mandos.

Manwë: Hannon le, Elbereth / Thank you, Varda. Now…


[Valar continue to debate in much more dignified manner]

[Zôrzimril]

This is ALL amazing but I most love your childhood self’s imaginings of marital bickering amongst the Valar. Also the fact that all Estë wants to do is nap.

[Rivvy Elf]

Alma, the only error I noticed was the ents only attacking orcs, cause they did attack the dwarves, which would've made the argument between Aule and Yavanna even more fun.

Overall it was great! Reminded me of Orpheus in the Underworld by Offenbach.

[KingODuckingham]

Ahhh, I identify with Melkor's undead spirit; I also hate Feanor. Also, I love the idea of wretched infighting plaguing the Valar as if they were themselves middle-schoolers.

Thanks for posting that!

I should also make a brief note that the more, ah, professional work in this thread is amazing. I am not trained enough in knitting or lighting to make any peer-like comments but I have done enough theatre and watched and worn my wife's knitting just enough to know quality. Great stuff!

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

You are all welcome, and I am so sorry.

Latest sewing project, given the state of the world, was face masks - this was a few weeks ago now, once the government here started advising the use of them in public places & on transport. I already owned a reusable P3 (from theatre), but I figured I should have a go at making some fabric ones that might look at least a little bit more stylish ... so I plundered my fabric scrap heap from Phantom, and produced these:





(The red top and the headband had both been made previously.)

[Zôrzimril]

So cool that you can make your own masks, Alma! The best I can do is the folding-up-a-bandana kind, and then I bought some better ones from independent makers on Etsy.

I love the purple fabric! Is it just the photo, or is the material shiny?

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

@Tarawen Yes, the top layer is shiny - the main two layers of each mask are plain black fabric and then there is the decorative third layer over the top which is just there for appearance. The purple material was bought when I was doing the costume design for a student production of Phantom, so I had a lot of fairly flamboyant options.

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

Shakespeare monologue time. The university drama society decided to do a lockdown monologue event, and I was assigned Imogen from Cymbeline. I do own swords, so this worked out reasonably well.

I don't think we can embed videos (or if so, I don't know how), so I'm just going to give you the link to the file:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oQfqaH ... sp=sharing

[Burnt Toast]

Love the masks-- I took costume construction, a very long time ago-- but alas the skills are far too rusty. My housemate has a sewing machine in the house we just moved into, though-- so maybe I should try to unrust them... Oooh I should seek out some Loki material. Consider me inpsired.

Off to do a run- will take a look at the video later! We can't embed videos, and I think that's a case of saving space on the Plaza in a big way. You can set up a word or title to be a link, though, if you like. I'm excited to watch later, especially since you've mentioned swords. XD

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

This is not, exactly, Tolkien-related - but it is RP-related, in a way: this was a recent project after I decided I really should own a dice tray, and then decided the only logical thing to do was make (and embroider) one, and then got slightly carried away.

[Zôrzimril]

@Almarëa Mordollwen - the material is fantastic and I'm glad it is getting out into the world!

It was so cool to see you in your element in the monologue! I love seeing Plazaites doing what they love - and so cool that you got to bring in a sword! (PS how is transatlantic sword transport?)

Is this the dice tray that made me shoot a dove?! (I love that you made one yourself, btw!)

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

Yes, that is the dice tray that you can blame for the poor dove (although I would blame the dice rather than the tray, myself).

Latest crochet project, just finished (shared it on the Discord so figured I should put it here as well):




Started it on June 9th, so took a little over a month to make.


*edit* Completely missed the question about transatlantic sword transport! @Tarawen So, that is a work in progress. But it is theoretically permitted, and I am now in the process of packing them for shipping to Canada. I did have to get rid of a few other items in the armoury that are not legally shippable to Canada, but fortunately I have some stage combat friends here in the UK who were happy to take custody of what I couldn't ship.

[Zôrzimril]

Ha, the dice tray is most certainly an accomplice, then

This is so gorgeous. I love the delicate pattern! A month to make seems quite reasonable to this person who knows nothing about crocheting...

And re: sword transport... Makes sense to ship them! Now I want to know what you had that can't be shipped

[Burnt Toast]

@Almarëa Mordollwen -- This is absolutely beautiful! I know very little about crocheting-- so I can't even imagine how this is created, so I'm with Tara. I think a month sounds impressive.

The dice container is fantastic! And as for sword transport, I've only ever done something once-- I brought a machete back from Guatemala. I am also curious what was not allowed to be shipped, and what the specifications of such laws are.

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

@Tarawen @Burnt Toast Well, it is fairly important to be up on all the legalities of any weapons one decides to own. I (legally, and with all due attention to the relevant legislation/paperwork) acquired a few imitations/replicas of pre-1700 firearms (props only; no ability to fire anything) for theatrical productions I worked on the UK, but it would be very definitely illegal to try to import them into Canada.

Hence why they are no longer in my possession.

[Zôrzimril]

Good for you for doing your due diligence. Probably will make travels home much less stressful! I'm sorry you had to part ways with what sound like some really cool props, though. Here's hoping you find great replacements back home!