Despite being a lifelong
sci-fi fan, I recently attended my first “con”, Wizard World Chicago. I was covering the show for HalfStack
magazine and was really looking forward to the experience. As I walked the halls, checking out the
vendor booths, talking with the artists, and meeting some of the celebrities,
one thing that stood out was seeing all these artists promoting their art. Particularly gratifying was the number of
Chicago-based artists bringing their hustle to the show. One lesson I learned early on through my
involvement with the Chicago creative community is that it is up to you to
promote your art and your career. No one
cares more about your art than you do. Whether
you are a musician, graphic artist, fashion designer or writer, it is up to you
to hustle for your career and make things happen.
My first encounter with a
local artist hustler happened as I was waiting for the Wizard World doors even
officially opened. I was chatting with
Rodney Pointer, one of the show’s many volunteers. When he’s not helping con attendees find their
favorite superhero, Pointer is an artist/painter based in Evanston. A painter by trade, he also produces digital
art, custom vinyl toys, and more. Pointer
volunteers for Wizard World every year to meet attendees and spend time in
Artist Alley discussing tradecraft with more established artists. “Volunteering at Wizard World and talking
with other artists is a great way to keep my creative juices charged,” he said.
He also had a pocketful of business cards. You can check out Pointer’s work at www.artpal.com/critterz.
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| Pockytheif Specializes in Anime Cosplays
One of the people I planned
to interview was the Tinley Park-based cosplayer, Pockytheif. Pockytheif learned to sew in 2007 under the
tutelage of her Grandmother. She then
taught herself to use her sewing skills to create costumes of her favorite
anime characters. Pockytheif began
cosplaying in 2010 as a guest at various cons around the country. Her favorite cosplay is Ladybug. “I was doing my Ladybug cosplay at a con when
I met this little girl who wanted a picture.
After the photo and a hug, the girl told her mother that Ladybug was her
favorite character ever and she finally had the chance to meet her,” shared
Pockytheif. “That was one of my absolute
favorite moments as a cosplayer.”
Pockytheif took her cosplay to the next level at Wizard World where she
became a participant instead of a guest, running a table, and being part of a
panel. She said while a little scary, it
was “definitely worth it”. Not only does
she design and create all her cosplay costumes, she also creates costumes for
others as well. Check out this talented artist at www.facebook.com/pockytheifcosplay or on Instagram/pockytheif.
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Dewayne Lucas is an artist
on a mission of positive change. An
author, producer, songwriter, performer and film editor, Lucas is the creator
of Ebonics Man, a superhero who uses the power of his music to bring positive
change to an urban world burdened by violence.
Lucas’s goal is to inspire creative solutions by providing an outlet for
youth talent expression, as an alternative to violence. He draws on his own experiences of life on
the street to develop his characters and music.
At his booth at Wizard World, Lucas shared his story and his plans to
expand Ebonics Man’s battle with his arch-nemesis through a series of graphic
novels, a music project, and a stage play.
You can learn more about Ebonics Man and the rest of Lucas’s work at
www.ebonicsfilm.com.
Two of the biggest
hustlers at Wizard World had to be Brian and James Serra, two brothers who
make up Face Time Police, a genre-defying music group that delivers “pop macchiato”. Hours before their scheduled show on the
entertainment stage, the brothers were working the crowd, passing out palm
cards to promote their show. The Serra brothers originally formed their acoustic group to play indie shows at various
music venues throughout Chicago. After
some success, however, they decided to change their focus to combine their
musical talent with their love of cartoon characters. Their live show now consists of original
songs developed around various cartoon themes mixed with covers from Teen Titans and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Instead
of playing at traditional music venues, Face Time Police focus their
performance schedule around various comic book and sci-fi conferences around
the country. The Serra brothers are
responsible for all aspects of their art, including music production, graphic
design, and video editing. Face Time
Police did not disappoint. The brothers
closed out the first day of Wizard World Chicago with a performance that was
full of fun, creativity and high energy.
The organizers could not have planned a better way to close out the
first day than with this talented pair of artists. To learn more about Face Time Police and
their music, visit www.facetimepolice.com.
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| Face Time Police Rocking the House |
My first Wizard World
experience was fun and I’m looking forward to attending future cons. I met celebrities such as Lou Ferrigno,
Christian Kane, and Kevin Sorbo and other recognizable faces. However, to my mind, the real stars of the
con were the Chicago artists who took the step to bring their hustle, promoting
their art to the fans of Wizard World.
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