Topic: Art Festival - A Week of Wonders

AJ Ryan

Date: 2009-09-21 09:39 EST
05:47 Monday 21st September, Southern Glen

Under the vague illumination of the lanterns the small work force from the Studios had brought out into the Glen with them, AJ spread out the map of their allotted space on the makeshift table between them. The week of work that was the Art Festival had officially begun, out here in the predawn chill. Around her, the apprentices and hired help gathered around her as she oriented herself to the map and where it put them in the seven clearings they had cleared for the week's displays.

"Okay, so we're here ..." she mused to herself, pointing to the place on the map, and just like that, what needed to be done came to her. No one argued as she handed out work to everyone around her; AJ had been put in charge of organising the festival simply on the grounds of being too heavy with child to be of any use in the heavy lifting at all. And they all knew she would much rather be hefting the artwork around than giving out the orders.

Thankfully, this morning's work - which had begun at three o'clock at the Studios - was fairly light. Willow woven sculptures were not massively weighty, just cumbersome, and even in the predawn twilight, the seventeen pieces were laid out across five of the seven clearings with relative speed. The remaining two clearings were set up as the demonstration and workshop areas. While the apprentices and their assistants moved through the Glen, AJ herself grabbed a few of the Everlast torches and moved to lay out the trail from the main road out to where the exhibition was being set up. There was no point having the display if no one knew where to find it, after all.

In a couple of hours, the artists, craftsmen and women, and the trail attendants would arrive, and she would be able to hand over the day to them before going home to catch up on her sleep. Then she would be up again, coming down to visit the outdoor display, to check how well it was being received. No one expected a big turn out for the first day, but it would be nice if they at least had some interest after all the work had been put in.

The path marked out, AJ then turned to walk the trail they had set out, checking off each piece of work in her head as she passed the little teams setting them up. From the main road, through the trees, to the first of the clearings, given a mythological theme with its Hydra and Cyclops among others; through another treeline to the family clearing, filled with willow woven people in various familial scenes; turning again to find herself in one of the workshop/demonstration areas, where the craftsmen would be on hand to show and tell and teach how the sculptures had been made; to the deities' clearing, with examples of the Ancient Gods from several cultures represented in RhyDin proper; to the second workshop area, where the base for the childrens' trail was being set up; turning again through the trees in time to watch as the majestic form of a willow woven dragon was erected over her equally willowy eggs; and one more turn that took her into the heart of the exhibit, where the smaller sculptures had been placed, the fairies and goblins and creations of that ilk.

By the time they were done, the sun was rising, and the craftsmen and artists had begun to arrive. Yawning wearily, AJ sent her little work force home and moved to follow them, stretching her shoulders as the twins in her belly kicked excitedly. Just think ....only five more days and it would all be over.

AJ Ryan

Date: 2009-09-22 10:17 EST
10:12 Tuesday 22nd September, Ravendale Gallery

Deep in conversation with the gallery's owner, AJ nonethless was able to take a swift inventory of the number of people wandering the usually silent halls of Julius Ravendale's private collections. It was wonderful to see, this artwork that had been kept locked up where no one could see it for so many years, out in the open, being viewed and appreciated by people who might never get another opportunity to see handcrafted pieces like this up close.

She was settling a little more comfortably into her role as the festival organiser, even if it meant she had to carry around the god-forsaken walkie-talkie currently hooked on her belt. Still, she supposed it made her look the part; folder in one hand, pen stuck haphazardly into her hair, radio on her hip. People she had seen looking around the Willow exhibit in the Glen yesterday were notable among the new art critics in evidence today, and several of them had hailed her when they'd entered, as though she was a new friend. As though being so obviously the one in charge of the madness of the RTAS Art Festival made her somehow a person to be seen to know.

At least the focus was off her bump, she smirked inwardly to herself. Because, quite frankly, she was wound so tightly right now if anyone reached out to touch her pregnant belly, that someone was likely to lose their hand.

The radio crackled, and she apologised to Mr Ravendale with a small smile, backing away to find a quiet corner and answer the hail. Lifting the radio to her lips, she acknowledged the call, and turned her ear to the speaker to hear with more ease.

"All the unsold Willow Weaves are down, AJ," the dulcet tones of her fellow journeyman Lance Witherow informed her. It sounded like he was out of breath, so they must have just literally finished. "The sold ones are heading for their new owners as we speak. You want us to start setting up for tomorrow?"

Tomorrow ....AJ flipped through her folder, trying to remember what was going on tomorrow. Oh, yes, the Wood Carvings and Sculptures in the Glen. She held the radio to her lips.

"Hey, Lance, don't bother setting that up just yet," she told him. "The mages won't be around to reset the wards until midnight, and the guards aren't on duty until four-thirty in the morning. Go home and get some sleep, I'll meet you all at the Studios at four tomorrow morning to set up. 'Kay?"

There was a heartfelt groan on the other end of the crackling line, and a chuckle. "Fair enough, AJ. See ya tomorrow - don't you forget to sleep, either!"

"Highly unlikely, Lancey-loot," she laughed back, and cut the connection, moving back to join Mr Ravendale and resume their conversation. As if she was ever going to be allowed to push herself too hard this week, really.

AJ Ryan

Date: 2009-09-23 12:07 EST
14:34 Wednesday 23rd September, Southern Glen

"Right, so what you wanna do once you've gotten your basic shapes carved is smooth them out, make 'em interesting to look at ..."

The craftsman holding this particular workshop shot AJ a grin as he passed. She didn't quite know how, but she'd ended up being roped into helping out during this one. The number of people who wanted to try their hand at actually carving the virgin blocks of wood they'd supplied was amazing, and to her growing astonishment, they all seemed to be enjoying themselves, too.

The little girl with her was giggling madly as she waved the little file around, leaning her head comfortably on AJ's pregnant belly to feel the babies kick at her as she surveyed her masterpiece. To her surprise, AJ found she didn't mind helping the children with the hands on demonstrations and workshops, enjoying just being a part of the festival rather than the overseer for an hour or so. Everything was going swimmingly, thank the gods - no difficulties with the tensions that were steadily building in the city or the actual organisation itself so far. Everything was coming together wonderfully well, for which she would forever be eternally grateful.

And the artwork was selling astonishly well, too. The combined profits of Monday and today's exhibit could be tallied tonight, the cheque written out either to be presented to the Gossip GangSTAR's Children's Foundation on Saturday night, or whenever it was convenient for them. Yesterday's takings from the selling of the artwork at the Hartzog and Ravendale galleries had come to a surprising total as well, and AJ had taken great pleasure in writing out that cheque for the Shimmerscale Orphanage. Friday's takings would go to an anonymous charity within the city, and she felt certain it would be just as good a result as the last three days had been.

The only problem she had, actually, was her own stress level. The closer they got to the end of the festival, the higher her stress went, and sadly it was her husband who received the brunt of it. But she'd make it up to him somehow, she promised herself. You know, once everything was done and she'd slept for a week or so. Definitely.

AJ Ryan

Date: 2009-09-24 12:35 EST
17:50 Thursday 24th September, RhyDin Museum

There was something rather anti-climactic about closing up an exhibit, even if it had only been open for one day and would not be opening again for many months to come. AJ wandered between the aisles of artwork in the Museum, helping to usher the hangers on from the gallery to allow the museum curators to begin the work of taking down the beautiful historical pieces they had put up especially for the Festival. She was so indebted to them for becoming such a part of the festival itself. They'd made her week, certainly, with some of the near legendary pieces they had put on display.

The walkie-talkie crackled at her hip, and she unhooked it, smiling at a small family as they hurried their little ones out through the doors. It had been a good week so far, and particularly pleasing to see so many children actively involved and being encouraged to appreciate and enjoy the beauty that artists can create. She lifted the radio to her lips, pressing the button to speak.

"Yeah, AJ's here," she said clearly. "What's up?"

She was startled by the voice that crackled along from the other end. "AJ, it's Greg here. I have something to say to you." She gulped, holding the radio closer to her ear. Whatever could the master of the Studios have to say to her" And how the hell had he gotten hold of one of the radios" "You're doing a fantastic job, girl. We can close up from here, and set up in the Glen tomorrow morning. I don't want to see you until at least ten in the morning, you got me?"

She blew out a relieved breath, rolling her eyes as she laughed. "Damnit, Greg, you almost gave me a heart attack," she chuckled into the radio, reaching out with one hand to help steady a frame as one of the priceless paintings was carefully manoeuvered down from its place of honour. "But what about the setting up before dawn" We've got it down to an art now; I need to be there to liaise with the mages and guards, and then the artists and craftsmen will be rolling in, and they expect to see me -"

His crackling voice cut across hers, putting an end to her protests. "AJ, it's a festival, not your life's work. You have a scan in the morning; you need to rest up tonight and get to looking after yourself and those babies. Wouldn't hurt to spend a little more time with that husband of yours, either. And the guys at the Hall want to meet with you at noon tomorrow to go over the plans for Saturday, so I'll be very unhappy to hear you've been in the Glen before then, you got me?"

AJ stood in the middle of the dismantled display with her mouth opening and closing like a drowning fish. Gobsmacked was probably the only word for it. "Uh ....okay?" she hazarded, knowing that she had no chance of getting out of her enforced rest. And how did her boss know about her scan' Stas ...

"Good girl. Now go home. We'll see you tomorrow, supermom."

As Greg finished speaking, Cody Benson, one of her fellow journeymen, came over and carefully removed the radio and folder from her grasp, giving her a gentle shove towards the door. AJ didn't miss the grin on his face, either. Oh, this was ridiculous. And kinda nice, too. She grinned to herself, heading for the doors. This festival week was just getting better and better.

AJ Ryan

Date: 2009-09-25 11:33 EST
11:17 Friday 25th September, Southern Glen

The apprentices had done a wonderful job in the Glen today, AJ decided as she walked through each of the clearings. The natural clearings were alive with people, admiring and discussing the variety of sculpture on display; everything from classical to post-Modern, in every material known to artists across RhyDin and beyond. Nowhere else, she decided, could you find a pose reminiscent of Michelangelo's David reaching a hand towards cast iron spikes from the post-Modern era on Earth. It was simply breathtaking.

And, of course, what else added to her enjoyment was that with this final exhibit, the festival was almost over. Just one more day - the big auction tomorrow night - and she'd be able to stop having to be in charge and go back to taking her orders like every other journeyman at the Studios. But there was a part of her that would miss this, she mused as she wandered past a couple trying to make sense of one of the more chaotic looking pieces. The part that revelled in being able to speak to the masters as an equal, and thoroughly enjoyed setting off artwork to the best effect in whatever lighting they had available to them. Maybe she wasn't supposed to be an artist, maybe a museum curator would have been a better career choice.

A voice hissing her name drew her attention back to the people around her, and she laughed at the sight of Althea Harps gesticulating wildly in her general direction. "What're you doing here?" Althea hissed when AJ was close enough. "Greg'll murder us if he sees you here before noon, you know that!"

AJ lifted her hands with a grin. "Relax, Al, I'm not here on business," she assured her friend. "Look, no folder, no radio, no stress. And, uh ....I brought Stas, so Greg can't complain that I'm working before he told me to. I'm just enjoying the exhibit, is that a crime?"

Althea's eyes narrowed as she looked over AJ's shoulder, but as the mom-to-be had said, there was Stas Ryan, bent double and twisted in a bizarre fashion while studiously examining one of the more graceful pieces of sculpted granite. She snorted with laughter at the sight of him, and sighed, turning her attention back onto AJ.

"You do realise that's pure sophistry," she objected finally, hands on her hips. Then her face took on a curious slant. "Didn't the guys do well today' The Glen looks amazing!"

AJ laughed along with her friend, happy to waste the time while her husband finished his inspection of the artwork around them. All too soon her shift would begin, and tonight she would have to oversee the dismantling of this beautiful display and lay out the plans for the huge amount of work that needed doing tomorrow. But for now, at least, she was content to just enjoy the art as it was meant to be enjoyed. Which was, of course, the reason for the festival in the first place.