Weird Greensboro - The Longest Festival of the Year

A bit of a misnomer, the title is, but this past weekend (Sunday, in fact) was Greensboro's Summer Solstice Celebration - a celebration of the longest day of the year and the first day of summer (both of which actually occur today, Monday).

The main draw of the festival, of course, is the shopping. What good is a free festival if someone isn't profiting off jewelry, costume and accent pieces, funky clothing, body art, food and (most importantly) drinks to stave off the oppressiveness of the summer heat? I didn't do a lot of shopping myself - for one thing, it was simply too hot to stand in one place long enough to peruse all the different wares...if you had any intention of moving again, that is!

For those more willing to succumb to the summer heat than I, there were plenty of events to wow the eyes and ears. At the main stage area, there was a constant rotation of live music and dancing exhibitions, mostly traditional and folk dances of non-Western cultures. More music, dance, artistry, and even some acrobatics took place at other performance spaces around the park, and at 6 pm was perhaps the highlight of the festival - the butterfly release. Unfortunately, I neglected to keep an eye on the time so I was near the back of the crowd, but it was a real treat to see a hesitant spray of red- and orange-winged butterflies weaving drunkenly above the heads of the crowd in front of me. One of the little critters must have decided it needed a moment to orient itself and chose my left elbow as a promising perch, but unfortunately flitted off again before I could snag a photo. Not far off, however, a costumed woman had a butterfly light on her own wings (cloth-and-wire fairy wings) and her friends seemed positively thrilled to be able to photograph the occurrence.

Past that, things became an exciting blur. The friends I'd gone to the festival with had left early (their children weren't handling the heat too well), but I unexpectedly ran into quite a few other people that I knew. For the next few hours, I bounced from person to person and group to group, bopping around the festival site like the butterflies from a bit earlier. As the sun finally started to slip behind the trees, lines at the food vendors got longer and longer. Just about anything you would expect to find there was there! Hamburgers and hotdogs seemed like the most popular fare, but cold drinks and cold treats (one child was spotted with a Spongebob Squarepants shaped popsicle, and a friend shared a bite of Nutella flavored gelato—most likely provided by the delectable Gnam Gnam Gelato, located near The Fresh Market on Lawndale—that was positively heavenly!) made a strong showing, and I think I may have even seen a cupcake or two.

What impressed me most were the number of people at the festival that I knew either directly or indirectly. In addition to unexpected friends from high school, Guilford College, and other area schools, I ran into some local crafts people and Renaissance faire aficionados I'd met at other events, photographer Alan Welch, and even the author and artist of webcomic Spike Cartoons, a young woman who's ambition and imagination are sure to take her places.

Once dusk was finally at hand (it takes a while when it's the day before the longest day of the year), the dramatic conclusion of the festivities began as the fire dancing act started. Highlighted by the impressive acrobatic and balancing skills of Kara Chambers and Jacob Felder, and featuring the antics of local fire dancing troupe Flaming Faeries, the show had some impressive displays of fire poi, hoops, fans, umbrellas, and even a set of flaming fairy wings. The show was accompanied by some excellent music as well, including a piece danced to "Marco Polo" by Loreena McKennitt, one of my favorite musical artists.

All in all, the Summer Solstice Celebration is an excellent way to spend an afternoon if you live in the Triad and weren't already having a cookout for Father's Day. Afternoon temperatures and lack of shade across much of the festival area made the early parts of the festival really uncomfortable but once the shadows lengthened, good spirits and fun prevailed. Too bad the solstice cant be celebrated on the equinox, when the weather would be a bit more agreeable. ;)

Rhodes vs. Card, round 3

For those of you who have known me for any length of time, you almost certainly know that I'm embroiled in a long, bitter, and utterly fictitious feud with notable author and professor Orson Scott Card.

We've had a few face-to-face encounters, both of them dramatic. In 2006, I attended the Summit Players production of Romeo & Juliet he directed (mentioned after the first "*" page break. I was in the audience). Last spring, he came to see me perform in New Day at First Baptist Church (look for it after the second "*" page break, although the review of Star Trek that makes up the bulk of the article is also an interesting read).

This weekend, it was time for round 3. Orson Scott Card was offering the one-day workshop Roads Into Writing, and I knew I couldn't give up the opportunity to learn Mr. Card's deepest secrets and use them against him. My fiery temper was quelled when I arrived at the workshop and realized he's brought a posse along with him, the estimable writers Edmund R. Schubert, Aaron Johnston, and Brandon Mull. I would just have to sit and observe; the challenge would have to wait for another day.

The deadly quartet—cleverly disguising themselves as a "panel"—introduced themselves to the attendees, a mixed group representing a range of ages, ideologies, and interests (although many were identifiable as SVU students). As the introductions wound down, I knew it was time to prepare myself for the main event.

Pen clutched like a dagger at the ready and notebook brandished like a shield, Orson Scott Card himself led off with a vicious double-header. Back-to-back discussions on "Viewpoint & Structure" and "Inventing the Story" with but a brief break in between left me reeling, and even that break barely gave me a chance to catch my breath, as I scrabbled furiously with dagger and shield to prove, along with the other greenhorns, that I knew the subtle but effective "Third Person Limited" technique. As the second session came to a close, we were commanded to share our training with our peers during the mid-day break. At the table I had infiltrated, I and my other colleagues seemed satisfied with each person's mastery of this technique. For our efforts, we were rewarded with lunch (and even a brownie!).

After this precious period of repose, Aaron Johnston demonstrated his own formidable expertise in "Finding Time to Write". Having heard of his background in improvisational theater, my attention was rapt since I knew I may not know what to expect from him, and when. And that attention was well-warranted as he managed to divide a typical schedule into "have-to-dos", "like-to-dos", and "time wasters", then proceeded to perform combinations on "have-to-dos" to decimate their numbers, and then like a master of t'ai chi to use the momentum of their own inevitability to change "have-to-dos" into writing opportunities. Johnston's assault continued as he demonstrated how to viciously cut "like-to-dos", and to eliminate all "time wasters".

Appropriately impressed, my initial dire intent was tempered by humility as Brandon Mull took the stage. His presentation—"Essential Elements of Story"—wasn't as insidious or complex as Aaron's, but his mastery of the basics marked him a true expert. Characters-Relationships-Trouble-Decisions-Consequences! As he demonstrated how each of these five fundamental tenets of writing interwove with the others to create a story, my admiration only grew.

The last of Card's companions was Edmund Schubert. Edmund was wounded; a pulled tendon in his shoulder kept his arm in a sling for most of the day. He took the stage however, and removed the sling, eliciting a collective gasp from his captive audience. Even injured, Ed would allow himself no limits.* His discussion on "Query Letters" revealed him as a man who was no stranger to intricate tactics, and he discussed the advantages and drawbacks of such maneuvers as multiple and simultaneous submissions, submitting query letters, and the importance of "knowing thy enemy/agencies/publishers/editors". To most effectively deal with these individuals, it is essential to know their submission guidelines and follow them. This will allow you to approach closer to the agencies, publishers, and editors safely. If their guidelines are not followed, you will never be allowed to approach close enough to demonstrate your skill. He also warned to beware bogus agents; fiendish mercenaries who prey on the weak and inexperienced.

As the day ended, I knew that in this arena, at least, I was no match for my nemesis, Orson Scott Card. My challenge to him would have to wait for another day, and our raging feud to be set aside for a brief time. Humbled, I began the 3 hour journey back home.

*To alleviate potential concerns, Mr. Schubert did clarify to us that he was recovering nicely from the injury and that the sling was no longer necessary; he was wearing it more as a reminder not to over-extend himself. Removing the sling allowed him to more comfortably write on the chalkboard while holding the microphone.