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Andy Volpe: Art & History
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Link to
CreativeGrounds
profile
Questions about [Booking] a Living History Program(s) Where do you give
programs? Who / What is your
Target Audience? What [schools] have you
been to / What is your experience / Credentials? How much does your
programs cost? How far do you travel
for a program? How do I book a
program? How soon do I book a
program? What happens if it
Rains/Snows? Are you insured? -
Roman Specific - Why Ancient Roman
Legionary? What is CE? BCE? What is with wearing a
miniskirt? Why is the helmet made
of gold? How heavy is the armor?
Isn't it hot?! What are the straps for
on the belt? Are the [Weapons] Real
/ Are they Sharp? How Expensive is all of
this Gear? Where do I buy / make
this gear? How Accurate Is
Hollywood's Depiction of Romans? Are you a
Spartan/Gladiator/Knight?
Where
do you give programs? - Typically a Classroom or
Auditorium setting (this also gives a good gauge as to the
space requirements I need). - I can also arrange to give a
presentation outdoors (with weather permitting) - I also usually need a medium sized table, and request a secure changing area. - For the Medieval / Renaissance Artist, depending on if a live [printing] demo is needed, space for the printing press, loading dock access, etc. will need to be considered. But lecture/slide presentations I need a table and A/V hookups. Who
/ What is your Target Audience? - Anyone who has an interest -
I am happy to give a program to anyone who wants to book a
presentation. - Typically school grades from
5 to 12, Colleges, Universities, and Academies; usually
having the emphasis from History and Classics classes and
departments, but again, if the interest is there, I'm eager to
provide. - Generally speaking, my Roman program should be considered "PG" or "PG-13" due to 'content' and maturity understanding of the context and material. - Art teachers, museums,
studios and art schools may find my Medieval / Renaissance
presentations interesting, as people can see how the art is
[was] actually made. - I've done both a lecture
style and an open-to-public / live demo style, with display
and hands-on items for all ages. (This could also be
considered for visually-impaired audiences for a tactile
experience.) What
[schools] have you been to / What is your experience / Credentials? - I am not listing any of the
private locations (schools) I have been to on the
website. If you require a list, please contact me. - As noted on my website, I
have been giving programs since 2002. I greatly enjoy
sharing my love and knowledge of the material, and frequently
research and revise my material. - All of the programs I have
given at Higgins Armory Museum, (until it closed in 2013,
moved to Worcester Art Museum) Museum of Printing, Printing
Office of Edes and Gill, as well as the many schools I have
been to, have been seen by thousands of people, and the
feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and supportive. - I am insured with the Living
History Association, a known organization dedicated to
authenticity and research. I also maintain a strict level of
attentiveness during my program; people are not allowed to
handle my gear unless supervised / allowed by me. Weapons (aka
Theatrical Props) are not to be handled by anyone at any
time. Along with a reservation form / contract, I
include a weapons waiver detailing my policies that must be
signed and sent to me before a program date. - I am a member of, and
associated with several Roman reconstruction groups, all of
whom are known throughout the world as high quality,
respectable organizations, all of whom are seriously dedicated
to research, reconstruction and studying the current
archaeological information that becomes available. My
degree in Fine Arts included courses on historical art making,
art history and research; I've been on my own research since. How
much does your programs cost? - Please email me directly for
a quote. The rates include a modest mileage / travel
charge, plus the program rate "per hour" (as the majority of
my programs are at schools). I currently do not list my
rates on the webpage. How
far do you travel for a program? - I will travel up to 100 miles
one way (about 2 hours' worth) and charge mileage
accordingly. Currently I am in the Worcester, MA area,
so I am able to cover much of southern New England, and would
be willing to travel a distance if needed. - Mileage is a calculated
figure to cover expenses for gas, maintenance, insurance, as
well as tolls and parking if applicable. How
do I book a program? - Email is the easiest way to
reach me: PalusButeo AT hotmail DOT com. Try to reserve
a date as far ahead as possible. We will determine the
best date(s) and time(s), and I will then send an Invoice and
other relevant paperwork. How
soon do I book a program? - As far in advance as
possible. A one month advanced notice is usually good. What
happens if it Rains/Snows? - Depending on the severity of
the weather, I will do my best to make it to the
location. I will monitor school cancellation notices the
day before and the morning of the reserved date. - If the school cancels, I will
cancel as well, and we will arrange another date. - If the school issues a 1-2
hour delay, I will work to conform to the delay. - In either situation, I will
contact the [school] using the contact information provided in
the contract if weather becomes dangerous. - Consider providing contact info / phone number of someone with the School whom I can contact the [day before] severe weather to be informed of possible delay or cancellation. (also, feel free to contact me
ASAP in regards to weather, cancellation or delays. The
contract I send out includes my cell phone) Are
you insured? - Yes, I am insured through the
Living History Association as an individual member, as well as
a group member with Legion III Cyrenaica. Please refer to the LHA website
for technical details of the insurance. ~ Questions
about Romans and the Roman Legionary Programs: Why
Ancient Roman Legionary? - Without a doubt, the Romans and the Roman Legions are among the most famous (infamous?) military-dominant culture and army known in European history, and in many cases, in World history. The Romans continue to influence military people and culture into the present. The massive success of Roman-themed movies like "Gladiator", "Spartacus", and HBO's "ROME" series are a testament to the everlasting impact of the Romans. - Also, I'm a total History
Nerd. I won't deny it. I love presenting about
Romans and engaging the public, answering questions. My
programs have been seen by thousands of people, and the vast
majority really enjoy it - They say my passion for History
shows in my programs, that certainly keeps me doing this. What
is CE? BCE? - BCE and CE is a modern dating
system intended to replace or be an alternative to
BC/AD. BCE means "Before Common Era" and CE "Common
Era". The generalization is that most cultures share roughly
the same timetable. There are of course many exceptions,
complications and arguments to this system. This system
has been in use in several institutions and museums in the
United States for the last few years. I only include
them for posterity. I realize I am also "stuck" with
BC/AD since that is how I learned it in school. I refer
and respond to both, and try not to sound biased.
Although I certainly am not the poster child for "Political
Correctness", either! What
is with wearing a miniskirt? - The male fashion in ancient
Rome was to show the legs and arms, as well as layers of big,
billowy clothing (as in the Toga). It stems from the Etruscan
and Greek predecessors of Romans. Not only does the Tunic
provide good, comfortable cover, it gives excellent freedom of
movement for the legs. The Roman Military fashion was to wear
the tunic high, above the knees, compared to Civilian fashion.
It is just the same as wearing shorts and a T-shirt in the
summer compared to long sleeves and long pants. - By the 200's AD, Roman
soldiers’ fashions changed, incorporating long sleeved tunics
with decorated accents, and long pants, the shoes / boots
changes as well. Why
is the helmet made of gold? - The helmet is not made of
gold, but of Brass! It happens to look like gold because
Romans liked to keep their metal armor and gear highly
polished - it was a way of showing one's wealth and pride, but
also helped prevent rust and corrosion. Brass was a
highly prized metal for Romans, and was used by Romans for
hundreds of years. How
heavy is the armor? Aren't you hot in that?! - As we can figure out from
reconstructions, the Lorica segmentata weighs in around 15-20
pounds. Lorica hamata (maille) and Lor. squamata (scale)
is around 25-30 pounds. Although that weight has been
disputed very recently, maybe closer to 20lbs. - The armor is not as
uncomfortable as it may first appear. You get used to it. So
did they. After a full day in armor, however, the armor
does become "heavy" and uncomfortable! (We do not know for how
long or how often Roman soldiers wore their armor). - Hot? Yes and No. Not as badly
as you would think. The tunic is billowy, and the arms
and legs are exposed, so this provides a bit of ventilation
for the body. The armor is also made with a lot of
"holes" and openings, so air is able to move around a little
bit. - It is about the same as
wearing a thick sweater or winter coat in the summer.
You get hot inside your [chest], but you don't get searing
hot. The armor only gets as warm as your surface body heat,
even when wearing it in the blazing sun outside. With
the armor kept clean and rust free, this also helps to reflect
a lot of sun and is more comfortable than one would
think. However, leaving an un-worn helmet or armor
in the blazing sun WILL make it searing hot when you go to
pick it up - So when needed I'll place my helmet(s), armor,
and shield in the shade! - Lorica Hammata (Maille) and
Lor. Squamata (Scale) tends to be "warmer" than Segmentata
armor, mostly because of the thick, quilted padding one must
wear underneath to give the best defensive protection of that
armor, so it can be less comfortable temperature-wise than it
looks. What
are the straps for on the belt? - We believe the sole function
of these straps, studs and dangling terminals was for added
decoration to the belt, as showing status and showing off was
a big deal for Romans. The straps appear to be distinctly a
Soldier’s fashion. It serves the exact same purpose as
polished chrome parts on sports cars, modern studded belts,
wearing loads of very expensive jewelry and top name-brand
clothing. A vast majority of Roman belt pieces and other items
were tin-plated or silvered for extra shininess. (And likely
for corrosion resistance as well) - They provide NO protective
value to the groin area of the body! The straps are thin
leather, they are made to sway and move. Are
the [Weapons] Real / Are they Sharp? - All of my equipment and gear
are modern Reproductions and Reconstructions,
they are not a thousand years old. They are copied from actual
archaeological artifacts, and I try to buy or make my gear as
accurate as I possibly can within my budget, time, and [metal]
working skills. - All of my swords and daggers
are kept dull on the edges, but my Gladii tips/points
are kept at an accurate shape, therefore the tips are very
sharp. - My Pila I actually throw so I
keep the tips fairly 'sharp'. Therefore: NO ONE in the
audience is allowed to handle any weapon. The
Less You Handle A Weapon, The Less Dangerous It Is. How
Expensive is all of this Gear? - As with any reenacting hobby,
you can spend an awful lot of money, or not a lot of money. It
will depend on what you want to make, how much time you want
to devote to that, or if you want to just buy made gear all
together. A full "kit" of armor, weapons and
miscellaneous gear can run between $700 to $2,000 and upwards,
especially for custom-made gear. This is about the same,
if a little more expensive than other reenacting periods (like
American Civil War). You'll also need to devote time to
cleaning and care for all of the metal and leather components
of Roman gear. - However, you can get started
very easily and cheaply by starting with a Tunic, Caligae /
sandals, and a belt, what some reenacting groups refer to as a
"soft kit". You can always add to, and ‘upgrade’ your ‘kit’ as
you go. (If you decide to join a Roman
Legion group, make sure you read and understand the basic
requirements of that group before you dive into making or
buying lots of gear, as requirements differ between groups.) - Expenses will also depend on
how you feel about being 'accurate' or not. There are
lots of low quality, inaccurate knock-offs and copies out
there. Where
do [I] buy / make this gear? - There are several sources to
get manufactured gear, but there are also instructions on how
to make just about everything yourself by hand, just as the
Romans did it. One of the best places to start for both
instructions to make and listings of [accurate] gear and
vendors is at the Legion XX website at www.larp.con/legioxx - Also, look under the listings
of Roman units, and look for one in your area to join.
Many groups host “workshops” where you can go and start
working on your gear. You can start very easily and
simply with basic metal and leather working, like a belt, for
example. Most of the items are fairly easy to make, with
some practice and thinking / planning ahead of time.
Items like swords, armor and helmets are very advanced and
need some experience, so you should consider buying made gear
from various manufactures and vendors. How
Accurate Is Hollywood's Depiction of Romans? - Not Very Accurate.
Hollywood is interested in making [tons of money] epic,
dramatic movies that appeal to a wide audience, and not about
trying to satisfy a very small number of reenactors, academics
and nerds. That's really the short end of it. - That being said, HBO's series
"ROME" got pretty close to accurate, but fail in a number of
places, too detailed to list here. Are
You A Spartan/Gladiator/Knight? - No, no and no. Spartans existed hundreds of
years before the period I present. Gladiators, while
directly contemporary with the period I present, were
essentially trained professional sportsmen. The
comparison to modern World Wide Wrestling is startlingly
pararllel. Big additudes and huge wads of cash for a big
show. Knights don't exist for another thousand years
after the period I protray. Want more comparison?
- - - If these did not answer
your questions, please email me! - - - PalusButeo AT
Hotmail DOT com - - - - - C: 2008 – 2013 A. Volpe.
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