Akemi Solloway and friends are once again gearing up towards a Japanese arts festival in Richmond. ITCH will not be there this time because of other commitments, but I recommend you go there anyway!
Guests will include the impeccable Sonia Leong, Paul Gravett and of course Akemi herself. The last JAF was in February, and most of the people I talked to enjoyed it a lot. It’s a wonderful mash-up of traditional Japanese performance arts and clothing and cosplay. Have a look at the photo-gallery and you’ll see what I mean.
Oh, and that’s not mentioning the most important reason to go; Karen Yumi Lusted [DeviantArt] will be there to draw commissions for you and sell her book Final Blossom. Go say hi for me!
Akemi Solloway
This weekend Itch was at the Japanese Art Festival in Richmond, pulled together by the charming Akemi Solloway.
My usual events are more pointed at comics and manga, and it was refreshingly different to be here, as it was much more of a cultural event. There was some manga and anime, and of course cosplaying going on, but there were also ladies in proper kimonos, Japanese snacks, martial arts demonstrations and live music, including some awesome Taiko drumming! I had a good time and met many interesting people.
Others in attendance included Sonia Leong, displaying that combination of cuteness and sophistication over a core of pure righteous fury that I’ve come to associate her with. I went to her talk on how to do manga, which was mostly familiar territory for me but nonetheless very enjoyable. I missed Paul Gravett‘s talk, much to my chagrin, but I met him later and I got his card. I really need to work on my formal business card exchange-fu, though. ^_^; I’m sure I messed it up!
Getting to and from the festival, and the deeply creepy hostel we stayed at were less pleasant, but those stories will have to wait for another time. For now I’d just like to say hi to anyone who is visiting my site for the first time after picking up a card, and thanks to everyone who got a book or some art or a portrait done. I really love drawing people at events! Hope to see you again sometime.
I was there too! I'm just not in the picture.
14 February, 2009
in News
I thought the winter was supposed to be the quiet season, with not much comicky events going on. Turns out I’m very wrong. There are two exciting events Itch will be at in the next two weeks.
Saturday 21 February: Midlands MCM Expo.
This is by the same people who do the London MCM Expos, but smaller in scale and more, um, midlandsy. Itch will be on hand along with Inspired to organise the traditional manga art contest. Cool prizes to be won!
Saturday and Sunday, 28 Feb and 1 Mar: Japanese Arts Festival.
Akemi Solloway has set up this special J-culture day of happiness: cosplay, martial arts, music, food, drawing, fashion and of course, manga.
Tickets available on the websites, I hope to see you there!