Emo Fest

Last weekend?  The Alternative Press Expo. (APE) in SF.  Two of our friends, Yosiell (Joe-see-ell) and Stefan, were exhibiting their Zines, pushing their merch., and networking with other frustrated artists at the Expo.

The venue was exceptionally hot and stuffy, a bad plan considering that personal hygiene isn't typically an area of focus for most artistic types, and add the entire emo vibe, it's a recipe for European strength BO.

Anytime attending these types of events, over stimulation is a definite drawback.  One couldn't walk around without seeing a severed head, zombie killer, vampire, anime character, or some other sci-fi/horror graphic type novel.  And what is it with art nerds and their fascination with breasts?  Not just the male artists but the female artists as well.

Most of the exhibitors actually exhibited talented work with a high degree of technique...several exhibited work tantamount to pencil and stick drawings but one has to admire the commitment.

Walking around, most of the exhibitors we spoke with were very nice but could sense that we weren't emotionally damaged artists working out some issues and so we enjoyed a certain outsider status.

We spent some time at the Sickling table with Yosiell.

Yosiell, at the farthest table from the entrance.  One hopes next year he will be deeper into the fray!

Yosiell's sculpted toy, Poison Sweet, available from his website:

http://yosielllorenzo.com/

One last Yosiell creation, a time lapse video of one of his paintings.  

Our next favorite artist is Stefan Salinas, stuck in the gay ghetto section of APE.  Stefan is a friend from the UU church and a member of the choir.  I didn't manage to get a photo of Stefan but we did manage to pick up his graphic novel / poetic reflection.  Check it out on his website:  http://www.stefansalinas.com/

Dipping a toe into the shallow end of the Alternative Press pool was interesting although way over stimulating.  So, so many talented artists with definite dark sides.   I felt a little like Margaret Mead strolling through the subculture jungle.  I applaud the the bravery it must take to place your work out for all to see and essentially to judge.  

Surrounding myself with creative people stimulates my creativity, as Ani Defranco sang, "Art is the reason I get up in the morning, but my definition ends there."  So a toast to my favorite artists...to the painters, and sculptors, and hoopers, and fire poi dancers, and photographers, and poets, and drag queens, and musicians and writers and so on...Thanks for taking the time to follow your passion and as an aside, for feeding my soul.