I cannot tell you enough about the importance of creativity to our existence. There is something innate to being human that propels most of us to build, make, modify, and generate from the world we see and the things we dream. There are numerous examples of early man placing their dyed hand upon a wall and drawing the animals they saw in their vicinity or letting their imaginations run wild creating hieroglyphs, building pyramids, carving tokens, sewing clothing, or shaping clay, stone, and bone into useful instruments.

Kings, queens, dukes, popes, and affluent families supported artists for centuries. This spiritually-based bond allowed the artists to devote themselves full-time to creativity, many times of a religious motif, and the benefactor could be portrayed as being closer to God.

We’ve seen closed societies like the old Soviet system that did their best to crush artistic dissent but could not completely stop the will and energy to create; hence, today we know countless painters, musicians, and authors from Solzhenitsyn to Havel to Pasternak to Baryshnikov.

For the most part, art is now more commercial than art for art’s sake, with millions of individual patrons having replaced the kings and queens through their purchases and visits. We also have educational classes and degrees to inspire and build working careers out of creative ventures as well as national endowments that serve as a safety net for art and public discourse.

You’ll find many creatives at these big conventions like MegaCon, which bills itself as celebrating all things geeky and fantastic. MegaCon takes place in Orlando every year, and it’s been reported that attendance this year broke records and may have reached as high as 180,000 over the four-day weekend.

I started taking the kids when they were younger to stoke their imaginations. Saturday is usually the busiest day to catch forums and meet celebrities. Sunday is better to make a few purchases as many vendors will lower prices instead of cart boxes of comic books, illustrations, and handmade pieces back to wherever home is.

Our first day on the floor, I walked 17,000 steps, or about 8 miles.

No matter how much I walk the floor, I’m never convinced I’ve seen all of the exhibits. I’ve run into friends and co-workers on one day, never to see them again the next due to the size and crowd. Themes have changed from year to year, where one year there are a lot of Lord of the Rings guests and cosplay, and the next year it seems Japanese anime has taken over. There are people here who have taken an immense amount of time making their costumes down to the right button or length of thread. The best portrayal I have ever seen was a steampunk George Washington complete with retrofuturistic technology such as cogs, gears, brass, and clockwork, with a chest-mounted Gatling gun. Others thought the same as the guy could hardly walk a few steps without being asked for a picture.

The lineup of stars is different each year and we’ve had some great memories of meeting them.

More than the actors, it is the other, more unknown artists that are the real draw. I want to point some of them out.

Aaron Holley is this amazing concept artist I saw about five years back at a St. Augustine show. He has a plethora of work from his start in the video game industry, but I like his pieces that depict environmental influences. I have two of his prints I had professionally framed that represent the spirit of the earth and ocean. His work catches the eye and provokes thought on the universal connection between us and the rest of nature. Most art is a internal depiction of the external with a few dreams and wishes thrown in. Aaron is a master of such.

You can see a lot more of Aaron’s work here.

There are professional comic book writers and authors at numerous spots across the floor. The legendary Stan Lee made appearances in the past. Since his passing, probably the most well-known creator here has been Frank Miller of the Batman and 300 sagas, but multiple young talents are trying to find their niche and break in. Stephanie and David McKinney were here with The Turned Coffee and Comics.

The Turned is a story 10,000 years in the future with humans surviving after a zombie apocalypse. They have a couple of nifty extras they do. They run a contest for artwork and showcase winners in each issue, and they also have their coffee they sell aligned with the artwork and feel of the comics.

Here’s another creator making big waves, Eric July with Rippaverse Comics.

Dude is a powerhouse, setting up his own comic book company, a writer, reader, musician, and social advocate. Read the company ethos. Good stuff and the comic I purchased was excellent. He and his artists have created a completely new universe of heroes, so it is fresh and original. He’s doing it his way. This is an example of talent working to do things on their own and not be reliant on the big brands such as Marvel and DC.

My daughter was adamant about meeting Rachel Maksy, a big-time seamstress and cosplayer who has racked up a million social media followers with her creative costumes and whimsical tastes. She was lovely. There’s a term in her bio called a Floor Troll and according to my daughter that is someone always working on projects while sitting on the floor. 😀 

People like Ms. Maksy are crafty and creative extroverts who have found a niche they enjoy and bring joy to others. What I like about it, is it inspires youth like my daughter to think outside the box, to be creative and interpret what she sees in various ways, and to be herself. The world is not black and white. It is a multitude of colors. Understanding this is incredibly important to developing brains, and this kind of stimulation builds healthy mental health connections.

Her friend, @Ladiepi is a fellow Floor Troll and another great artist in her own way. I struck up a conversation with her after accidentally taking a photo of her shoveling pizza in. She found it hilarious, and we had a good laugh. She later posted it on her own social media accounts. Personal leadership note: The ability to laugh at oneself is a sure sign of healthy introspection.

There are hundreds of artists here and regardless of my effort, it is very hard to visit every one of them during the convention. Out of those I did get to see, I very much enjoyed the work of Crypt Kitty Designs. From their original concept artwork of Stan Lee reading a bedtime story to baby Hulk, to an Ewok and Lorax exclaiming together, “I speak for the Trees!”, they take some known forms and give them an original twist that is both humorous and sweet.

The artwork itself is top notch and though I could not afford some of the originals, I did purchase a few limited copies. Take a look at the website for a variety of creations. I’m astounded by the watercolors and reminded that great art doesn’t just sit in a museum.

Creativity by its very nature is freedom from control. One learns a certain craft and reaches for perfection, for the unseen. It is humans being human.

The arts have always had a back-and-forth relationship in culture, many times used to question belief systems or to protest against corruption and control. If we ever lose our ability to create or value creativity, we have lost the significance of being human.

These conventions like MegaCon are cosmopolitan events. People from all walks of life come to be a part of something bigger than the lone “I”. I’m in the age minority here and my buddy Bruce may have been the senior sensei in the building. Whatever age, discipline, or group you are in, I would challenge you to reach beyond your normal comfort zone. Regardless of look or feel, some of the attendees here will certainly be future doctors, nurses, lawyers, designers, and conservationists. For example, one would not necessarily think about hunting and fishing or getting outdoors at events like this, but the themes of nature and protecting the Earth are here. If we move from the comfort of talking to ourselves and the groups we already know, we will make real progress with other people, other groups, who only need an invitation.

The universal need to belong to the bigger “We” always remains.

I’ll leave you with a few more pictures.

Special Note: If you like the shirts I wear, head over to RSVLTS for good quality, unique clothing. Tell them Daniel sent you.

There is a great short video at the link above, and it’s a reminder that the United States is one of the very few advanced countries willing to put the next generation into debt for extended education, even for services like the medical field that ultimately benefit all of us. Spend 45 seconds on the video. You’ll love it and it’ll give you something to ponder.

And Now….

Hope to see you next time. If you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, do me a solid and forward it to friends to sign up for free weekly delivery. In the meantime, keep up your reading habit, practice your gratefulness, and remember: Be a good human.