We are still at Arisia! Terri's in a panel right now, and Ariela's busily checking us out of the Art Show. If you wanted art that you saw in the show but couldn't snag it, you can always buy it on the website. We hope if you were here that you had a good time! We sure did.
Chibi Terri is standing next to a purple and green mug that goes up to her shoulder, dunking a teabag. She is saying "Still not enough tea to be awake. (Gonna need a bigger mug)."
By Terri & Ariela
The Arisia Logo.
As is our personal and business tradition, we will both be at Arisia this weekend January 12-15 at the Westin Boston Waterfront. We've got tons of art in the Art Show, and will both be appearing on panels! This is Terri's first time on Arisia panels and she is very excited.
If you're on staff/volunteering for the convention, you can catch us at the Art Show reception in our business colors. Otherwise, you can see our work there (and us, from time to time), and see us on these panels:
Friday, 7:00 PM: Costuming on a Budget
Room: Faneuil
Panel #: 457
Costuming can be an expensive hobby as the elements of a costume and the supplies needed to create them can add up quickly. We'll discuss how to get the most out of your dollar through the use of inexpensive fabrics and notions, alternative techniques or materials, and how to plan ahead so you can find time and ways to save the most money. Many elements can be sourced through thrift stores or even your own closet, and putting individual pieces to work in multiple costumes can help, too.
Saturday, 4:00 PM: Judaism's Influence on SF/F
Room: Marina 2
Panel #: 385
Jewish theology and culture permeates SFF & fandom from popular comics to well-known science fiction stories, which filters down in unrealized ways to fandom. What effect has Judaism had on the development of SF/F and fandom in general? Join our panel of knowledgeable fen to learn about Jewish influences.
Saturday, 5:30 PM: Depicting Diversity in Visual Art
Room: Douglas
Panel #: 279
Most figure drawing techniques are based on an idealized human form. This simplifies the drawing process, but it often leaves artists ill-prepared for representing characters of diverse age, size, gender, ethnicity, ability, etc. How can artists practice representing more diverse characters, and how can art education be improved to help them learn these skills?
(Ariela will moderate this panel.)
Sunday, 10:00 AM: Out of the Shadows: Spiritual Traditions in SFF
Room: Marina 2
Panel #: 340
SFF tends to fictionalize to practitioners of real-world spiritual beliefs in fantasy, inhabiting the liminal space between "normal" society and the supernatural world. These practitioners and their beliefs are often lazily and irresponsibly portrayed, creating further misinformation and stereotype. Our panelists will look at stories about practitioners of real spiritual beliefs in fictional settings and which portrayals are respectful and responsible.
(Ariela will moderate this panel.)
Sunday, 1:00 PM: Hats & Headwear for Costumers
Room: Faneuil
Panel #: 466
Hats and headwear can add another level of style to your costume and tie the entire look together. Learn techniques on how to make them, re-purpose old hats, make foundations for headpieces, resources available, and how to keep them on your head.
Sunday, 1:00 PM: Parents with Infants & Toddlers Meetup
Room: Paine
Panel #: 354
We have run into each other in panels, in hallways, and in elevators with strollers, but have we really *met*? Let's let the kids run around for an hour, catch our breath, bemoan cluster feeding/colic/climbing/teething/growing pains, and celebrate the fact that we're OUT OF THE HOUSE and among our people.
Sunday, 2:30 PM: Down with Grimdark, Up with...
Room: Marina 1
Panel #: 324
Grimdark stories, ones that focus on darkness and angst, have been prevalent throughout SFF recently. However, many people are pushing for change, with suggestions such as Solarpunk, Genderpunk, and Hopepunk, ones that focus on a bright future. Solarpunk is focused on green energy and sustainability, whereas Hopepunk is about people choosing love over hate, and fighting for that possible bright future. Will these new genres will gain a foothold? What other "punks" do you see emerging in SFF?
Monday, 11:30 AM: When Your Child Discovers Fanfiction… and more
Room: Marina 2
Panel #: 301
Description Being a fannish parent can mean the joy of witnessing fannish firsts – discovering fanfiction, the first cosplay or convention. Our panelists will talk about being a fannish parent to a fannish child, and the joys that come with your child discovering new parts of fandom they want to be involved in, and the challenges of navigating parts of fandom that are not always child-appropriate.
There are Friday Night Services at Arisia this year that are open to anyone who wishes to attend. They will be held at 5:30pm in Paine (2W). We will both be in attendance. Terri will be leading the Kabbalat Shabbat portion of the services, with some bonus fandom tunes.
We can't wait for the convention and we hope to see you there!
by Terri
The CONvergence flier. It features their mascot, Connie. The theme of the convention is Space Opera, and so the flier contains a lot of recognizable imagery from famous space operas.
There are many things to both love and hate about the United States Postal Service. One of the things we like is that it enables our art to go to conventions when neither of us can be there. Urged by a friend, we have sent our art to CONvergence, a fan run Science Fiction and Fantasy convention in Bloomington, MN. This year, the convention is taking place July 6th-9th (this weekend).
We have pieces hanging in the Art Show, and multiples for sale in their Print Shop. If you're going to be there at any point, give us a shout on Twitter, Facebook or Tumblr! We hope you enjoy the con and take a little something of ours home with you.
by Terri
Chibi Ariela and chibi Terri are both very tired. They have the swirly eyes to prove it.
The accompanying image really says it all. It's been a wonderful weekend, but we're both quite conned out. Next week, I will regale you with tales of my very first WisCon!
by Terri
Chibi Terri & chibi Ariela are ensuring that All The Art is properly labeled.
Once again, we get to go to a con TOGETHER!*
Ariela and I will both be attending WisCon 41 this weekend at the Madison Concourse hotel in Madison, WI. Con starts on Friday and ends Monday.
Our art is also attending! The WisCon Art show will be open from Friday afternoon through Monday. Our selection will be a small subset of what is available on our website, but there will be lots of everything we bring, including a new product and a con exclusive. Also, the art show there is instant sale only, no bidding, so whatever you buy can leave with you immediately.
The art show formally opens at 6 on Friday with a meet and greet until 7:30. We will both be there, so please stop by and say hello!
I will be attending panels, being Nervous At The Art, and generally having a good time and meeting people. If you're there, you can probably spot me due to my Art Show Shawl in our business colors.
Ariela will be on the following panels:
Saturday
Wait...This Is About Sex?
8:30am-9:45am
Capitol A
Fairy tales are full of sexual symbols, stories, and injunctions. Come listen as our panelists unpack some of your favorite stories.
Sunday
Where the Fuck Are the Femmes in Space(s)? The Radical Nature of Femme
10:00am-11:15am
Conference 1
There have been a number of panels in the past centered around the place of "femme" within the feminist context, particularly within feminist spaces. But for those who identify as femme, such constant need to justify our identity serves as both threat and erasure from a sphere where femmes are constantly engaged in emotional labor. This panel seeks to move beyond the question of "can femme be feminist?" and instead explore the ways in which femme is a radical identity, including some of its history and evolution as a term originating in queer community that is being co-opted by the mainstream straight lexicon.
F*ck You, Pay Me: Equally Compensating Marginalized Creators
1:00pm-2:15pm
Caucus
"Do It for the exposure! Aren't you just grateful to have this opportunity?" Too often, marginalized creators are thrown these aphorisms as compensation for their hard work and creativity instead of receiving financial compensation for their endeavors like their privileged counterparts. In this panel, we'll discuss the importance and obligation of equal compensation for equal work. We'll also discuss the benefit of outreach, and how that's led to opening geek culture markets to creators and consumers who don't look or think like the "good ol' boys."
You can also catch us at the Dessert Salon, as well as perusing all of the usual things a good con has to offer. Hope we see you there! If not, be warned - our twitter feeds will probably be a lot more active than usual.
Our art is also going to Kansas! It travels more easily than we do. If you are at ConQuesT in Kansas City, KS, you will be able to see and buy our art in the art show there as well.
*When your best friend and business partner lives halfway across the country from you, shared time is precious. Shared fandom time doubly so.
by Ariela
Image shows the Capricon 37 flyer
Tagline: And the Children Shall Lead
Author Guest of Honor Beth Revis, Artist Guest of Honor Nilah Magruder, Fan Guest of Honor Meg Frank, Musical Guest Tim Griffin
I am off to Capricon this week!
Capricon 37
February 16-19
Westin Chicago North Shore
Wheeling, IL
In addition to hanging art in the show, I will be sitting on a number of panels.
Friday, 1:00 PM: Theology in SF
Room: Botanic Garden Ballroom A
Panel # 96
How are real world and fictional religions portrayed in SFF? What authors get it right, and how does it go wrong?
Note that this panel will definitely cover Fantasy as well as Science Fiction regardless of the panel name. How do I know? I'm the moderator, that's how. Mwahahaha.
Saturday, 1:00 PM: BFFs in SFF
Room: Botanic Garden Ballroom B
Panel # 100
Our panelists explore the power of female friendship in fiction, media, and gaming.
Saturday, 5:30 PM: Art in the BEFORE TIMES.....
Room: Birch A
Panel # 10
A look at the way art was produced before digital tools were readily available.
Sunday, 10:00 AM: Getting Started in Costuming and Cosplay
Room: Birch A
Panel # 110
Is there a better way to show your love of a character than to cosplay as them? We don't think so. Creating original costumes is an amazing way to express your creativity. Panelists and audience exchange costume creation tips.
Sunday, 12:00 PM: Diversity Programming
Room: Birch A
Panel # 26
What does diversity programming mean? How do we move from being purposefully diverse to organically diverse?
I will also be doing art demos at the art show at X times. Come stop by!
In addition, we are sending art to the Boskone 54 Art Show, February 17-19 at the Westin Boston Waterfront in Boston, MA. Terri might stop by on Sunday, but no guarantees. If you were not able to snag a piece of art you wanted at the Arisia show, stop by Boskone, it might be there!
by Ariela
Arisia Logo
For the first time since the official founding of Geek Calligraphy, Terri and I will both be at the same con! We will both be attending Arisia later this week, January 13-16 at the Westin Boston Waterfront.
Much of our website inventory will be hanging in the Art Show, so if you have had your eye on a piece of art but didn't want to pay shipping, stop in and see if one is to be had! While all the prints on our site come matted, some will come framed at the art show. There is also a bonus, con-only piece.
We can't fit one of everything or all sizes of everything in the show, but we will have a bunch of stock with us that isn't hung. Please tweet at us @GeekCalligraphy or text us at 805-399-2244 if you would like to ask if we have something not on display. Be aware that we will not answer on Friday night or Saturday until 6:30pm, though, due to Sabbath observance. (Arisia's art show gets its money from panel fees rather than commissions, so we are not shorting the con any money. We wouldn't do that.)
Mark your schedules!
I will be sitting on a number of panels at Arisia this year.
Friday, 8:30 PM: Practical Considerations for Costumers
Room: Douglas (3W)
Panel # 310
Our panel of veteran costumers talk about everything from pockets, to footwear, to how to wear your badge in character. They'll address costume and prop transport and storage, ways to increase your own personal comfort in costume, and safety tips for costuming in crowds.
Saturday, 10:00 AM: Funding Your Muse
Room: Marina 3 (2E)
Panel # 541
We all dream of making a living doing what we love. How do you make your art profitable without losing your inspiration? Several artists who have managed it talk about choosing a direction that satisfies both needs.
Saturday, 1:00 PM: Judaism's Influence on SFF
Room: Adams (3W)
Panel # 621
Jewish theology and culture permeates science fiction across all mediums. What effect has Judaism had on the development of SF/F and fandom in general?
Saturday, 10:00 PM: Consulting & Contracting:How To Make (For) Money
Room: Marina 3 (2E)
Panel # 533
Sunday, 10:00 AM: Well-Behaved Women Rarely Make Fantasy
Room: Marina 2 (2E)
Panel # 172
From Susan Pevensie's lipstick to fan-hate for Sansa Stark, feminine characters often get shortchanged by fantasy authors and fans alike, losing out in comparison with the Strong Female Protagonist archetype. Why does this happen? Which feminine characters manage to succeed against this stereotype? Is the trend changing, and why?
There are Friday Night Services at Arisia this year that are open to anyone who wishes to attend. They will be held at 5:30pm in Alcott (3W). We will both be in attendance.
And you can always tweet at us (we just won't be looking at Twitter from Friday afternoon to Saturday at 5:30pm).
Can't wait to see you there!
ETA: The official Art Show Opening reception will be at 10pm on Friday night, and we will both be there, wearing green and purple to match our company colors. Come say hi!
Ariela's name badge and program books from WisCon40.
This weekend was WisCon. To say that I had a blast is both true and incomplete. It was so much more than just a good time.
I was promised that it would be a very different con than any other I had attended, and that was very true. To start with, the majority of people I encountered were female presenting, and there was a much higher than usual NB representation. Racial representation was also much more diverse.
Programming had the typical problem of stacking great panels in the same time slots, so no matter what you do you miss something awesome. It was even more intense at WisCon than basically any other con I have attended. Also, they stop panels at mealtimes to encourage people to eat, so they have to cram even more awesome into the slots that are left. The one I probably enjoyed the most was Staying In Your Lane, how to be inclusive without stepping over the line, with Riley as moderator and Mark Oshiro and MedievalPOC as fellow panelists. It was utterly fascinating and all of them were really insightful. (I may have gone and fangirled a bit to MedievalPOC after the panel. Maybe.) My second favorite was probably Class Basics 101, which talked a lot about different constructs of class, intersections of classism and other prejudices, and the differences between the academic study of class vs the experience of being truly poor.
I sat on three panels and had a lovely time with all of them. The moderators were good, fellow panelists were good, and all of them were well attended. None of them were particularly well-tweeted, though. Not sure what it was about the panels I was on that inspired people to take notes on pen and paper. The first panel that I was on, Creating Your Own Religion, also extended into a multi-hour discussion over lunch, which was utterly fascinating. The second panel, SFF Where Religion Works, was the first panel where I have ever cried. We were discussing The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, and all of us got weepy, as expected; we even passed around a tissue box before we started discussing it. The third panel, The Tough Tribute to Fantasyland, was funny and fun, but I had to run out immediately after it ended to check out of the hotel and get my stuff from the art show.
Speaking of which, the art show was smaller than I am used to, and I sold more greeting cards than before but less matted art. Hmm. Lee Moyer assured me that this kind of win-some-lose-some is normal and you never really know what will happen. That made me feel better.
I got earrings from Elise Matthesen at her Haiku Party (she like my haiku!), soaked in the hot tub twice, and danced at the Floomp (which is the big Saturday night dance party). I made an utter cake of myself in front of Charlie Jane Anders when I was standing next to her in line to get salad and she was really kind about it.
Over the course of the weekend, someone did something that made me feel kind of uncomfortable [note: not sexual in nature] and I called them on it. They pushed back, kinda hard, and I decided to just walk away. The next evening, that person came up to me to apologize. They said that they were very sorry they reacted so defensively and that almost immediately after I left they realized that I was completely right. We parted on good terms. This is the kind of con that WisCon is - not only did this person do the emotional work of questioning their reaction, they sought me out to apologize and make amends.
Ariela at the WisCon40 dessert salon and GOH speeches.
Photo courtesy of John Scalzi.
The central experience of the con, for me at least, was the Guest of Honor speeches. They have all of the GOHs speak one after the other, right after the dessert salon. Many people, including the friends who dragooned me into attending WisCon, dress up for this. So I did, too. It made it feel much less like attending a con GOH speech and more like hearing a speech at a fancy dinner. I happen to have liked that. I also suspect that a larger percentage of con attendees came to the GOH speeches than at other cons I have attended. They really are the highlight.
The three GOHs this year were Justine Larblestier, Sofia Samatar, and Nalo Hopkinson.
Justine spoke first. She was hilarious. Like, really, really funny. Also, mad props to the closed captioning typist, who was actually interacting with her in real time, to the point that Justine would pause to see what the typist did with her various sounds of excitement and disgust, and then react to that in turn. She spoke about teens and teen literature and the history of the concept of being a teen, and class, and race, and representation. And she started off so funny and at the end we were all just sitting there with our mouths hanging open feeling struck. Or at least everyone around me was. There wasn't any laughter at the end of her speech, just some really hard truths.
Sofia Samatar spoke next. She was wonderfully eloquent speaking about breaking down the borders between genres, but her speech did not hit me as hard. Perhaps it was because I was not a writer.
Nalo Hopkinson went last. Justine tee'd me up, but Nalo knocked me flat. She addressed the Puppies, gatekeeping, hatred in fandom, how easy it is to descend into mob mentality in the name of social justice and called for us to resist that slide, the guilt that can be paralyzing when we fail and hurt someone, and so much more. Wow. I cannot wait for a transcript of her speech. She also announced that she is creating a new award, the Lemonade Award, for people or organizations who make a significant improvement to the fan community. When she talked about starting off by just awarding certificates, it was all I could do not to leap out of my seat and yell "I volunteer as tribute!" Instead I tweeted at her that I would be happy to make the certificates. Then I went up to her after the speeches were done and volunteered in person, giving her my card. I also probably sounded like a blithering idiot, as I was busy thinking "Your speech gave me all the feels! And that's a good thing and I want you to know that, but my feels are my problem, not yours, and I don't want to make you do any emotional labor over me having feelings!" So I blubbered out something about wanting to volunteer, even though I know that maybe as a straight, white, ciswoman I might not be the best one for the job, or possibly not the right art style, but I wanted to volunteer and here's my card and now I am going to cry and ruin my makeup. (The above photo was taken before said crying took place.)
I have not had a con affect me this much since my first con at Arisia 2011. As then, I did not come home the same person, and I cannot wait to come back next year. I met loads of wonderful people and got to spend time with the wonderful friends who brought me along saying "This is the con you share with the people you love!" None of what I wrote truly captures the effect of the experience.
A+ Will definitely repeat.
I matted ALL THE THINGS!
I will be at WisCon40 this weekend in Madison, WI! I'm very excited to meet a lot of cool people whom thus far I only know from teh interwebs. There may be some fangirling, too. If you're there, please say hello.
My panel schedule is thus:
Saturday, 10:00-11:15 AM - Creating Your Own Religion
Which SF authors create interesting, believable religions, and which get religion wrong? (What does it mean to "get religion wrong" anyway?) Do made-up religions with intervening gods work better than those without? How can we as writers avoid making mistakes when creating and writing about fictional religions?
Sunday, 4:00-5:15 PM - SFF Where Religion Works
What SFF books depict well the things a religion does in and for society? Examples include Bujold's Chalion, which has actual supernatural miracles and active godly intervention but ALSO priests and faith workers engaging in the world in all the ways religious have done throughout Earth's history. Independent of doctrines on-screen, what authors "get" how religions change a world?
Monday, 10:00-11:15 AM - The Tough Tribute to Fantasyland
Diana Wynne Jones’ Tough Guide to Fantasyland is a fun look at some of the tropes (and clichés) that show up in fantasy stories over and over. The moderator will have a list of some of these tropes and throw them out for panelists to discuss their favorite (or least favorite) examples in fantasy literature over the years.
I will also be showing in the art show, along with a whole bunch of awesome artists. All of our greeting cards will be available, as well as almost all of our art prints, with some con-only specials, too! (No ketubot, because they're enormous, hard to haul around, and I can't guarantee I would be able to fill one in at the Con; but if you're interested, come find me and talk to me!)
Wiscon runs through next Monday, so next week's blog post will go up on Tuesday instead with a post-con report.
