Fan Fest: Overview

Phoenix Comicon organizers could have been content to continue running a really solid convention every summer. With an army of 1600 volunteers and just 6 paid staff, they were already putting on one of the largest Comicons in the U.S. They could’ve just cruised.

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Instead, they decided to level up and add a second annual event. In response to community feedback, Fan Fest was held last month at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.

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The 3-day Fan Fest had a more focused scope than the intimidatingly expansive schedule of the main Phoenix Comicon event, wrapping up each day by 7:30 pm or so instead of stretching to the wee hours. It still had multiple tracks, two Doctor Whos (Doctors Who?), activities for all ages, and an attendance of over 11,000. (So…slightly larger than the population of Sedona.)

Yes, there was a first year glitch here and there, but overall it was a great event.

Clearly, the force is strong with them.

Comic book track

Ahead of the con, organizers polled the community about what kind of character they’d like to see created. Then, during the weekend, an entire track was devoted to bringing the character and story to life.

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For each step of the process – sketching, inking, coloring, etc. – a different panel of volunteer artists would build on what had been created before, brainstorming and incorporating audience feedback as they went. I sat in on the clothing session. Discussions centered on how to reflect the story and super powers of the character, Blaze, in the design of her costume with the artists sharing ideas and opinions, as well as busily sketching them out.

By the end of the weekend, there was a 4-page comic book(let) of Blaze’s origin story.

Costuming

I’ll introduce you to some of the fabulous cosplayers and other makers I met in a separate post. For now, here are some of the costuming related programming and activities I got a chance to check out.

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Cosplay fashion show – So many imaginative costumes! And some of the teens really got into character as they walked down the runway. It was great to see them embrace and embody something they’re into.

Costume-building competitions – Due to lack of participation, a few of these had to be cancelled. I chalk this up to first-year growing pains. I’m not sure people came expecting to participate as much as they had the opportunity to.

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EVA foam demo – Mike Syfritt demonstrated his techniques for working with sheets of EVA foam, laser-cutting and layering them to create cosplay weapons and other props. Also, he had a really impressive supply toolkit – with an entire drawer for glue.

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Makeup – There was a special effects make-up competition with just 75 minutes to transform an audience volunteer using theatrical makeup. The make-up artists did a fantastic job!

Exhibition hall

There were around 300 exhibitors. A big section of the hall, “artists’ alley,” was devoted to comic book and other illustrators. There are several artists and makers I’m excited to tell you about, but again, that’s going into another post.

Beyond the exhibitors were the lines for photo ops with actors and other guests.

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There were also some places to take your own photos. Phillip posed as Han Solo facing off against the bounty hunter Greedo in a replica of an infamous hive of scum and villainy.

The Cactus Brick adult LEGOs users’ group was back with a LEGO city like the one they brought to Phoenix Comicon. They also had a table where you could make your own creation.

Other highlights

Outside there were different activities like jousting matches, muggle quidditch, and bouncy houses/slides/etc. for kids.

PUGS

There was a team version of the Phoenix Ultimate Geek Smackdown (PUGS), which Phillip participated in.

Teams had to debate geeky topics like “who wore the bow tie best: Doctor Who or Bill Nye?” Moderator Jeff Moriarty assigned the sides to the teams as he saw fit, and they had to defend whichever was assigned to them.

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For example, Phillip’s team had to argue why Catwoman was better with a whip than Indiana Jones. They put forth a valiant effort, but, really, Indy is hard to beat.

Preview of Phoenix Comicon

“We want Phoenix Comicon to be a place where you don’t just come see things, you come do things.”
–Phoenix Comicon 2015 Preview panel

One of the last panels was about what to expect from Phoenix Comicon in May 2015.

The summer event will be held at the Phoenix Convention Center again. Memberships (tickets) are already on sale. There are 8 host hotels, and they will probably sell out early.

A few of the things that are in the works:

Possible Jedi training with a lightsaber group.
Youth activities, skits, and art room.
Science tracks that count towards continuing education credits for teachers.
More writing panels.
“Drinks with Authors” events.
More fantasy programming centered around Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, etc.
More nighttime events, including nightly parties at the host hotels. Some will be 21+ and some for all ages.

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– More info –

Phoenix Comicon
Phoenix Comicon for newbies
Cosplay tips
Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest
Interview with Jillian Squires, Director of Marketing for Phoenix Comicon, on the Blogadin podcast (interview starts at about 34:00)

Thank you to Phoenix Comicon for providing media passes!

November 24, 2014August 24, 2015

Peeking inside desert art studios

There is an artist community in Cave Creek, a town north of Phoenix nestled into the desert wrapping around Black Mountain.

Every year they host a self-guided open studio tour with over 100 working artists participating. You can meet the artists, see their work and a little bit of their space, ask questions, buy art.

If you’re in the Phoenix area, check out the Hidden in the Hills tour this Friday through Sunday (11/28-30)!

Photos: 1) Cave Creek Sunset. 2) Studio and artwork of Judy Bruce. 3) Paul Diefenderfer demonstrating ironwork at Desert Rat Forge. 4) Booths and artwork of (l to r) Betsy Halford, Christiane Barbato, Nicolette Maguire Bonnstetter. 5) Artwork in progress by Gordon Paul Mischke.

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Microblog Mondays: I’m thankful for Mel, the fabulous founder of the Stirrup Queens community!

November 12, 2014May 23, 2023

Minimum Daily Requirements at the post office

While I love art museums and galleries, there’s something really delightful when art pops up in unexpected places like libraries or alleyways or under bridges.

What about the post office? Art isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when I think of post office buildings. However, the downtown Tempe post office has rotating installations just inside its large windows, so you can see works both from inside and from the street.

I didn’t realize this until artist (and fellow CraftHack-er) Crystal Daigle told me about the exhibition she was curating.

It’s called “Minimum Daily Requirements,” and will be on display in the Mill Avenue post office until December 10. Each of the windows displays mixed media work by a different Phoenix-area artist, exploring their own daily requirements.

Crystal’s piece was truly a community effort, funded by a Kickstarter campaign and partially pieced together by volunteers at maker spaces under her direction. It’s called “Push Down & Tango” and, in Crystal’s words, is “designed to celebrate the resiliency of survivors, thrivers and caretakers.” The centerpiece is a large circle of fabric roses. At the base are leaves formed from prescription bottles covered with images of people dancing tango, since learning tango was a turning point for Crystal. The 3 leaves are surrounded by hand-lettered names to pay tribute to resilient people.

Phillip and I stopped by the exhibition during its opening celebration in September, just as a dust storm was rolling in. We took shelter inside the post office during the worst of it and it blew over quickly, leaving a dramatic sky as a backdrop for the gathering.

– More info –

“Minimum Daily Requirements” (PDF) dates: 8/15-12/10/14
United States Post Office windows at 500 S. Mill Ave. (5th Street and Mill Avenue)
Parking: on-street meters or nearby garages
Transit: Light rail (Mill Ave/3rd Street stop) or Orbit Mercury
There is no admission, but feel free to bring along any packages or cards you need to mail.
Just found the exhibition schedule for all Tempe Community Galleries! This includes the post office and Tempe Public Library’s Connections Cafe. (Remember when I was lamenting they didn’t list the Tempe Library exhibitions anywhere? Turns out they do. Just not anywhere obvious.)

September 20, 2014August 13, 2025

Fremont public art

Gotta love public art! Here are 3 fascinating pieces in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle!

1. Underneath the Aurora Bridge is the Fremont Troll. Made of reinforced concrete, wire, and a VW bug, it’s large enough for several people to climb on at once. The troll has inspired several annual events and is often decorated with chalk art.

2. The Interurban Sculpture depicts several people waiting at a bus stop, along with a dog with a human face (said to be the likeness of either a particularly beloved or hated public figure, depending on who you talk to). It is regularly decorated, dressed up, and/or yarn bombed. Community members are welcome — encouraged, actually — to adorn the statue as they choose for a week, as long as they are not displaying commercial messages.

3. So this conversation actually happened:

“Do you want to see the statue of Lenin?”

“Lennon? Like John Lennon?”

“No. Like Marx and Lenin.”

“What?!”

Yep. Imagine all the people who could be depicted in statue form in a Seattle neighborhood, and I bet you wouldn’t have guessed the Russian communist leader either. The statue was originally installed in Slovakia, toppled during the 1989 revolution, and currently stands on a street corner in Fremont. I don’t think the community is trying to promote his ideals. As I understand it, it’s about great craft extending beyond ideology. All they are saying is “give art a chance.”

Fremont prides itself on its quirkiness. And with a giant Volkswagen-eating troll under a bridge, a statue that residents dress, and one of a Russian revolutionary, I don’t think it’s in danger of losing that distinction.

With a little research help from my friends Ian Smith and Christine Smith of Four Windows.

August 27, 2014August 27, 2014

Wandering Pike Place Market

There’s nothing wrong with seeing the highlights of a place, the well-known “must-see” spots. But it’s always great when you can go beyond that, get off the beaten path, take the side streets.

Pike Place Market isn’t just a tourist attraction. Locals also frequent the farmers’ market, shops, cafes, and bars. It’s brimming with quirky Seattle flavor. The Market rewards those who are willing to explore, to keep their eyes open.

Of course, it’s fun to watch the guys throwing fish, and then stroll down the main arcade checking out the fruit and flowers. But you don’t have to stop there. Try chocolate pasta. Peruse the busker bulletin board.

If you don’t want to wait in line at the original Starbucks, you can try a new kind of crumpet.

Go down a level or two and you’ll find a magic shop, a record store, a place that sells squirrel underwear.

Around the corner from the famous Gum Wall, there’s an alley covered with posters, stickers, and street art. (I’m always on the lookout for art in unexpected places – including alleys.)

A paste-up of a man wearing a business suit and a space helmet caught my eye. He’s the Clastronaut and is inspired by the feeling of never being at home.

That makes sense to me. We’re all travelers.

So you might as well wander around, get lost, and see what’s around the corner.

Pike Place Market is one fantastic place to do that.