I look at the disciplines the Pharaoh has constructed, and I wonder. I wonder, what do you make of it? What would you do to succeed at these, no matter the cost? The cost is clear on so many levels. Thought requires none. Body requires little. Architecture requires nothing but friends, and Art...Art is no longer brought forth for its own sake. What is art? Art is the work of emotions and thoughts, to bring forth the inner workings of a mind, such a beautiful device, to the world for all to see. But so many have chosen it to mean nothing more than what the Stranger limits it to.
Very well, then. I propose something more.
Art should be accessible to all. So should this. I propose a challenge for all artists willing to take part, to prove their worth and emotional capabilities. A contest fewer than four days hence. The goal? Nothing but to create the greatest fireworks with such limited materials as any citizen may have at his disposal. Bring mortars to the Red Sea Oasis fireworks stadium. Each must have no more than fifty stars. What you do with these is your own business; the type, too, can be any you desire.
The contest is this Saturday (2/11/06), at 5:00 PM 'Eastern Time'. I shall attend to judge. No prize shall be given, save the acclaim granted to the greatest Pyrotechnician in Egypt.
If insufficient numbers attend? Perhaps this will prove that Art truly is dead.
-Emmanuel
Sheree 565 Solipsistos 557 Leghk 542 Sallah-Hazerah 535 Cheos 510 ShanVizen 505 Dakiara 504 Orashin 461 Var-LeTha 428 Helpmaboab 295
Sheree's fireworks, "The Dance Within", was turned into grounds and distributed to all who attended. For the end of this contest, I made another statement on E!. Notable perhaps is that Helpmaboab's score was a fluke, possibly due to a badly-named shell. Whether or not this is a valid portion of Art, I cannot say.
The statement was:
To all competitors who joined: Well-done. You have shown what so many would forget in their race to ultimate aesthetic perfection: That Art need not be expensive, or back-breaking. It need only require thought, and emotion, and -- perhaps -- joy.
The competition required no struggle to begin, nor to complete. It was merely...Art.
Of these, first and foremost was Sheree, with her firework of "The Dance Within". I wish to offer her my congratulations on her victory; it was exceptionally done.
No, there was no chaos. I felt this necessary; even the slightest amount may have ruined competitions such as these for many. The harm might have been untold, and Art cannot withstand it. Other disciplines, however...
Other disciplines have shown to be slightly more hardy in their efforts. Some even welcome control and unfair play, all as part of the situation.
For now, rejoice. Bask in a well-deserved appreciation. And later, we shall speak of Architecture.
-Emmanuel
Helpmaboab's shell was named "Emmanuel needs a... hug." The score seemed oddly low according to people who voted for it. I don't believe that this is purely a fluke, and I don't think anyone else who was there does either.
That said, the response to this event was almost entirely positive. In particular, conversation on the Kaboom! guild channel immediately afterward was centered around different variations on pyro competitions that could be held. Contests with limits on the number, type, and color of star were mentioned. I believe that while there was definitely at least the one obvious irregularity with the scoring of this particular competition, it did provide useful guidelines for less absurdly expensive pyro competitions. It definitely gives aspiring pyrotechnicians a great example of pyrotechnics without the massive resource costs that have until now been perceived as a barrier to entry.
- Solipsistos
I did not vote negatively on his shell based on its name. Whether you take my word for it or not, this is what I hold to. Additionally, I have no means by which to skew Gharib's competitions, at least more than another citizen might.
- Emmanuel
for what it's worth, i voted helpmaboab's shell as "great" (or possibly exceellent; there's only one shell i voted under either of those, and it wasn't his). from the vocal reaction to his firewworks, and my own 1/20th of the final vote on hin, i personally find it very hard to believe he scored that badly just based on judges' voting. not that it matters very much, but...:- Nikka
Notable perhaps is that Helpmaboab's score was a fluke, possibly due to a badly-named shell. Whether or not this is a valid portion of Art, I cannot say. In my opinion: 'nuff said. -- ShanVizen