Ohborn Castle Pt. Three

Considering that both Hitler and Napoleon attempted to rip down these great walls, it is amazing to think how painstakingly preserved they are. Thanks in no short part to those still devoted to pitch. Indeed, it was the tar and pitch ceremonies that prevented Napoleonic armies from coming here, and it was their warning that alerted the overseer to divert Hitler. Yes, to this very day the tar and pitch ceremony goes on; to a greatly lesser extent. Ever since the dark ages, those who pitch, have been at odds with those who hold to Johann's theory. While most of the populace converted to the artists ideals, there have always been those that kept to the old ways. This lead to much fighting even at times blood shed. However, in the 1200's a compromise was made. The tar and pitch ceremonies could continue on the outer wall, and the viewing ceremonies would carry on from within the Ohborn. This compromise continued with dotted disputes until the 20^th century. When post world wars preservation came into power. Laws were past that limited any contact with Ohborn regardless of opinion. Ohborn was to be preserved, and not stripped or pitched unless it was architecturally necessary to do so. This being the case, the professionals hired to do the work must have an aligned opinion with their allotted work. Meaning a tar and pitch man must be a follower of the old ways, and a stripper must be an Artist.

“And Cut. Good you did that with a straight face. I'm proud of you.”

“You should be.”

“We're adding a segment about the initiation process. We're going to shoot it in Ohborn itself. We're hoping to do a reenactment.”

“What? We don't have clearance to shoot in Ohborn!”

“I just got it. Once the overseer heard you were the host of this project he agreed. He said he wished he would have known sooner.”

“You didn't have any right to use my name.”

“I didn't tell him. He found out on his own. Although it was quite providentially helpful to us.”

Eric sighed and shook his head. The unavoidable nature of this situation infuriated him. A shooting in Ohborn would certainly be disastrous. No, he wasn't one of those superstitious types, but the castle was not meant for film equipment. Several accidents have happened to people wanting to film inside Ohborn. Fires, equipment failures, injuries and even a couple of deaths have happened. The castle is dark, and the floor is slick. Many attempts have been made over the years to electrify the castle, at least in part, but to no avail. It was speculated that there was some kind of natural magnetic current under the ground that caused electronics to malfunction. Eric knew this to be true on a personal level. He was 19 when he received his summer internship at Ohborn. He had the audacity to bring his cell phone with him into the castle. (Even though it was forbidden to do so.) Not only did he have no signal, but his phone's memory was totally wiped. Bernard, who was only a representative at the time, thought it was hilarious. Bernard was quite a friend to Eric back then. Sometimes people are lucky enough to find a friend who shares the same madness. Eric and Bernard were mad. They were mad for Ohborn.

Neither Eric nor Bernard were much interested in practicing art so much as they were interested in study. Indeed, the limitless amount of study that was to be done in and around Ohborn thrilled them both. It had taken Bernard ten years to get a representative placement at Ohborn. Where as Eric fell into his internship through privilege and chance. Yet Bernard never begrudged Eric that. He knew that having things come easily was its own punishment.

Eric delighted in debating. Especially during his internship at Ohborn. In America there are many people that attempt to “Do art.” Yet few know what they are doing and or talking about. The cultural desert that is his American home had often disgusted Eric. So many people making stick figures, and calling them great because they were inspired by the image. “It is not like it is difficult to study.” Eric would often grumble. He'd find himself disgusted by the common American artists. They claimed to be so concerned about art classes being removed from school's, but indifferent to learning and teaching art themselves.

“That's not my only peeve with Americans Bernard.” Eric said one day many years before he made the documentary.

“Do tell me Eric. Complaining-Eric is so good for the artistic soul.”

“As is sarcasm.”

“No truly. Share with me the world of tasteless Americans.”

“They are wasteful and hurt the artistry of nature. It's like they forget the image on the wall was part of nature, and that the old way was all about preserving natural art. Nothing that we artists create can compete with the natural beauty of the rocks or sea, or a flower of pity's sake.”

“True, but we do paint those things.”

“And we try to copy the image on the wall. In fact, all of artistry, in some form or another attempt to recreate the image on the wall.”

“All of Ohborn artistry.”

“Yes. The false artists that have never seen nor emulated the image.”

“There are false artists that emulate.” He laughs. “There are even false artists that have looked upon the image.”

“Well that's debatable. Once an artist always an artist.”

“If you stay an artist. If someone stops emulating the image all together they shall not benefit from it in death.”

“Johann's theory.”

“You take the non-mystical approach.”

“No. I believe it. Just not the way you do. I don't think. It is good to believe that the rocks will somehow illuminate the dead. When they are revealed.”

“I'm telling you it will happen in our day. We'll see the rocks in person.”

“Many people have said that, Bernard.”

“I am not people.”