Southron Gaard has a long and excellent tradition of Arts and Sciences Challenges; we're world famous in the Crescent Isles and throughout the known world for our challenges.
Previous challenges issued by the Ladies of Hous Amberherthe, such as the Baronial Heraldic Challege, the Second Baronial Heraldic Challenge, the Persona Gubbins Challenge, and the Event Embellishment, Elaboration, and Edification Arts & Sciences Challenge, are all detailed or linked below.
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UFO Challenge
Our theme for this Challenge is to finish some of those projects that have been sitting in the naughty corner, or hiding in your stash, haunting and taunting you. We were much inspired by our discussions with you at Faire: you asked for it, and here it is!
This Challenge is brought to you by The Ladies of Amberherthe (Baroness Christian Baier, Baronessa Isabel María del Aguila, and Baroness Joana de Bairros); with the gracious support of Their Excellencies, Angus and Joana, Baron and Baroness of Southron Gaard, and the Southron Gaard Arts and Sciences Officer, The Honourable Lady Amabilia Thexton, and the Southron Gaard Baronial Council.
What is an Arts & Sciences Challenge?
Challenges are not competitions; a challenge is intended to be fun, no pressure. The only person you are challenging is yourself; challenging yourself to set aside time to make and craft, and to follow your passions. And once completed, we can share the wonders with the Barony.
What is a UFO?
A UFO in SCA and crafting terms is an UnFinished Object: a project conceived or started but not yet completed or stalled out for some reason.
What to Enter:
You may enter the challenge by making or doing one (or more) items which fit any of the categories below.
Entries can be as tiny or as grand as you choose, and may include “small”, “medium”, “large”, and “gosh, look at the size of that thing” projects.
Items can be completed, or progressed further during the challenge.
Entries must be either: - Started, but have been on hold or not been worked on, since before CF 2025, or - Most or all of the materials and tools have been acquired prior to CF 2025, but the project is still not yet started, or - A project from any previous challenge which had not been completed in that challenge.
All items should be related to, or for use in, the SCA. - Items may be for you, or another SCA person, or for an SCA group (e.g. for the Barony). - Entries can be made by individuals or groups, young or old, by Southron Gaard citizens or by any citizens of another group who would like to join the fun. - The projects must be re-started at or after Baronial Anniversary 2025, and completed by Baronial Anniversary 2026 (that’s one whole year!).
How to Enter:
Submit the following information to aandschallenge@sg.sca.org.nz
1) a photograph of the item
2) the category (or categories) that best fit the entry
3) a few brief notes about the entry: what the item is + any information you would like to share about the item, its historical context, and its making, + any information you would like to share about the item's (or your) journey from start to UFO to further along the UFO journey / to completion
Your Recognition:
As with previous Arts & Sciences Challenges in Southron Gaard, all entrants will be awarded a special token at the completion of the challenge.
UFO Challenge Categories:
Why didn’t I just finish this? - Least amount of work required to complete the project / closest to completion
Old enough to drive, vote, or retire... - Project that has spent the longest time to complete
Finally, knocked the bastard off! - Most longed for project / most relief on completion
UFO : UFO - Subtle inclusion of UFO (unidentified flying object) theme; otherwise an SCA / historically appropriate item
Bored now! - Project downsized for completion
The ship has sailed.. - Finished but rendered redundant by time
I just couldn’t wait! - Project that has been used unfinished, which has finally been finished
Sorry its taken so long… - Gift that’s been constantly nagging your guilty conscience
U-turn! - Started life intending to be on thing, finished as another
Event Embellishment, Elaboration, and Edification Arts & Sciences Challenge
"Practising our Arts and our Sciences for use at Events."
We were much inspired by our own post-Faire to-do list, but more especially by the enthusiasm and excitement of many newcomers as they thought upon what they had beheld and experienced at Faire this year, and planned for next year.
EEEEC Challenge Categories:
Inspiration make an item or complete a project inspired by something you saw or did at Canterbury Faire 2023. For example, did you see a new style of clothing you would like to make, or perhaps a new dance or song you want to learn?
Luxuriation make something luxurious (not practical) to improve your comfort or to indulge yourself at an event. Furs, silks, jewels, a comfy chair or snuggly cloak?
Participation a project based on a period practice, ceremony or similar. For example, plan or hold a Roman child’s naming ceremony.
Collaboration make an item or work on a project with one or more other people.
Exploration time to try a new art form or practice that you’ve never tried before.
Personification make something from the time and place of your persona, for use at events. Do you need new garb, maybe a pouch or hat?
Personalisation make something decorated with personal heraldry. A banner, furnishings, a surcoat, perhaps.
Degustation make a food, drink, or other comestible for consuming at an event. Take a picnic lunch to your next event!
Transformation up-cycle an object! For example, do you have an old garment that needs to be refashioned into something new; or a second-hand piece of modern furniture that can be re-made into a period item?
Imitation make a replica of a period object.
Education write an article for FTT or teach a class at an event.
Preparation make something very practical (although it can still be pretty) in preparation for Canterbury Faire. Could be a cunning piece of camping furniture; could be laying in fine comestibles and liquors for next Faire.
Visit the official EEEE A&S Challenge Blog on the Southron Gaard website to explore the range of entries from the populace of Southron Gaard, beyond those shown in the collage above.
Entrant Recognition:
As with previous Arts & Sciences Challenges in Southron Gaard, all entrants were awarded a special token at the completion of the challenge; a game board with Hare and Hounds on one side and either rota or three mens morris on the other, a die, and six game pieces.
Persona Gubbins* Challenge
"The object of art is to give life a shape."
We know that sometimes people find it hard to 'use' their persona at events, or to make their persona relevant to their SCA 'game play'. In this challenge we invited you to use your persona (or someone else's) to investigate that persona’s world, in order to create small items that you might carry to or use at events to enhance our SCA 'game'.
This Challenge is brought to you by Meisterin Christian Baier and Baronessa Isabel Maria del Aguila, with encouragement from Lady Amabillia Thexton, under the gracious patronage of Her Excellency Baroness Ginevra.
We would like to thank Lady Cecily for the inspiration of her excellent and amusing A&S Pentathlon upon which we have shamelessly, but with permission, borrowed. Thanks also to Shakespeare and others for the quotes used throughout.
*Gubbins, meaning small items, easily picked up and carried about (mid-16th century word, from the obsolete gobbon ‘piece, slice, gob’, from Old French; probably related to gobbet). Not to be used in connection with live small animals.
The challenge categories, including the Covid extension:
1. Do you think because you are virtuous, that there shall be no more cakes and ale? An item of food or drink your persona may have grown, prepared, consumed, or known of.
2. With silken coats, and caps, and golden rings, with ruffs, and cuffs, and farthingales, and things. A garment your persona may have worn.
3. When I am forgotten, as I shall be, and sleep in dull cold marble, … Say, I taught thee. The teaching or sharing of knowledge or skills that your persona would have had, for example, classes, published articles etc.
4. With scarfs, and fans, and double change of bravery, With amber bracelets, beads, and all this knavery. An accessory your persona may have owned, made, used, or gifted.
5. All the world‘s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. A performance of a persona-appropriate piece (song, poem, play, saga, tale, dance, etc); formal or informal, individual or group.
6. What revels are in hand? Is there no play, To ease the anguish of a torturing hour? Games, toys, and other such entertainments.
7. 'Fore God, you have here a goodly dwelling and a rich. Items your persona may have had in their home: housewares, furniture, feast gear, table wear, lighting, and such like.
8. This is the excellent foppery of the world Develop a repertoire of vernacular language, appropriate to your persona, for use at events, e.g. oratory, witticism, oaths, braggery, vernacular phrases, boasts, etc.
9. To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, To throw a perfume on the violet,… At your toilette: hairstyling, make up, beauty products, skincare, ointments, unguents, perfumes, etc. Also items associated with bathing, cleanliness, etc: e.g. soaps, cleaning tools or products, laundering, etc for people, houses, livestock etc.
10. Is this a dagger I see before me? Items for self-defence or martial activities.
11. Get thee to a nunnery Religious or spiritual items, e.g. momento mori, devotional items, etc.
12. A garish flag, to be the aim of every dangerous shot. An item of heraldic display.
13. Throw physic to the dogs; I’ll have none of it. Items associated with health, medicine, or wellbeing.
14. I do remember an apothecary… And in his needy shop a tortoise hung, An alligator stuff'd, and other skins Of ill-shaped fishes; and about his shelves A beggarly account of empty boxes, Green earthen pots, bladders and musty seeds, Remnants of packthread and old cakes of roses, Were thinly scatter'd to make up a show. An item used in an occupation, trade, or task, e.g. a tool, equipment, etc.
15. I'll note you in my book of memory A written item or document of some kind, e.g. a letter, a piece of calligraphy and illumination, etc.
In particular, we would also encourage you to put together your own commonplace book or similar item relevant to your persona (a commonplace book is a collection of notable extracts from other works, and everyday handy knowledge for your personal use at events e.g. song lyrics, game instructions, recipes to share, etc).
16. Sweet are the uses of adversity” NEW CATEGORY Research or practice an art, craft or past time that your persona might have undertaken whilst whiling away a siege (or plague). (Please note that we cannot support the mis-use of live chickens as a plague cure (probable true story)).
There were many inspiring creations shared, which can be explored on the Southron Gaard A&S Blog, which showcases all of the entries received. A selection of pictures from challenge entries is shared below:
Artisan Recognition
Every artisan who accepted the challenge and shared their work was awarded a special token at Golden flight 2020.
Those who completed three projects (from at least two distinct categories) received a small period sewing kit in recognition of their endeavours.
Artisans who completed five projects (again from at least two distinct categories) were given a period spice kit as an additional token.
Some of our local Southron Gaard Laurels had also generously offered to award small prizes or tokens to the entry of their choice.
Second Baronial Heraldic Challenge
"Now able to recognise combatants on the field, and recognise which nobles are in attendance, ..."
Baroness Isabel Maria and Baron Oswyn launched a follow up to their inaugural Heraldic Challenge in August of 2014, to encourage the use of heraldry in additional areas, particularly off the tourney field.
The original challenge can be seen on page 8 of the August 2014 issue of FTT, with the results (recreated below) shared on pages 5 in the April 2015 issue.
Baronial Heraldic Challenge
"We wish to encourage ... displaying personal heraldry."
In March 2013, Baron Oswyn and Baroness Isabel Maria announced the first Baronial Heraldic Challenge, saying "we enjoin the populace to make items of heraldry, which we hope to view at a Pas d’Armes no earlier than late August. They will be assessed in terms of creativity, period-appropriate imagery, execution and construction (and how envious Her Excellency is of your wondrous items)."
The original challenge can be seen on page 11 of the March 2013 issue of FTT, with the results (recreated below) shared on pages 7 and 8 in the March 2014 issue.
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