The OCF finally has its own Flickr site! Click here to see photos from the 2011 festival. In the not-too-distant future, we’ll post photos from festivals past so be sure to check back. You can also view the photos on Facebook.
The fest is a week away and we’re busily working on finalizing schedules. Here’s what we’ve got going on at the festival this year. To see a map of this year’s festival, click on “Locations” above. To see a full list of who’s coming to the expo, click on “Tablers” above.
Guests
Megan Kelso
Larry Gonick
Paul Chadwick
Stage Show – $5 admission
Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave. SW, Olympia, WA)
11 A.M. to 1 P.M.
Introduction and live music by Spiritual Successor(us)
Spotlight on Paul Chadwick
The Mutable Superman
Super Fun Contest
Spotlight on Megan Kelso
Stand-up comedian Morgan Picton makes comics funny again
Spotlight on Larry Gonick
Unintentionally Funny Comics
Closing Remarks
Northwest Cartoonist Expo – FREE!
Olympia Center (222 Columbia St. NW, Olympia, WA)
1:30 – 6 P.M.
None of the panels or workshops require registration and all are free and open to the public.
Room 101/102
2:00 – Third Wave Feminism in Comics
Megan Kelso, Andrice Arp, and moderator, Abbey Bruce discuss the role of feminism in contemporary alternative comics and how it affects the feminist movement as a whole.
3:00 – Comics in Education
Join Larry Gonick, Paul Chadwick, Greg Hatcher, and moderator Jon-Mikel Gates to discuss why comics are an important resource for educators as well as how to utilize them in your classroom or home.
4:00 – Comics Jam Workshop
Join Steve Willis and Chelsea Baker for this fun comics exercise. No artistic skills necessary. Stick figures and scribbles are as welcome as tediously drawn three-point perspectives. Pens will be provided, but you’re free to bring your own.
Room 103
2:00 – The Genius of Larry Gonick
Learn things about Larry Gonick you thought you’d never know in this hour-long interview. Bring your own questions for Q&A session!
3:00 – Meet Megan Kelso
Learn things about Megan Kelso you never wanted to know in this hour-long interview. Bring your own questions for Q&A session!
4:00 – Walk a Mile in Paul Chadwick’s Shoes
Learn things about Paul Chadwick that you never thought possible in this hour-long interview. Bring your own questions for Q&A session!
Stage
Comics Workshops for Kids of All Ages
All pens, paper, and supplies will be provided.
2:00 – How to Draw
Chelsea Baker has been drawing since she was old enough to hold a pencil (so says her mother). She can teach you how to draw – even if you can barely write the alphabet.
3:00 – The Joys of Brainstorming
Let Zoey Hogan help you brainstorm story ideas faster and more effectively. This workshop will help you find inspiration to produce bigger, better brainstorms and turn them into elaborate plot lines and stories.
4:00 – Character Design 101
Learn how to design characters and tell stories with pictures in this informal workshop for kids of all ages! Katy Ellis O’Brien is a cartoonist and childcare worker; Christina “Blue” Crow is a professional nanny and comic book aficionado. With their powers combined, they have been teaching comics for over 1 year. Their patented worksheets and fun, interactive instruction are sure to fire up any child’s imagination.
Book Signings – FREE!
Danger Room Comics (201 4th Ave. W, Olympia, WA)
5:30 – 7 P.M.
Chit-chat with our fabulous guests of honor!
Comic Art Gallery – FREE!
The Northern (321 4th Ave. NE)
7 – 9 P.M.
Featuring comic art by:
Joamette Gil
Nathan Wirtz
Chelsea Baker
Pupcake
Jason Trent
Christopher Sabatini
AND MORE!
If you can’t make it on opening night, this show will be up until the third week of June.
The festival is now nine days away (WOW! Single digits!). The deadline for table registration has passed, but if you’re kicking yourself for missing the deadline, we still have three and a half tables left. If you want to claim one of ‘em, email us at olympiacomicsfestival@gmail.com. It’s first come, first serve. We’ll be posting the map and complete list of tablers within the next few days. In the meantime, we have ad space available in our programs. The deadline to place an ad is Tuesday the 17th. Again, if you’re interested, shoot us an email. Interested in volunteering the day of the festival? Email us! Interested in asking pointless philosophical questions that no one really cares about? Well, don’t email us any of those. Unless they’re comics-related.
If you haven’t already, you should “like” the Oly Comics Fest on Facebook! Then all of your friends will know just how cool you are. You can also click on the “Donate” button to the right if you feel like spending your hard earned money on something as frivolous as supporting an event that promotes comical books.