ART AFICIONADO

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Wizard World Austin 2017

I have to say, this year's Wizard World Austin Comic Con outdid itself. I absolutely enjoyed the exhibitors, the panels, and the cosplayers.

My day started later than what I planned--thanks to CapMetro Rail and Chuy's Children's Parade. Nonetheless, I got to the Convention Center and started my day by watching trailers of upcoming movies.

SuperKayceCosplay and RealBreakingNate presented a series of movie trailers and provided their insights on each. There seemed to be anticipation for the new Star Wars movie from the audience. Personally, I'm looking forward to not only The Last Jedi but also the arcade-based-movie Rampage.

I sat in on a brief history discussion on Dr. Who before attending the very entertaining Michael Rooker. If you don't know who Rooker is, go HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

As many of you know, I'm a big Star Trek fan. I've met Armin Shimerman, Robin Curtis, the late James Doohan, Sir Patrick Stewart, and the great William Shatner. This year, I got to meet Ms. Nichelle Nichols and got her to sign a trading card I had been holding on to since 1991.

After coming down from a high, I sat in on a discussion panel with Kevin Conroy and Loren Lester discussing 25 years of Batman: The Animated Series.

I then snuck out of Batman and Robin to watch Felicia Day in a Q&A. The cool thing I learned about Felicia Day is that her formative years were spent in Austin. If you don't know who she is or what she has contributed in the geek-realm, check out HERE, HERE, and HERE.

I then sat in on a Firefly cast reunion with Summer Glau, Sean Maher, and Jewel Staite. Sean Maher was quite entertaining to watch as he interacted with Jewel and Summer. What I got out of the panel is that Summer was blamed for things that went wrong in the show, even when she was not around. Also, Nathan Fillion is a huge Firefly fan, who has show memorabilia around his home.

My day ended watching the extremely talented cosplayers compete in the Wizard World Costume Contest.

Some of the exhibitors I visited included: Kristina Cantu, Brent Woodside, David Soto Jr., JeriLyn Alderman from Firechilde Glass Studio, Cassie Small with Randon Smash Customs, Ryan Glitch with Sci-Fi Speed Dating (I shied away from participating), the guys from Hops and Heroes, and the gals from Shivs and Giggles.

Mark Mawson

Photography Appreciation

I came across the amazing photography of Mark Mawson while visiting This Is Colossal. The website highlighted the Mawson's underwater photography of swirls and blooms.

Mark Mawson is a London based photographer known for his colorful liquid and underwater fashion photography.

Check out this interview with Production Paradise HERE and visit his website HERE.

Flowers and Swirls 1 via colourfulrebel

Blue Smoke via markmawson

Aqueous Electreau 1 via artforyourwallpaper

Underwater via productionparadise

Sources:

http://www.markmawson.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MarkMawsonPhotography/
https://www.behance.net/MarkMawson
https://markmawson.wordpress.com/
https://www.designboom.com/art/hypnotic-underwater-paint-photography-by-mark-mawson/
http://www.productionparadise.com/blog/interview-with-mark-mawson/
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/19/mark-mawson-photographer_n_1154125.html
http://www.silverlakephotography.com/artists/mark-mawson/
http://blog.colourfulrebel.com/en/incredible-dreamy-flowers-and-swirls-photographed-by-mark-mawson/
http://artforyourwallpaper.blogspot.com/2012/07/photography-mark-mawson.html
http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2017/03/aqueous-roses-and-liquid-blooms-photographed-by-mark-mawson/

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Aerosmith - Pink

Music Appreciation

Pink helped me not only be self-aware of my sexuality and fetishes at 21 but also accept that although we are different, we are all pink inside.

Written by Steven Tyler, Richie Supa and Glen Ballard, the song was released on November 18, 1997. The song reached No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The music video, which was directed by Doug Nichol, features the band members morphing into different people with various fetishes and kinks.

via AerosmithVEVO

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_(song)
http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/6701/

Friday, November 17, 2017

Tracks 83: Music Mix 1986

I remember us kids being called in from recess to meet inside the school's gym. Our principal shared the news that the Space Shuttle Challenger had exploded shortly after takeoff. The teachers were devastated; understandably since Christa McAuliffe was one of the seven astronauts who perished.

Several things happened in entertainment that year: Mike Tyson becomes youngest Heavyweight Champion and the Oprah Winfrey Show makes its debut. Top Gun, Crocodile Dundee, Star Trek: The Voyage Home, and Aliens were a few of my favorite movies that year.

The Moody Blues - Your Wildest Dreams
Rod Stweart - Love Touch
Miami Sound Machine - Bad Boy
Timex Social Club - Rumors
Baltimora - Tarzan Boy
El DeBarge - Who's Johnny
James Brown - Living in America
Wham! - I'm Your Man
INXS - What You Need
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - If You Leave
Robert Palmer - I Didn't Mean To Turn You On
Kenny Loggins - Danger Zone
Madonna - Papa Don't Preach
Berlin - Take My Breath Away
Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait
Prince - Kiss
Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls
Robert Palmer - Addicted to Love
Whitney Houston - How Will I Know
Mr. Mister - Broken Wings

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Planning My Saturday at Austin's Wizard World Comic Con

I can't wait for Saturday. It's Wizard World Comic Con in Austin, and that means I get to geek out to the various TV and movie actors, aisles of exhibitors and vendors, discussion panels and Q&A's, and the tons of cosplayers.

This is a full day event for me, where I arrive at 10 AM and don't leave until about 9 PM. And for the past few hours, I've been planning my day by highlighting the programming and setting priorities.

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM - Austin Acroart (Entertainment Stage)

I have an appreciation for acroyoga, a combination of acrobatics and yoga, so this performance should be entertaining.

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM - Trailer Park (Room 6)

I love watching TV and movie trailers.

12:30 PM - 1:15 PM - Doctor Who: A Brief History of the Classic Series (Room 4)

I've caught a few episodes of Doctor Who... the Ninth and Eleventh Doctor; however, I'd like to get a little brief history of the series. I might stay for a bit.

12:45 PM - 1:15 PM - Cos-Spray: The Art of Cosplay (Entertainment Stage)

Cosplay... Is An Art. So... I might skip the Doctor Who and watch this performance instead.

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM - Sci-Fi Speed Dating Session (Room 3)

When I was about 18, I placed an ad on the Star Trek Communicator seeking my Vulcan Princess. So, when I read the description, "Are you tired of lookin' for love in Alderaan places?" I saw it as a sign that I must participate.

1:00 PM - 1:45 PM - Michael Rooker Vs The Audience (Ballroom A)

I'm a fan of Michael Rooker. So, if I chicken out of the speed dating, I might just sit in and watch Merle Dixon talk.

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM - I Assure You They're Open: A Clerks Conversation With Jason Mewes and Brian O'halloran (Ballroom A)

2:45 PM - Nichelle Nichols

I've been holding on to a trading card of Uhura since 1991. It would be great if I could get it signed by Ms. Nichols.

4:00 PM - 4:45 PM - Queen of the Nerds: A Conversation with Felicia Day (Ballroom A)

5:00 PM - 5:45 PM - Firefly Cast Reunion With Jewel Staite, Summer Glau and Sean Mahar (Ballroom A)

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Wizard World Costume Contest

This is the highlight of the event. I love watching cosplayers present their creativity.

10:00 PM - 2:00 AM - Wizard World After Party

Depending on how my Saturday goes, I might make my way to The Blind Pig Pub.

SEE YA'LL AT AUSTIN'S WW COMIC CON.