DiNK Denver, here I come!

As I mentioned in Tuesday’s blog entry, I’m traveling to Denver for the first time tomorrow and the logistics of the trip have proven to be far more complicated (and expensive) than I anticipated.  But travel is its own thing, and I’m not associating it with the reason I’m going out to Denver: to exhibit for the first time at the weekend comic and art showcase, DiNK Denver!

DiNK Denver seems like the mountain cousin to a show like MICE here in Massachusetts.  Or maybe MICE is the east coast cousin to DiNK.  I don’t know which show came first.  But the shows seem similar to me, in that they’re both Saturday & Sunday shows that are focused on being a smaller, more intimate alternatives to the massive, celebrity packed, three-to-four day corporate conventions that are so prevalent these days.  They’re focused on artists and comics, rather than on celebrities and pop culture.  They may not be the wallet-busting financial monsters of the big corporate shows, but shows like DiNK are ones I want to support.

It’s the same reason ConBust is so important to me.  It reminds me that there are shows and conventions out there with heart and passion.  That there are shows out there who want to showcase the new and original work of established artists and newcomers.  That there are still shows out there that are accessible and friendly to artists who are just starting, who are still looking to find their voice, who are looking to get that first taste of being behind a table and showcasing their work to an audience hungry for something they’ve never seen before, instead of a crowd only interested in things they already like.

The logistics and expenses of getting out to Denver may be a punch in my wallet and my schedule, but the chance to be a part of a show like DiNK Denver is a statement of what I stand for as an artist.