Hotter than Hellsgate takes over the Copperas Cove library
By PAMELA GRANT
Cove Leader-Press
The library was the place to be this Saturday to have fun, learn new things, and beat the heat, all with a medieval flair.
The Stronghold of Hellsgate, a branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA)—a group dedicated to the recreation of pre-seventeenth century skills, arts, combat, and more—hosted Hotter than Hellsgate, A Roman Symposium on the pleasures of getting out of the heat. The event was held at the Copperas Cove Public Library and was free and open to anyone who was interested in attending. Participants attended from as far away as San Antonio and Bastrop.
“Our local group likes to have an event in midsummer when it’s really too hot for camping and it’s uncomfortably hot for fighting, so we have a midsummer event for teaching classes and visiting with friends. It’s casual and laid back,” said Kevin Marsh, known in the SCA as Baron Maelgwyn Dda, who served as the event steward. “People who are interested in this are welcome to take a look at our website and join any of the events that we’ve got. We have things from art events to fighting events every week year-round.”
The event attracted some who have been members of the SCA for years as well as those who just happened to be at the library and popped in to check out what was going on.
Sarah Materne happened to hear about the event and decided to give it a try along with some of her friends.
“I think it’s really fun. It’s a really silly environment,” said Materne. She said that she enjoyed getting a chance to make jewelry and the medieval dances. “I think there should be more medieval dances in the world.”
Classes were held from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. with a wide variety of fun activities. There were classes on Renaissance dancing, Kumihimo (Japanese braiding), embroidery and weaving, arrow repair, jewelry making, and discussions on hardened/leather armor and bardic history.
Bruce Brown, known in the SCA as Robert De Fecamp, taught a class on bardic history. He said that bards often took existing sounds and added their own lyrical twists. He used an example wherein he changed “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” into “It’s beginning to look a lot like mayhem”.
Brown said that he was enjoying the Hotter than Hellsgate event.
“This is wonderful,” said Brown. “It’s truly too hot to go out there and fight. Fighting is miserable right now.”
Brown said that he was excited about all of the different classes available Saturday and was excited to teach his own class which was one of the last classes of the day.
“Everybody’s having a great time,” said Brown.
Jennifer Ytuarte, known in the SCA as the Honorable Madalena de Orozco, attended the event all the way from San Antonio. Ytuarte taught jewelry making classes throughout the entire event teaching a large number of people how to fashion their very own Roman-inspired jewelry which they were able to take home with them.
“Every single thing that I’ve ever really learned artistic-wise was through the SCA,” said Ytuarte. “I feel like I’ve gained so much wisdom without the expense of all the different individual sessions or classes that I would have had to take…because to be honest, everybody here is so excited to teach you.”
Ytuarte said that so many members of the SCA are willing to take the time to share what they love with those who might be interested in the same art that they love. Ytuarte said that they wanted to share that with others as well and share their own love of jewelry making with others, hence why Ytuarte is more than happy to teach so many classes.
“It brings me joy, more than anything else I do in my life,” said Ytuarte. “Getting away for the weekend and teaching as much as possible to everyone who wants to learn…I like to help others find their joy.”