February, 2005 Tar Valon Times

Calendar by Arisaema Draconis

February 6, Feast of Abram

News by Leilwyn al'Raen

Presenting new shows on TarValon Radio! The Radio Programming Team has been working around the clock to bring you new shows to listen to. The MJ Show and Easy Nights are just two of these. Details can be found in Community News or by following the links provided on the calendar.

The search is on for the perfect location for Fall Ball 2005! Anyone with any ideas or information is needed, so read up on this and check with Administration.

Got a Question for Robert Jordan? TOR is now accepting questions for Robert Jordan for their "Question of the Week" section. Anything you're dying to know about the World of the Wheel of Time...? Well, submit your question now!

Birthdays by Adriana al'Tere

Happy birthday to these people in February!

1, Tanis Camblon
1, Raevyn Tsornin
2, Dain Fedwin
5, Valadilene Aldieb
5, Patraek Tikvah
8, Coramin Amnell
8, Jax Devenshore
9, Mellyn al'Baya
9, Dierna Salinne
14, Taimi Vandene
15, Jayrik Thaurturion
15, Sela Narian
15, Eli Soljourn
18, Melania al'Larwind
19, Liandra Da Miere
19, Sataere Thruthheim
21, Gwenlyn Lian
21, Verqualia Sindaran
22, Rissa al'Ricken
22, Shana Rider
22, Alyra Seyni
23, Illiana Al'Lyon

Alsa Daar: RPG and Community by Kyla Sterling

It is recommended that if you have not read at least to Fires of Heaven (book 5) that you not read this review as it contains spoilers.

Servant of All Competition by Arisaema Draconis

This year's holiday event was a resounding success. Tower members responded in true Aes Sedai fashion. Approximately 20 individuals gave of themselves in many selfless ways. More than 350 hours of volunteer work were recorded and a total of $11,127.00 in cash or items were donated or provided to the needy.

Four members received the award of Honorable Mention for humanitarian efforts:

• Coramin Amnell worked hard at a food bank, tutoring English as a second language and travelled to Mexico for two days to help build houses for impoverished people.
• Jenarra Sedai for enormous donations to charity and tireless hours of community service.
• Branwyn Sedai for rendering aid in an emergency situation and generosity beyond measure.
• Eleyan al'Landerin arranged a household of furniture to be donated to a needy family.

The Award of Merit was presented to the Yellows and the Whites for generous service and contributions to their communities and individuals in need.

And our most prestigious award for Outstanding Achievement was presented to the Gray Ajah for standing out for individual and team effort.

We hope to continue with efforts to benefit our communities, friends and strangers, our fellow man every day as Servants of All.

Please continue to pm Ari Sedai with community service endeavors so that we may visualize the difference our White Tower makes in the world.

Member of the Month by Leilwyn al'Raen

Congratulations to Kariada Kunai for being chosen Member of the Month!

The Finer Side of Tar Valon by Cursor Wrathwind

Sweat-drenched practice yards, laborious classrooms, and sweltering kitchens too pedestrian for your taste? Do you prefer the finer points of life? Have a taste for the sophisticated? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, or just have an interest in art, then the City of Tar Valon Art Museum is for you!

Run by Curator Darim Pelegro Gaidin, the Art Museum is a frequently updated showcase of the efforts and talents of your fellow men and women here at TarValon.net. The Art Museum houses numerous galleries for each member, displaying art they willingly sent in--remember, the museum is always happy to highlight new artists--and ranges in styles from the meticulously hand drawn to the computer generated. Commentaries from the artists themselves, from why they draw to their notes on each work, are sure to provide valuable insight into the works.

Personally, I was impressed with all the work, but the artist that blew me away has to be AXIS Gaidin. His black and white rendering of Logain struck me profoundly and stuck in my mind. I think AXIS makes good uses of blending and is very meticulous on detail. I was very impressed.

The Museum also houses galleries for the monthly themes, currently housing galleries for the City State of Tar Valon and The Shadow. These galleries are updated monthly. If you wish to have a work displayed, send it to Darim at comandantemula@hotmail.com. Please note: All submissions must be 350 pixels or less wide, and 450 pixels or less in height to ensure quality. If you cannot resize your images, please contact the Curator. In your submission, you may include a description of your style and influences, as well as a brief description of each piece.

And for your enjoyment, I was able to track down Darim Gaidin amid the running of the annual logo contest, recently won by Neisa Sedai, for an interview:

TVT: What exactly does the job of curator entail?

Darim: As the Curator of the Museum of Art, it is my job to maintain, organize, and update the Museum in a current and aesthetically pleasing style, as well as one where art can be quickly accessed. Secondly, I coordinate the annual TarValon.net Art Calendar, where we feature the various works of the members of TarValon.net, providing both a stimulating cover as well as quality pieces for the actual pages. Thirdly, I organize the Anniversary Party logo contest, which is under way at the moment. Finally, I am charged with ensuring the artistic growth within the community.

TVT: What is in the foreseeable future of the Art Museum?

Darim: I may revise the actual design of the Museum sometime in the near future to make things a bit easier to read and more organized. Shrink some bits, make others bigger, things like that, just to make it more accessible. Any actual aesthetic changes won't likely happen until this spring when I have a bit more time on my hands, hopefully, to design an entirely new look. My pipe dream is to one day learn PHP coding and write up a magical code that makes a lot of the more tedious HTML coding obsolete; maybe more reasonably, I'll find a kind soul to do it for me. As far as the artwork itself, I am always hoping for new member-artists and new pieces to send me an email or IM, so that I can add to the galleries. We must remember that it is about the art after all, seeing the visual representation of the characters and world we have come to love is paramount and I want that to remain the focus.

TVT: Why did you decided to take this job?

Darim: When I first joined the site, I was surprised to not see some sort of gallery up that displayed not only Wheel of Time conceptual art but also the personal art of members. We don't display random pieces by members; we certainly have focused the spectrum that I originally envisioned for the site. The moment Aeris Sedai retired I immediately applied for the position of Curator of the Museum of Art. I had started the Sigforge, where I proved my graphical and web-design skills, as well as demonstrating a certain amount of good taste. Also, art and the study of art have been interests of mine for the past few years, and I would like to enter the field some day. So, it just seemed a natural way for me to further define my role within the community. Plus, I like the free privilege of being an ordained snob, which comes with the title, "Curator of the City of TarValon.net Museum of Art." -not so unserious glint in his eye-