Sword fighting, science fiction and art museums

[fbhjr]

Saturday we were doing sword shows at a Science Fiction convention at Smith College in Western MA: https://sophia.smith.edu/conbust/

The con isn’t very big, but has some interesting things. And, we’ve had folks join our group after us doing shows there. So, even though they don’t pay us, it’s worth it for us.
(And, sword fighting at women’s college… Sure. Why not…)

Anyhow, it’s out in the Connecticut river valley, which is very pretty, even if yesterday was a grey day.


It was going to this show 4 years ago I got into a car accident when someone turned right from the left lane and hit my car.
It was interesting to see that the town has solved that problem by replacing the whole intersection with a roundabout.


Can’t turn left from the right lane when you’ve got to drive around in a circle.


To me, the Smith College symbol looks like Batman. But, I guess not.


We got there early and checked in.

Clearly some of our friends were already there.

(He keeps pikes in those tubes on the the roof.)

I did worry about the weapons policy and asked if we needed to do anything special moving our sword in to where the show would be.

"That doesn’t apply to you!" she said.
"Just making sure," I told her. "I’d rather ask than cause a problem."

Sadly, although surrounded by Pokestops, none were in range of where we did the show.


We looked through the artist/dealer rooms until 10, then walked over to the art museum across the lawn.


We did ponder the space we were given to perform.

Ultimately, we decided to perform inside.

The art museum is very nice:
http://www.smith.edu/artmuseum/
I’m told one of the curators is the younger sister of someone I went to college with many years ago.

They have some nice pieces. I mostly looked at the new ones.
And, of course, the benches.


I don’t remember this one from last time.


I’m not big on modern art, but I did know this was about space.


I hadn’t notice this was unfinished until I read the description and looked at the dog.



I liked this one.


I’m surprised this seems to be a nuclear furnace.


I like this one.


The bathrooms there are decorated too. All over.



Some of the tiles have some weird things…



They had a nice Roman exhibit visiting, but no photos.


But, back to sword fighting.


The first thing we were doing was a longsword lesson for people.


I couldn’t really do the sword fighting as my arms are still hurt. But, I could teach others.


Jeff was there trying to recruit people for his group in that area.


Casey came to this show.

We had suggested he come to the show in May. I guess there was some confusion.

Our friends were out doing their thing on the lawn. But, as they have 18 foot long pikes, they can’t really do it outside.


I went for lunch at a pizza place. I guess I was not dressed well enough to eat there, so got it to go.


They were still doing it when I got back.


Then, we did our historical demo.


Again, I could talk…


But, I’d rather be doing the sword fighting.


The others still did fine.


Then, we drove off home.


As I said, nice area.


But, a long drive from where my job is…


Glad I wasn’t involved in this.


We ate at the "Texas Roadhouse" where they dance at you. Even when you’re trying to get to the bathroom…


Not a bad day all in all.

Comments

[newlifeinstpaul.livejournal.com]

Are you doing Pl or anything else of the sort for your arm?

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

Not formally. But, I've got stuff to use at home.

[tjoel2]

Cool bathroom! I would be in there forever.

[chaquir.livejournal.com]

haha the sticker on the car does look indeed like batman.

those tiles in the bathroom are awesome. You can keep looking at those and wondering where they came from.

brrrr you still have snow there. I rather have our weather now than yours.

[hindustar.livejournal.com]

Wow, amazing museum. It looks like you all had fun.