A sea of ....

Goodbyes

I think that I may drop this tumblr blog since I’ve started one for Out of Step Arts (which you can view and follow here).

So are there rules for discarding a blog?  Is it like destroying an American flag with a ceremony involved?  Or maybe it’s like throwing out old paint cans and can only be done on a certain day, four times a year.  Or maybe it’s like getting rid of a dead body; discretely under the cover of night.  No I think in this case, it will be like disposing of a soiled diaper: Purposefully abandoned full of poop in the middle of the Wal-Mart parking lot for any passer-by to see.

Hats in the Ring

I like art.  But more than that, I like supporting the arts.  Specifically, I like to support talented emerging or lesser known artists.  It’s kind a selfish endeavor on my part, I guess.  Or at least mutually beneficial.  I enjoy knowing that my patronage, in a personal and identifiable way, goes towards helping artists do what they love to do.  I enjoy forming relationships with the artists.  And I enjoy it when an artist I supported finds success and a larger audience.

In the past, I was able to show my support through purchasing art (usually directly from the artist) or giving money towards a project.  My financial situation has changed in the last year, though, and I’m not able to do that so much anymore.  However, the desire to support these artists has not changed.  So, what to do?

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Art to buy at HEROES CON

It seems like there have been a lot of cancellations for this year’s HEROES CON, particularly in the “indie” artist field.  I know that things happen and there are cancellations every year, but the “Cancelled” list is up to 27 as of today.

So, now you’re standing there thinking: “Oh, no!  Artist X isn’t going to be at HEROES CON.  What am I going to do with this giant stack of money now?!”  Well, you could cover it in snow and sled down it, but with winter so far away, you might want to seek out these talented artist that you may or may not of heard about:

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More HEROES CON stuff

SEE/DO/BUY AT HEROES CON:

Part two. Ziritt, Zatanas and….uh…Zanete?

SEE: ALEXIS ZIRITT and FISTFUL APPAREL (AA-525)

To borrow from a Das Racist song; if you know all the reasons why Alexis Ziritt is da shit, then you da shit.  This guy is definitely on the rise and I think HEROES CON is going to be a great opportunity, not only for him, but for you!  Be sure you go by his booth and check out his art, comics, as well as his shirts from Fistful Apparel.

DO: THE HEROES CON ART AUCTION

Pic by Patman: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patcave/sets/72157624121241973/

The Saturday night art auction is one of the things that makes the Heroes Con stand out in a sea of comic conventions.  Sure, other cons have auctions, but I can’t imagine that any of them come close to the participation, works auctioned off, or the atmosphere in the room.  The funds raised from the auction go to help put on the next year’s HEROES CON.  I think it is a real showing of appreciation and support by the artists and the fans for all of the work Shelton Drum and his crew put into the con every year.  

You may be saying: “But I don’t have a ton of money to buy art”.  That’s okay!  You should at least go to see all of the art on display before the auction starts and watch some of the action.  Also, not all of the art goes for thousands of dollars.  Often times you can get some really nice pieces for a great price.  

BUY: CHOCOLATE by ERIC CANETE ($25)

Come on, guys.  It’s an art book by Eric Canete.  What more do I need to say?  

Here are the details: 6 x 9.25 inches - Full color pearlescent cover w/ dust jacket wrapper, B&W interior pages on vellum, heavy stock. 56 pages.  50% of all proceeds  from the sales of CHOCOLATE will be given as an IN MEMORIAM donation to the CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY in honor of artist CLEMENT SAUVE who passed away on January 26, 2011.

You can also purchase it on Eric’s blog if you can’t make it to HEROES CON: http://kahnehteh.blogspot.com/

HEROES CON

SEE/DO/BUY AT HEROES CON:

Everyone has their own agenda for comic conventions, but here are my suggestions.  

SEE: CHRIS PITZER and ADHOUSE BOOKS

Photo by Heather McKinney: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54091968@N04/

If you like comics, Chris will have something for you.  The great thing about the AdHouse booth is that with the addition of the AdDistro, it’s becoming more like a cool portable comic book shop than just a place to sell his own product.  Sometimes, if you’re lucky, Chris will even bring things from his personal collection like old comics, toys and yard sale items he’s picked up.

The other advantage of visiting the AdHouse booth at HEROES CON is that, in some cases, you can take your recently purchased book to Indie Island and get it signed. AdHouse talents like LAMAR ABRAMS and JIM RUGG will be present, to name a couple.

And if those reasons aren’t enough, Chris is just an all-around swell dude.  Go talk to him about comics, food, music, dogs, or whatever.  Just don’t talk about how TOTALLY AWESOME Sleigh Bells and CSS were live when you went to see them last month. You can, however, talk to Lamar Abrams about it with Chris in earshot.

DO: EAT AT MERT’S

Holy cow, you guys!  MERT’S is soooooo good.  I’m drooling just looking at their website to get the link. http://www.mertscharlotte.com/

I couldn’t say it any better myself, so here is their description of the restaurant: “Located in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, Mert’s Heart and Soul is one of the most-visited restaurants in the Queen City. From the award-winning macaroni and cheese, to the sweet, buttery cornbread and shrimp and grits, Mert’s Heart and Soul’s southern, Low Country, and Gullah-inspired dishes leave guests with an unforgettable “home cooked” experience. Stop by Mert’s Heart and Soul today to find out what Charlotteans and tourists already know: That Mert’s is the heart and soul of Charlotte.”

BUY: FAVORITE COMIC ZINE FOR TEAM CUL DE SAC ($5)

If you like comics, then you probably like reading and talking about the comics you like.  Well, with the FAVORITE COMIC ZINE, you can read what the people who make the comics you like have to say about the comics they like!  The best thing is that the proceeds help support a charity.  That’s like awesomeness wrapped in bacon!

You can find out more about it on the Team Cul de Sac blog.

HEROES CON

MY TIPS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF HEROES CON:

1) BE SOCIAL

You’ll hear people who have been to multiple Heroes Con liken it to a family reunion that you actually want to go to.  This is because it’s a place where friends, both profesional and fan, meet and the convention has a very relaxed feel.  I think this is due to the fact that its a 3-day show, but mostly because of Shelton Drum and his staff/volunteers are so accommodating, friendly and organized.  This friendly and relaxed environment extends to the after-hours at the Westin Hotel bar.  So…..

• get out there and mingle with like-minded individuals over some beverages.
• make plans in advance to meet up with people that you know from fan-forums, discussion boards, twitter, facebook and other nerdy corners of the internets.  
• say “Hi” and chit-chat with your favorite artist/writer/publisher/comic shop owner.
• talk to the people next to you in line while you wait for the con to open or for your favorite artist to draw in your sketchbook.  (Need an ice breaker?  Ask who they are most excited to see at the show or if you can take a look at the art they’ve gotten so far.  Discussions will develop from there.)
• did I mention drinking and hanging out at the Westin?  Which leads me to my next bit of advice….

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onlinealibi asked: I own "The Debutante" painting you posted today. I was going to send you a picture of it on my wall as a tease but I cant attach a picture. Just know that its being well looked after.

I’m happy to hear it.  And should the day ever come when you need to part with it…..  :)

Photos