Spectrum 2015

(Left) Banners up along the streetways in downtown KC. (Right) Unloading stuff in the front of Bartle Hall.

I don't even know where to begin.

Seriously. Where does one begin with a show like Spectrum Fantastic Art Live that moved into it's fourth year and came out swinging with it's usual visual majesty and band of incredibly skilled artisans in one hand, and in the other, a seemingly new found scrappiness and almost intimately profound round of punkish attitude brought on by new faces, a host of new far traveling and local attendees, and future show hopefuls.

I know last year I was worried. I am an idiot.

It appeared to me that last year, maybe some of the magic, some of the electricity had started to lower. That the show might not come back for a fourth year. I only know the Fenners marginally, but I do not doubt that they do all they can to pull out all the stops to get this show on track. I and so many others that attend and display at this show know how just monumental putting on a show like this can be logistically and how taxing it can be on one's well being and sanity. Thank you both, Mr. and Mrs. Fenner (I know I thanked you after the show in person when we spoke about the geographic variety of people that came to the show), and I hope that KC continues to be host to SFAL for many many more years to come.

Show set up in the main display area, Friday midday.

I was set up in artist alley, which was one room over from the larger booth display room. The show was now in another area of Bartle Hall, and while the setup at first really a bit of a surprise to me, it turned out in my opinion to have been not only one of the most efficient floor layouts, but it also increased the sense of community and was a bit more welcoming.

I'm getting this down to a science, but still working to make sure I don't come off looking like a flea market. This next year, I will be only doing a few sizes to make my display function better.

The crowds were great all three days, with the apex being on Saturday. I got to catch up with so many old friends and colleagues, meet a lot of new people, and just live in the element I love most. Being at shows. This beats about most any other aspect of day to day happenings for me. Almost.

You see, I was informed that Brom had passed by my table (when I was visiting with Paul Bonner) and had taken a closer view of Tank Girl. As I made my way back to my table, I was told of it, and I rushed out of Artist Alley to say hello to both he and Laurie Lee (and congratulate her on her winning the silver in the Institutional Works category at the awards Saturday night).

I want to state now, that between the three of them, Bonner, Laurie, and Brom, I had more than a mild sense of...

"my god..., what the hell am I doing at this show..."

But then I remembered. I'm trying to be the kind of artists that they and so many others at the show are, as I evolve and grow in my career as an illustrator.

After that, my mood was just as high as it could be, I was joking and speaking to people, wheeling and dealing, and letting my inner Billy Mayes out on the people that would come by my table. I was pleasantly surprised that my sales turned out as good as they did, but what the best part was, was connecting with new people, telling road stories about meeting/encountering big name players like Eric Basaldua and Tommy Castillo early in my con experiences, or talking to people about my creative processes, that Copic markers are reusable, and getting to see some really great portfolios from so many of you all that just graduated and came to SFAL from,... geez, you all came from Hawaii, Canada, Colorado, Florida, Maine, Chicago... so soooo many places.

Worked on some personal sketches during the show, for inclusion in a sketchbook compilation for next year.

This year SFAL had worked out a deal with Conquest (the other convention that was going on in town, that was having it's 46 year in running) and was playing host to George R. R. Martin (of Game of Thrones fame). I think it worked out really well, and new interest was kindled across the two sets of attendees.

The only cosplay I saw all weekend from my table and it was stunning. I didn't get good video of this cosplay, but her acting, and animatronic head were stunning.

Rain hit all weekend long, which might have been a bit of a downer for some. But it kept temperatures down, and personally, I love how saturated the cityscape of KC looked covered by a blanket of moody gray clouds.

Sitting out side across from the Alamo cinema house, enjoying some food and watching it rain.

This year the SFAL awards were held at the Folly Theatre right next to Bartle Hall.

Nice place, but oh man, the incline on the seating was STEEP!

The audience was treated to some great acts that did Cirque de Soleil sort of routines.

I really love the Midland, and I think this theatre was smaller, but I liked it because I felt a lot closer to the stage.

The high hanging ones were my personal favorite.

The show as a whole had this vibe, this electricity that harkened back to the first year. Maybe my mood was just off last year, maybe I just needed a refresher course in appreciation. It will rarely get as awe inspiring or just talent and skill laden as it does at Spectrum. If you've not been to this show. Go. Next year. You won't regret it. I promise.

Now, I can also show you some sweet items I picked up and some incredible creative people I got to know while at the show.

Bruce D Mitchell's card and sticker. This man makes killer art in the form of  helmets and masks... just do yourself a favor and keep an eye on this guy. Seriously one of the coolest dudes at the show.

Matt Tisdale makes some just surreal and haunting imagery. I was glad I was able to catch up to him at show's end and get these four art reproductions. Such a humble fellow whose enormous talent just keeps getting better.

D. Ryan Allen I met some years back and became fast friends with. This guy loves art. I mean loves it, all aspects about it, and brings this appreciation of underground zines and old school D&D aesthetics to his work.

Newly added SFAL Grand Master (congrats man, seriously!) Scott Gustafson work here. Some bookmarks, and an original from him of a top hat wearing beagle! This man is everything that is right about art, and bringing children's stories to life.

Paul Bonner is a gem of a man, and an artisan of a caliber that defies definition. One could take hours to look at his renderings, and never be bored. Paul, if you are reading this (hope you had safe travels back home), thank you again for the stunning original in my book, and to answer your question, yes, I'll be back at SFAL next year indeed.

Now that's just a small small offering off all of the cool and impressive offerings that were at the show. So much I didn't have money for. If I win the lottery between now and next year, I will make a lot of artists very very happy people next year.

Finally, as the show drew to a close on a damp and drizzly Sunday evening, and I went for a walk at a park afterwards to reflect and collect my thoughts and experiences.

Is it just me, or is Missouri looking a bit more like something out of Jurassic Park more and more everyday?

I sincerely hope this show keeps happening. That it keeps growing exponentially. That more and more people hear about it. And that more and more come out to it, and talk, learn, absorb, and create.

We have a huge number of conventions coming up in 2016... NakaKon and Planet are on two different weekends again, KCCC will hopefully be in it's second year, Crypticon and possibly KC FanCon will be going strong, Conquest will have a companion sci fi fest in the Hugo Award bearing World Con coming to KC as well. And there are rumors of a large Star Trek show happening as well.

SFAL4 "Class of" 2015 photo. I am the face in the red circle.

That's all next year. For now, I'm really, really still stoked about this not nearly long enough weekend and all that transpired during it.

But Memorial weekend heralds a special place in my heart coming from a military family. And today, my thoughts went to that, with many military friends and family lost in the line of duty, and many of the creative people we'd lost this past year.

I'm sure I'll bring up more later in other posts. I'll be adding art repros of Tank Girl to my store very soon, and where and what show I'll be doing coming up. See ya next time!

 - Mario, the Artisan Rogue

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Allen Williams is a formidable and incredible artist, a colleague, and is dealing with a health issue of frightening proportions.

On February 23rd, 2015, Award-winning Illustrator, Concept Artist, Writer, Husband and Father of two Allen Williams posted on Facebook:

"I feel a little like I'm naming Voldemort here but...I need to say I have recently been diagnosed with HPV related squamous cell carcinoma.  The two-month cure will surely be hard, but it will be the cure that causes difficulty, not the actual disease...somehow, I just have to get through this gate of fire."

Physically, Allen is hanging in there.  But as he predicted, it's the cure that is causing difficulty.  As well as fighting cancer, he and his wife Vicki are having to battle insurance companies to pay their hospital bills.  And it is not a fight they are winning.

The price tag for surviving the cancer lodged in his neck is $50,000.  It includes a tonsilectomy, radiation and chemotherapy.  An ER visit for an unexpected fever and a dangerously low white blood cell count. Out-of-pocket expenses for a speech therapist for Allen's 'swallow exercises' so he doesn't lose the ability to eat.  The list goes on and on.




In his Facebook posting, Allen said, "I spend most of my days drawing and painting and I've included everyone in that aspect of my life.  I would feel somehow dishonest if I didn't share this as well."

Now, Allen needs your help to get him through this ordeal and back to his drawing board, without his having to haul a debt the size of a small house with him.

As an artist and human being, Allen Williams is beloved.  He has given so much of his art, inspiration, friendship, and time to us all.  Let's return the favor and help him now when he and his family need it most.

Strength and honor,
Iain McCaig, Karla Ortiz, Christian and Andrea Alzmann.
http://www.gofundme.com/gateoffire?fb_action_ids=10206151596924614&fb_action_types=og.shares&fb_ref=m_d_ty