Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Apr 10, 2015 11:56:38 GMT -6
You won’t find John Waters or the cast of The Walking Dead at Linework NW; organizers of the Portland, Oregon, festival put the focus on the artists (this year’s lineup includes Lisa Hanawalt and Daniel Clowes), and they intend to keep it small and intimate.
www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/04/linework_nw_2015.html
Don't call it a comic con: Linework NW is Portland's premier festival of illustration
When Linework NW debuted in Portland last year, it stepped into an overcrowded and volatile scene.
Events focused on comic books (you know them as comic cons) have become massive draws, attracting tens and sometimes hundreds of thousands of people for weekends that have begun to focus less on art and more on culture.
In 2013 Portland had the suddenly popular Rose City Comic Con, the touring Wizard World and the Stumptown Comics Fest. Rose City and Wizard World have only grown since then, but Stumptown collapsed under its own ambition, folding in 2014 after expanding beyond the capabilities of its organizers.
Linework wanted none of that.
So co-foudners François Vigneault and Zach Soto decided to make a radical departure: Linework NW would be a free, intimate affair that put a heavy emphasis on the art and the artists themselves.
So how did they do?
"We definitely had growing pains," Vigneault said Wednesday. "There are things we can do better."
But as he detailed the success of last year's inaugural event, it became clear that the man was being more than a little modest. The one-day event drew an estimated 3,000 people to the Norse Hall in northeast Portland, packing the venue to capacity despite having no big-name celebrities or slick attractions.
For comparison, the Rose City Comic Con brought in 4,100 to the DoubleTree Hotel its first year, then ballooned to 18,000 after it relocated to the convention center. Early indications would suggest that Linework could follow suit, but Soto and Vigneault have little interest in becoming another big-time convention.
"I think it's very important to not grow too much" -- at least not in size, Vigneault explained. "We're always trying to grow our ability to bring in exciting talent, bring in talent from further afield."
True to their aim, the duo is remaining at Norse Hall, simply booking two days instead of one. They expanded the number of vendors allowed into Linework -- from 60 to around 110 -- fitting them into the space by offering a completely different lineup on each day.
And instead of bringing in movie stars, Linework showcases celebrities in the world of illustration. For the 2015 event, coming April 18 and 19, Soto and Vigneault are featuring Daniel Clowes, Lisa Congdon, Lisa Hanawalt and Jay Howell.
Fans of animation likely know Howell's work on "Bob's Burgers" and Hanawalt's on "Bojack Horseman," but the true comic fans will be swarming Clowes, who gained fame with "Ghost World," "Art School Confidential" and seminal comic book series "Eightball." Congdon doesn't have any splashy titles to her name, but has worked with MoMA and the Obama campaign and has published several books.
As Linework continues to grow its reputation, it will someday outgrow the Norse Hall. It's unclear where it could go from there, and the co-founders aren't in any hurry to figure it out.
For now, they're content with Linework NW being the small, community event focused on the art and the artists that they love.
"We're a really great place to connect with artists, I think that's the biggest point," Vigneault said. "We're not just interested in comics -- we're not a comic con -- we're interested in visual arts in all kinds of different places."
* * *
LINEWORK NW 2015
When: April 18 and 19, from noon to 8 p.m.
Where: Norse Hall (map it)
Admission: Free
www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/04/linework_nw_2015.html
Don't call it a comic con: Linework NW is Portland's premier festival of illustration
When Linework NW debuted in Portland last year, it stepped into an overcrowded and volatile scene.
Events focused on comic books (you know them as comic cons) have become massive draws, attracting tens and sometimes hundreds of thousands of people for weekends that have begun to focus less on art and more on culture.
In 2013 Portland had the suddenly popular Rose City Comic Con, the touring Wizard World and the Stumptown Comics Fest. Rose City and Wizard World have only grown since then, but Stumptown collapsed under its own ambition, folding in 2014 after expanding beyond the capabilities of its organizers.
Linework wanted none of that.
So co-foudners François Vigneault and Zach Soto decided to make a radical departure: Linework NW would be a free, intimate affair that put a heavy emphasis on the art and the artists themselves.
So how did they do?
"We definitely had growing pains," Vigneault said Wednesday. "There are things we can do better."
But as he detailed the success of last year's inaugural event, it became clear that the man was being more than a little modest. The one-day event drew an estimated 3,000 people to the Norse Hall in northeast Portland, packing the venue to capacity despite having no big-name celebrities or slick attractions.
For comparison, the Rose City Comic Con brought in 4,100 to the DoubleTree Hotel its first year, then ballooned to 18,000 after it relocated to the convention center. Early indications would suggest that Linework could follow suit, but Soto and Vigneault have little interest in becoming another big-time convention.
"I think it's very important to not grow too much" -- at least not in size, Vigneault explained. "We're always trying to grow our ability to bring in exciting talent, bring in talent from further afield."
True to their aim, the duo is remaining at Norse Hall, simply booking two days instead of one. They expanded the number of vendors allowed into Linework -- from 60 to around 110 -- fitting them into the space by offering a completely different lineup on each day.
And instead of bringing in movie stars, Linework showcases celebrities in the world of illustration. For the 2015 event, coming April 18 and 19, Soto and Vigneault are featuring Daniel Clowes, Lisa Congdon, Lisa Hanawalt and Jay Howell.
Fans of animation likely know Howell's work on "Bob's Burgers" and Hanawalt's on "Bojack Horseman," but the true comic fans will be swarming Clowes, who gained fame with "Ghost World," "Art School Confidential" and seminal comic book series "Eightball." Congdon doesn't have any splashy titles to her name, but has worked with MoMA and the Obama campaign and has published several books.
As Linework continues to grow its reputation, it will someday outgrow the Norse Hall. It's unclear where it could go from there, and the co-founders aren't in any hurry to figure it out.
For now, they're content with Linework NW being the small, community event focused on the art and the artists that they love.
"We're a really great place to connect with artists, I think that's the biggest point," Vigneault said. "We're not just interested in comics -- we're not a comic con -- we're interested in visual arts in all kinds of different places."
* * *
LINEWORK NW 2015
When: April 18 and 19, from noon to 8 p.m.
Where: Norse Hall (map it)
Admission: Free