Galaxy Zento spreads the word for author Dave Wilde

For Dave Wilde, life is a journey, so he named his book line for the Japanese word for journey: zento. From his Facebook page, viewers can join him in the journey through those books. As a writer, he uses Galaxy Zento to show superheroes who are more than they appear.

His guest bio for Southern GeekFest describes him as a disability activist hero, a title which he says humbles him. Wilde is an advocate for autism education and other forms of disability, especially those which aren’t visible to a casual observer. As a high functioning autistic with a son who has the same diagnosis, he has felt the sting of discrimination. 

Additionally, he has multiple sclerosis, which has left him homebound for the most part.

“It’s important to me to use everything I can to show my son what you can do if you don’t give up,” he notes. His goal is to provide a positive role model for a non-stereotypical life and to ensure that no child has to go through what he went through as a child. While he notes many changes which have occurred, he realizes there is still a long way to go.

He plans to go in several directions with the Galaxy Zento world, including board games and graphic novels. Wilde even hopes to go into computer apps eventually.

Check out Dave Wilde’s books and the early edition of the board game at Southern GeekFest in Hattiesburg, April 2-3, 2016.

Originally appeared 04/01/2016 at http://www.examiner.com/article/galaxy-zento-spreads-the-word-for-author-dave-wilde

A hobby turned avocation for Shane Dison: the art of cosplay

Because he can only fit two characters in a car at a time, only two versions of cosplayer Shane Dison will likely show up at any particular convention. But which two? Southern GeekFest attendees will find out in Hattiesburg, MS on April 2 and 3.

He has built costumes for several of his favorites: a Star Trek: The Original Series Klingon; a Star Trek: The Next Generation Klingon; Loki; an original series Battlestar Galactica Cylon, a xenomorph from the Alien movies, Cyclops from The X-Men; and from the Star Wars saga, a Stormtrooper and Bobba Fett.

Just in case those aren’t enough, Dison’s currently projects include an Iron Man suit and a Borg from the Star Trek world. He’s been engaging in cosplay since he built his first costume at age seventeen. The cardboard creation inspired him to continue making them, with each one becoming more real, more complex.

In 1999 finished his first Klingon and wore it for about ten years before deciding to break out into other characters. He uses a variety of materials and techniques in his quest to make it better.

Dison’s avocation has led to two appearances on national TV, VH1’s Totally Obsessed in 2004 and a UPN science fiction series. He appeared as a Klingon for both. He’s been in several newspapers, and attended a couple of dozen cons. He uses his cosplay for good, doing a lot of charity work, such as blood drives as a Stormtrooper and he works with the 501st as a Stormtrooper and Boba Fett.

A computer-aided drafter, Dison designs buildings such as paper mills, refineries and compressor stations as his day-to-day job, but he comes home to dragons and imagination. His living room is entirely dragons, with his costume work going on in the bedrooms. His current works in progress are out and some of his helmets, but the majority of his pieces are in big plastic containers in the closet, both for protection of the costume and ease of transport to the next event.

“I’m just like everybody else that dresses up. I get invited to these things as a cosplay guest…I appreciate the opportunity. I’m not an actor, I just like to build costumes.” He roams events in costume or participates in panels, but usually is not tethered to a table.

A native of West Munroe, LA, his family and network of friends are still there and he has lived there all his life.

So far, he works primarily for his own use, although he has built pieces of stuff for other people, asking only the cost of materials. With every costume he makes, Dison tries to use a new technique, to learn a new method. At some point, he may start making them commercially for others, but for now, he’s just enjoying the creative challenges of making the costumes and fun of appearing in them.

 
Originally appeared 04/01/2016 at http://www.examiner.com/article/a-hobby-turned-avocation-for-cosplayer-shane-dison

Cartoonist Andy Childress creates worlds of fun with BubbaWorld Comix

“Justice League. Aquaman speaking,” were the words coming through the telephone headset as Mississippi cartoonist Andy Childress of BubbaWorld Comix answered his phone for this interview, setting the offbeat tone for the conversation. Scheduled to appear at Southern GeekFest in Hattiesburg MS April 2-3, Childress brings a whimsical approach to the world.

He says he has been a cartoonist all of his life “whether I knew it or not.”

“I started drawing when I was one. I got interested in the Sunday funnies when I was three. When I was six, I realized ‘there’s words that go with this.’” He had a lot of fun imitating his favorite comic strips and comic books. Somewhere in the ninth grade, he says he “accidentally” created his first character in art class.

“…I couldn’t think of anything to do for Easter, so I drew the Easter bunny.” His teacher told him it looked like a chicken in a floppy eared hat. “Don’t tell him. He thinks he’s the Easter bunny,” Childress replied and Herman the psychotic chicken was born. Herman turns thirty-two this year, an enduring tribute to young imagination.

Childress has created a comic line about Redneck Time Lords, which pokes loving fun at the Dr. Who mystique. Other series titles include “Mississippi Swamp Dragons” and “Going Batty.” His cartoons show up on his website, BubbaWorld Comix, and in two books (to date) available through Lulu.

Roscoe P. Kramer (left) and Andy Childress share pizza

He conducts interviews for YouTube with a big monster puppet, Roscoe P. Kramer, “…because who’s gonna say ‘No’ to a puppet?” As he visits conventions, he records the cheery sessions to advertise both his favorite characters and himself.

At Southern Geekfest, Childress will have original artwork for sale at his artist’s table, as well as his books. Visitors who already have his books can bring them for autographs and doodles. Roscoe will be there, too, enchanting visitors with his toothy smile.

In addition to his original artwork and convention appearances, Childress is available to draw caricatures for events. He also can work from photos by email for caricatures.

Originally appeared 03/24/206 at http://www.examiner.com/article/cartoonist-andy-childress-creates-worlds-of-fun-with-bubbaworld-comix

Photo artist Ace Wheelie to appear at Southern GeekFest

 

Photo courtesy Ace Wheelie

As one of the artists who will make up the roster of the first ever Southern GeekFest in Hattiesburg, MS April 2-3, variant cosplay artist Ace Wheelie will appear on at least two of the panels there. His art will be available for sale on the convention floor, as well.

Don’t be put off by the title. Wheelie creates spectacular images resembling comic book covers using a basic image of a cosplayer. He photographs his subject against a gray, solid background with three lights. Digitally removing the background, he then composites the photo with a scene he creates using Photoshop. The end result is reminiscent of a classic comic book cover with a painting feel to it. The scene may include images from several sources, all blended to develop the imaginative final design.

Some of the scenes show breathtaking actions, while others depict stunning beauty, all touched with the magic of Wheelie’s skill. He describes variant cosplay art as suggestive of the old comic book covers that were not the main stream production line, but were more unique than those that were released.

Phantasm Magazine stocks his artwork, and he tours various conventions to meet cosplayers who would like to be subjects of his art. He sells the finished images with the subject’s permission as well as presenting the subject with a copy.

Wheelie started with band photos, but he laments the lack of control over the shoot environment. Later, he went into the modeling world, dealing with fashion and magazines and he brings the skills learned in those earlier endeavors into the cosplay world.

He remembers his first convention, the initial PensaCon, and the feeling of “home” and “family” he found there. He yielded to his “nerd” side and began working with cosplayers and the convention world. Now he will help get Southern GeekFest off the ground with his knowledge and experience.

Wheelie has been in a wheelchair since he was 3-1/2 years old. As a paraplegic, he appreciates the openness of the con community. He acknowledges that he is judged on his abilities rather than his disabilities at the cons and he wants to give back by sharing his skills with others.

He will talk about “overcoming the adversity” which circumstances may hand out. “Just because life has given you this doesn’t mean it’s over,” he says, discussing his desire to inspire others to see beyond their limitations.

For Ace Wheelie, the world of conventions has allowed him to share an amazing talent to a group of people who appreciate the result. The world is a more stunning place because of his art.

Originally appeared 03/24/52016 at http://www.examiner.com/article/photo-artist-ace-wheelie-to-appear-at-southern-geekfest

First ever convention in Hattiesburg brings the fantastic to town

For the first time ever, the Mississippi town of Hattiesburg will host a convention aimed at fans of science fiction, fantasy, horror, steampunk, comics and cosplay. Southern GeekFest, a production by Rafe White and Tim Nicholas, takes place April 2 and 3 at the Forrest County Multi Purpose Center, 962 Sullivan Drive.

White and Nicholas attended many conventions over the years, making notes of what they liked and didn’t like about each gathering, as part of their research for planning their own. Both have volunteered, working behind the scenes of other events, to learn to hold a successful con. Southern GeekFest marks their first outing at the helm and they haven’t held back.

The two men seek to bring the pop culture world to Hattiesburg in a prism-like display of the many aspects of the genre. The town has previously hosted role-play gaming conventions, but nothing on the level of variety offered by Southern GeekFest.

Headlining the event is an appearance on April 2 by Star Trek: Voyager’s Tim Russ. The mellow-voiced actor/singer/voice actor has also worked in Fallout4 and Live Free or Die Hard, among others.

A screening of Mississippian Frank Ladner’s indie Southern mock-umentary “Max Peril” takes place during the conference, adding a local flavor to the fantastic worlds offered throughout the event.

Others on the agenda include actor/writer/director Jessy Hughes; actor/producer/director/writer Jeremy London; artist/illustrator/graphic designer Gavin Michelli; actor/cosplayer/John R. Mangus; actor/director Scotty Whitehurst; actor Jerrad Vunovich; makeup/effects artists Dark Water FX. Authors include JL Mulvihill, KD Wood, Rob Cerio and more. John Dell of Marvel/DC Comic brings another aspect to the mix.

Non-human representatives at the convention include many of the iconic vehicles of the genre, including Bela, a Great Thief, the North American black Impala which appeared in Supernatural.

With many of the guest artists crossing categories, nearly every aspect of the convention world will be represented. The lineup goes beyond those mentioned and continues to expand. The latest additions can be found on the convention website.

Watch for more stories from Southern GeekFest in the coming weeks.

Originally appeared 03/01/2016 at http://www.examiner.com/article/first-ever-convention-hattiesburg-brings-the-fantastic-to-town

Climbing and sculpture define a life lived creatively

For artist Jeremy Thomley, life must be lived in the moment. Thomley suffers from cystic fibrosis, a lung disease that regularly puts him in the hospital and hovers as a constant threat over his activities. His response to the ailment leads him to fill his days with things that create joy and beauty. He travels the world climbing whatever he can find to climb, then returns to his south Mississippi studio at Mohawk Steel Company to tell the stories of the climbs in powerful sculptures of steel.

Whimsical metal Whomping Willow

Some of his work is whimsical, like the giant replica of a fictional tree that he is creating from discarded farm machinery. A century of outdated equipment finds new purpose as a child’s fantasy play land. The finished tree will measure more than 30 feet tall. The pieces of equipment, many of which move, form the steps and levels for a climber to ascend to the crow’s nest at the top.

A passion to climb

As part of his climbing passion, Thomley holds climbing parties in his studio. The wall behind him contains climbing holds. He does some work for a climbing hold manufacturer in Phoenix as part of his delight in the process. Planning his climbing trips keeps him going during the all-too-familiar hospitalizations.

Bottle trees garner second looks

His bottle trees stretch steel fingers upward and outward, ready to accept the colorful glass bottles that will adorn them. Thomley forms many of his trees from rebar, adding the texture of the metal to the graceful shape. He explains that, besides being an artistic element in the piece, rebar allows him to make less expensive bottle trees and therefore more affordable trees.

A bottle tree with a twist

Thomley was a speech communication major in college. He uses those skills to tell stories through sculpture. One of his professors requested a tree that would allow his wife to display her glasswork. Thomley adapted the traditional bottle tree to include hooks on the ends to support the woman’s art.

A stone 'lung' takes form

Of all of his projects, the one dearest to his heart is his Anthem series, images reflecting lungs and rib cages. With his own history of breathing problems, it’s no wonder that he finds allure in images about “containing breath or breaking free” as he works. This lung started as a piece of stone he found in Colorado on a climbing excursion.

 

Thomley shows his diversity with lungs that can burn

A figure of a human torso contains tubing to permit the pipes to be ignited, lighting the room and pulsing with life. A portable fuel tank attaches below the pipes, providing the fuel for the display. The polished metal against the rougher rusted backdrop creates a startling contrast.

A rib cage awaits lungs

A rib cage formed from metal rods awaits the installation of lungs to complete the piece. The structure sits in Thomley’s studio among other projects in various stages of completion. Thomley hopes that his Anthem series will create an enduring legacy, reminding viewers of the preciousness of the gift of breath.

A glass lung takes shape

Working with a glassblower colleague, Thomley has created delicate glass lungs for a piece in the Anthem series. The mottled coloring calls to mind the fragile sacs within human lungs, and their importance in the process of breathing.

 

An inside view of a glass lung

Thomley shows the interior of the glass lung. He also collaborates with a woodworking friend for other depictions of lungs. Many of his pieces are on display at Artwistic Revolution Cooperative Gallery in Columbia, Miss. He combines his talent for metal art and the shadow of perhaps having only “one more summer” to create powerful sculptures that delight and inspire.

 Originally appeared on 09/08/2013 at http://www.examiner.com/list/climbing-and-sculpture-define-a-life-lived-creatively

Jeremy Thomley creates 3-D art from discarded metal in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Thomley's version of The Whomping Willow

On a Christmas tree farm outside of Hattiesburg, Miss. there grows an amazing structure. Inspired by the Whomping Willow of Harry Potter fame, artist Jeremy Thomley is constructing a massive sculpture out of a century’s worth of discarded farm implements. His London-based clients bought a farm in Bunker Hill, Miss. and discovered piles of discarded metal on the property. Rather than have the pieces carted away as rubbish, the couple called on Thomley to create a replica of the fictional tree from the detritus.

One version of the Harry Potter tree stood at Scholastic Place in New York during the launch of the last novel calls children to enjoy the space. The sculpture Thomley builds in Hattiesburg provides a steam punk take on the tree.

Thomley explains his work in his studio on the family Christmas tree farm outside Hattiesburg, Miss. His climbable tree project is only one of the many metal sculptures he creates with steel and a blowtorch. 

A metal Mohawk to top the tree

An airy array of metal will top the tree like a Mohawk hairstyle. The girders will fit into grooves on the tree when final assembly is completed. A series of “sails” will dress the crow’s nest atop the structure. Like graceful sails or insect wings, the future branches of the tree rest around Thomley’s studio. When the tree reaches its final destination, the leaves will spread from the trunk in all directions.

Thomley demonstrated the climb-ability of the tree he is building from discarded equipment pieces. With the variety of shapes and sizes incorporated into the tree, the young man destined to own the tree will be able to climb from many directions. 

 

Thomley neared the crow's nest as he climbed the fantasy tree on the family farm. An avid climber, he has traveled the world seeking new climb sites. Now he is building one outside his sculpture studio, Mohawk Steel Company.

 

The lighter-colored channels at the top will hold the tree's Mohawk topping, and the remaining branches will attach around the trunk. A giant chain provides a means of descent from the top of the metal tree. Thomley has utilized parts of tractors and other farm implements to create the giant playground.

 

Originally appeared on 09/04/2013 at http://www.examiner.com/list/jeremy-thomley-creates-3-d-art-from-discarded-metal-hattiesburg-mississippi