The Kingdom of Ansteorra Ministry of Arts and Sciences
Laurels' Prize Webpage

The Laurels Prize

See the Kingdom Calendar for date and location.

Overview

The Laurels of Ansteorra believe that artisans who don't like to compete should also have a venue for display of their works and for constructive criticism.

Laurels Prize is a body of work display of all of the various types of arts that a person has researched and attempted, or a display of a single art showing improvements and variations over time. Over the years, it has also become common for individual Laurels to host minicompetitions in a particular arts area, however this is not the main purpose for the event. Since it is unlikely that an artisan will produce enough new items to bring a new body of work annually, this event is held every other year, alternating with Fall Arts Symposium.

Although the items displayed at Laurels Prize are not actually "judged" it is considered a working event for the Laurels, who are there to give constructive commentary. Laurels Prize was specifically designed as an event that was not a competition but solely for the benefit of artists who want good, in-depth commentary without competing for a score.

It is recommended that artisans provide some documentation with their displays at Laurels Prize Tourney, at least a 1 to 2 page summary sheet. Supporting documentation in a binder is never a bad idea.

So What Does Body-of-Work Mean?

This is a display format where you are not limited in the number of items that you bring to display. It means that you have the opportunity to show off many or all of the items that you have created.

How Many Pieces Should I Bring for a Body-of-Work Competition?

This is a bit more difficult to answer. The offhand answer is more than one item. You want to bring as many items as you can, but you do not want to bring practice pieces or items that do not represent you well. Four very good pieces of work are better than 15 mediocre pieces of work. Here are a few examples of types of body-of-work displays:

• A single complex item, say an Elizabethan outfit - it sounds as though this is one item, but with undergarments, clothes, shoes, hat, and accessories, this would be a fine entry.
  
  
• A progression of the same type of item - for example, a series of illuminated scrolls that show various types of illumination from different periods, or the same type of illumination showing a progression of more and more complexity in your artwork.
  
  
• The dabbler display - many of us try various art forms over the years. This is probably the most common type of body-of-work display where there are: a hodge-podge of different items that you have created over time.
  
  

How Do I Display?

A body of work competition can be a lot of work for the artist to set up. Everything that you bring should be displayed in a pleasing manner. This is another reason to be discriminating in the items that you bring. As stated above, four nice items that are decoratively displayed are much more pleasing than 15 items tossed out on a table.

What Kind of Feedback Can I Expect?

In Ansteorra, Laurel Prize is a body-of-work display. It is not a scored competition. This event is specifically designed for artisans to display the breadth and depth of their arts, in a non-competitive environment, and get feedback from the Laurels. As the Laurels visit your display, they will want to provide you with as much information as they can to help you further your arts, so you really want to bring your notepad to this event.

More Information on Laurels Prize

For some good information, tips and suggestions on participating in body of work displays such as Laurels Prize, see:

• Handbook for the Artisans of Ansteorra: Participating in the Arts & Sciences in Ansteorra (pp. 7 and 8).
  
  
• Body of Work Displays by Mistress Jehanne d'Avignon.
  An overview of what a body of work display is and general suggestions for participating.
  
  
• Experiences with Steppes Artisan by Mistress Isobel Grace Haddleigh.
  Steppes Artisan is one recurring body of work type A&S competition. Isobel describes her experiences with this event and provides helpful hints to those participating in this event or in other body of work displays. This information is also quite helpful for those participating in Laurels Prize.
  
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