Medieval art involved not creative freedom but subjection to rules. Some time after classical antiquity all period creations were done for God’s glory. If that’s the case how does art relate to you and me in the Society for Creative Anachronism? Especially since the organization is apolitical and nonreligious. Why is Art important in the SCA?
First, what is art? Art isn’t easily defined as other things are like biology or math. For this post, I’ll begin with the English Oxford Living Dictionary‘s definition.

The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.

A 16th-century diamond-point  engraved glass I recreated.

Art then is a tangible medium using creative skills and imagination. In the Middle Ages, those were focused on God’s beauty and power. How does that relate to us in the SCA now?

In the SCA today you recreate Medieval things to explore and search for answers about the original maker’s skills and imagination. We don’t create original works as art is defined today. We recreate.

Through recreation, you learn about the original item’s artisan. Whether your chosen item was individually or communally made. Whether it was created for personal, communal, or political use. And the rules or laws they followed.

Recreating period items allows you a close, mindful look at its Medieval maker’s creative ways and means. Their available techniques, materials and tools and how they were used. You also learn how your recreated item was used in their daily life.
I engraved this glass for an arts and sciences competition “East Mees West” at Calontir’s coronation of Garick von Köpke and Yasamin al-Hadiyya September 11, 2004. Diamond-point engraved glass during the 16th century was often done by artisan’s separate from a workshop. Stroke by stroke the tiny lines scratched acanthus patterns onto glass and so did I. The glassware would have been formed in Western Europe; the acanthus patterns originated in the Middle East. East meeting West.