Memories of the 2017 NASFiC

Perhaps you'd like to see a presentation my son Tyrell Gephardt and I prepared, about our experiences at this year's North American Science Fiction Convention (NASFiC), held anytime the Worldcon is not in North America (which it is not this year; it's in Helsinki).



We hope you'll enjoy it--we certainly enjoyed our time there! We've also shared this presentation with KACSFFS, our local Kansas City Science Fiction and Fantasy Society, both at the July meeting last Saturday and on the KaCSFFS Blog (scroll down).

Ty and I also spent a couple of days afterward, wandering around in fascinating Old San Juan. It's possible some of the thoughts and photos from those peregrinations may end up in future blog posts here!

IMAGES: At least half of those in the NASFiC presentation, are by Jan S. Gephardt. Most of the other photos in the presentation are by Tyrell E. Gephardt; the remaining photos (credited at the end of the NASFiC presentation) are from the official website of the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino, where the NASFiC was held. Thanks!

Tales of ConQuesT (48)--The Art Part

My home science fiction group, the Kansas City Science Fiction and Fantasy Society, put on their annual convention this weekend. I always enjoy ConQuesT, held each ear in Kansas City on Memorial Day Weekend--but I must say that this year's ConQuesT 48 was even more fun than usual.

There are many reasons why it all came together so well for me, but here are a few highlights from the "Art Part." Always first and last, for me, there is the ConQuesT Art Show.

Literally first, because I was once again the "shipping address" for the show. A few years ago I was the Art Show Director, and although I've now gratefully handed that job over to a talented and responsible young man named Mikah McCullough, his apartment is a tad on the "small side" for a large pile of incoming boxes of art. Thus, on the first day of the convention I haul not only my own artwork, but also all the mailed-in work from all of the wonderful artists who participate from afar.

My "White Clematis" variations available so far.

I'm showing a collection of new multiple-original artworks at sf conventions this year, the "Guardians" series (four separate designs) and the "Clematis Collection," which so far consists of three Artist's Proofs of White Clematis Panel with Golden Dragons, (honored with a rosette as Art Director's Choice at DemiCon 28 earlier this month), and an edition limited to six smaller pieces titled White Clematis with Dragons. A one-of-a-kind original from this collection, featuring purple clematis flowers and titled Gold and Purple, should be ready to debut at SoonerCon 26 in late June.

I also had a new, one-of-a-kind original to debut at ConQuesT 48, Nose for a Rose. Here's a glimpse, along with a look at my display at the convention. This is all you'll see of it, however--it was purchased by a collector on its "maiden voyage."

It's always fun to show and sell my artwork, and to help put the Art Show up and take it down. But another joy for me is participating in panel discussions at science fiction conventions--and I was part of several at ConQuesT 48. They'll be the subject of my next post, coming soon!

IMAGES: Most of the photos on this post are mine. Since I'm the Communications Officer of KaCSFFS, I'm the one who put together the ConQuesT 48 banner. It features a logo design by Keri O'Brien and a photo of the lobby of our convention hotel, the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center, which provided the photo. All the other photos were taken by me, of my artwork (and other personal effects). The cat is my daughter's. Her name is Sora and she is Queen of the Universe (just ask her). All of the photos are available for re-posting, as long as you attribute them and provide a link back to this post or ConQuesT.

Look for me and my artwork at these three Midwestern SF Conventions in May and June!

Now that I'm home and able to access my finished artwork again, I have accepted guest invitations from some of the science fiction conventions in the region.  Please come to these fine conventions and look me up!

Demicon 25 
Des Moines IA, May 2-4, 2014

Demicon 25 will be held at the Holiday Inn Northwest.

The theme of this year's annual science fiction, fantasy and gaming convention is Hi-Yo, Silver!  Celebrate Away!

Demicon 25 will be held at the Holiday Inn Northwest, 4800 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, IA.  There will be an Art Show (I'll have work there), Dealers Room, Gaming, music, parties, programming, and much more.

I'm really looking forward to attending this convention, which I haven't had a chance to attend for several years.  I have only good memories of Demicons past.  Watch for me on programming!

ConQuesT 45
Kansas City MO, May 23-25
The theme of ConQuesT 45 is ConQuesT Noir.
The longest-running SF convention in the Midwest is moving to a beautiful new hotel in downtown Kansas City, with more room than ever for its many popular and enjoyable events. I'm not the Art Show Director this year, so I'll have time to be on programming!

KC Downtown Marriott: new home of ConQuesT!

Of course I'll have artwork in the Art Show, and I hope to be on several panels--perhaps also a paper sculpture demonstration, or maybe even a reading from my new SF novel Dogged Pursuit.
 
ConQuesT 45 will be held at the elegant and spacious Kansas City Marriott Downtown. 200 W. 12th Street, Kansas City, MO.

This is my hometown convention, put on by the Kansas City Science Fiction and Fantasy Society (KaCSFFS), of which I am the Communications Officer and a longtime member.

Soonercon 23
Oklahoma City,

OK, June 27-29, 2014
(okay, technically it's in Midwest City, OK).

Reed Convention Center again hosts Soonercon.

Soonercon bills itself as Oklahoma's oldest and longest-running fan-run extravaganza. And it is! My family and I have a long and pleasant association with Soonercon, and we're looking very much forward to attending this convention again.

Housed at the beautiful and convenient Reed Convention Center, 5800 Will Rogers Road, Midwest City, OK, Soonercon always boasts a large number of interesting guests and panelists, and many events and activities. I've signed up for programming, and also plan to be in the Art Show.

Turn of the Semester, Turn of the Page

Windblown (2010) is one of my first "autumn"
paper sculptures.

Fall semester has begun.  Start of the school year, start of a new cycle: since I was a tiny child, the start of another school year has functionally been my “new year.”

But it’s been several years since I last began a new fall semester as a classroom practitioner.  I will always be a teacher in my heart, but the life of working in the classroom is no longer my life. 

Today I’m most invested in the other major aspects of my life: professionally, as an artist and a writer; personally, as part of a vibrant, multigenerational (and multi-species) family.

Purple Clematis is one of the paper
sculptures I finished in 2013.

So, while my “intuitive cycle” is (probably forever) tuned to the end of summer as the time of “new beginnings,” this particular year’s new beginning marks a change of direction for this blog.

For the past few years I’ve been scattering my attention between two personal blogs—this one, as “Artdog Educator,” and another one that’s been devoted strictly to my visual artwork, titled “Artdog Observations.”  As anyone knows, who’s been following either one, I’ve been posting less and less frequently to both. 

That’s because I have a massive new project in my life, a science fiction/mystery novel with the working title of Dogged Pursuit.  It’s been consuming much of my attention since spring.

At the same time, I have been trying to keep up working on my artwork.  I make fine-art paper sculpture, aimed at juried shows and in hope of gallery representation. 

Nine-Part Herbal Fantasy is my most recent finished
paper sculpture. It was recently accepted into a show!

With so many creative projects now moving forward, however, I need to re-balance the load.  This season of new beginnings seems a good time to combine both of my former blogs under one title, “Jan S. Gephardt’s Artdog Adventures.”   

As all creative people know, it’s hard to compartmentalize—worse, it’s often counter-productive to try.  Things one learns in one sphere inexplicably turn out to relate to others.  My own creative life is like a Venn diagram with about a thousand circles—and they all converge in my art and writing. 

I sometimes foster dogs for
Great Plains SPCA.

"Artdog Adventures" will explore all of it—the artwork, the writing, the background material, the interesting stuff that I discover, books I read, current events, and also my ongoing thoughts about social issues and education reform when it seems appropriate.  

Because they inform my creative work, I also will undoubtedly include thoughts on the environment, animal welfare, and most especially dogs.  Because I am involved in science fiction fandom, you’ll probably also get comments on that sphere, from time to time.

I hope you'll be interested to join me on my creative journey, and share the "Artdog's" adventures.