Gesta Concordium

~Accounts of Renowned Concordians and Friends in Their Own Words~

It should be said that, for official purposes, the Living History Club at the University of Albany is not an official Concordia or Society outlet. That the club is sponsored by various Concordians in their mundane capacity at the University and that its members are frequent attendees at Concordia practices and events is (strictly officially) mere happenstance.

This year, the club president is a charming and crafty young noble-in-the-making who goes by the name Aspen, whom I have the pleasure of knowing through the Monday Fiber Arts meeting. It is also an astounding coincidence that the University decided to do a feature article on the club the same month I intended to feature them as the month’s interview subject. You, reader, can choose whether to believe me.

(Editor’s note: Aspen doesn’t currently have a registered SCAdian name and as a college student, splits their time between Concordia and the Barony of Ponte Alto in Atlantia. The name given is my best guess at what would be recorded if it needed to be recorded for official purposes, but I Am Not A Herald.)

For people that don’t know you, how would you like to introduce yourself?

Hi I’m Aspen. I’m a student at UAlbany studying emergency management. I enjoy all manner of creative outlets and like trying new things.

What got you into the Society and what keeps you in it?

I was introduced to the Society with the Living History Club at UAlbany. I was enticed by crafts and have stayed because of it. I greatly enjoy A&S and look forward to when I get around to doing my own research to craft a persona or recreate a historical item using historical methods based on said research.

Explain, for the non-college people reading this, how the UAlbany Living History Club works.

The Living History Club is an unofficial adjunct to the SCA made up of college students who are both SCA affiliated and not. Our tagline is “arts, crafts, and violence” since we host weekly heavy armor fighting practice, fencing practice, and arts and crafts. I am president of the club and lead the arts and crafts where I teach a new craft every week or bring someone from the local SCA community to teach something, but as I am moving to grad school I’m passing the baton to other students.

When we talked in person a little while ago, you explained how you’re mostly in “exploring” mode, rather than focusing on any particular interest. Tell me about one or more of your favorite discoveries so far.

I like to say I collect hobbies and learn a new craft every other week. Recently I’ve picked up nalbinding (taught by Mistress Ose). I taught myself stained glass a few weeks ago. I learned some new chainmaille weaves to make jewelry. I also make a lot of my own funky jewelry and run my own jewelry business on Etsy. I hope to make more elaborate garb (not t-tunics) as I enjoy hand sewing. Plus, I have learned to spin yarn and would like to combine it with my newfound nalbinding skills to nalbinding with my own yarn!

What are your hopes for the future…for yourself or for the club?

For the club, I hope we can recruit more people to fight and craft with us (and get some to join the SCA). For myself, I hope to do some research and craft an SCA persona. I also would like to recreate a historical item. And then professionally I hope to get a job once I leave college in my field of study: emergency management.