Saturday, April 02, 2005

World Horror Con

Next weekend is the annual World Horror Convention. This year it is being held in New York City, a mere 4-5 hour drive from where I live in Maryland. This will be my fourth year attending WHC as an artist. It is one of my "must attend" conventions because it is an industry convention.

I tend to enjoy WHC more than most other cons, when I am going as an artist and showing in the art shows. Few fans go to WHC because there is very little to interest them outside of some author readings and autograph signings. In general, the panels are geared toward industry professionals, amateurs and those who wish to be in the industry. The main focus is on writing and publishing. The artshow, however, tends to be small but fantastic. You have to be juried into the WHC artshow and I have to admit it is an honor to be included among these really talented artists. Especially an honor being one of the few purely digital artists who shows on a regular basis. They have definite opinions on the kind of art I do and, interestingly (and flatteringly, is that a word?) enough my name has been brought up by the jury panel in regards to 3D CGI and the potentials for the medium using software that is not considered to be "high end".

As usual, I am not ready to go yet. Tomorrow will be spent sorting through my artwork and deciding what to take with me. That's always fun. I have a print I need to take Monday to be matted (yes, Jeanette, this is your reminder). The woman who does the matting of my larger, odd-sized prints does a fantastic job. It's always such a joy to see her. I still need to pack and get the teenager to clean out my car (the trunk is full of her stuff) and then Wednesday I am on my way.

Wish me luck.
I rarely update. I know I should but I just don't. I hate putting my politics out there for the entire free world to see, especially when I rarely discuss them with people I know and happen to like. Part of the reason is there are just so many people out there who are waiting to jump on someone, anyone, and tear them apart for their beliefs. It's not that I can't handle it when someone disagrees with me. I enjoy a good debate as much as the next person. No, what I can not abide are people who think their opinion is the only viable opinion and instead of arguing their stance with logic they resort to name calling and high school grade insults. I left high school behind nearly twenty years ago and, honestly, have no desire to go back.

My best friend, Kate, has asked me more than once why I don't read or comment more in her blog. I do read it, though not every day and sometimes not every week but I do read. I even comment occasionally. The reason I do not comment often is not because of Kate herself or her politics (which I only occasionally disagree with and even then it's generally only on minor points). Kate has developed quite a following on her blog and the majority of them fall into the name calling/high school grade insult category. They simply can not abide anyone who may have an opinion counter to their own and, again, instead of arguing their stance with logic and intelligence immediately pull out the insult card. They'll argue and say that they only do this to the "trolls" who start out by being generally stupid and insulting. Granted, they've not done it with me, but I am still reluctant to post anything even remotely contrary to what they believe.

Does this make me a coward? Probably. Though I like to think of it as avoiding a headache for both myself and my best friend.