SUBSTANTIAL ART & MUSIC PRESENTS SKETCHPADS: LIVE ART & MUSIC JAM SESSION AT OTAKON
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PRESS CONTACTS:
July 9, 2024 Rachelle Etienne-Robinson
Founder/Co-CEO
Substantial Art & Music
www.subartandmusic.com
info@subartandmusic.com
SUBSTANTIAL ART & MUSIC PRESENTS SKETCHPADS:
LIVE ART & MUSIC JAM SESSION AT OTAKON
Friday, August 2 – Sunday, August 4, 2024
(Alexandria, VA) — Substantial Art & Music, a multimedia arts organization is pleased to announce that they will be a featured presenter at Otakon 2024. Otakon is an annual convention held in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.
It celebrates Asian pop culture which includes anime, manga, music, video games, and its fandom. SketchPads is a live art and music “jam session” featuring live illustrations by a visual artist and a live beat set by a music producer. The SketchPads area will serve as an artist's lounge where spectators can observe or use the space to work on their art. Drawing supplies will be provided. Additionally, cosplayers will be invited to pose as figure models for the audience to draw.
This summer marks Otakon’s 30th Anniversary. The Otakon convention runs from Friday, August 2 to Sunday, August 4, and includes a jam-packed schedule featuring panels, workshops, film screenings, performances, Artist Alley, a marketplace, and so much more.
Last year they received their largest turnout with 42,000 unique attendees and 150,000 turnstile visits. SketchPads will be held in Artist Alley, a dedicated space for amateur and professional visual artists to promote and sell their original artwork.
SketchPads will be accessible to Otakon attendees beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday, August 2nd, and will feature ten visual artists and seven music producers throughout the weekend. “As a visual and performing artist, I envisioned an event that highlights visual and performing arts instead of forcing a promoter or audience to choose. I love that SketchPads allows both to coexist on stage, together while also allowing the audience to observe, participate, and engage with the featured artists. It’s something truly unique.” says Stan “Substantial” Robinson, Substantial Art & Music Co-founder/Co-CEO.
Substantial Art & Music debuted SketchPads in 2022 at BlerDCon, a multi-genre convention in Arlington, VA, and Otakon. Both events were well attended and left a positive impression on attendees and guest artists alike. “I had a great, great time, I hope you'll do it again,'' said Gabe “Asheru” Benn of Guerilla Arts Ink, an Otakon 2022 attendee.
The SketchPads program at Otakon 2024 is made possible through the generous support of BLICK Art Materials, Discord’s Black and African American Movement Employee Resource Group, and from multimedia illustrator and storyteller Kenya (KDFoxx) Danino.
For high-resolution images and interview requests, email info@subartandmusic.com.
About Substantial Art & Music
Substantial Art & Music, LLC (SAM) is a multimedia organization that provides consulting services to the visual and performing arts community. SAM was founded in 2017, by husband and wife duo Stan “Substantial” Robinson and Rachelle Etienne-Robinson. Together they provide design and consulting services to emerging and established independent artists, entrepreneurs, and organizations. SAM offers professional advice and guidance through consultations, workshops, and webinars. Additional services include graphic design and special events. SAM has facilitated workshops at Amazon headquarters in Seattle, Washington, the Hawaii State Art Museum, Pratt Institute, and multi-genre conventions. SAM events have been featured on WTOP, Washington Informer, and Fox 5 DC.
About Otakon
Founded in 1994, Otakon is an annual convention held in the summer months to celebrate Asian pop culture (anime, manga, music, movies, video games, etc) and its fandom. The event runs from Friday to Sunday and is packed with a schedule that has tons to do. Otakon is held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in our nation's capital Washington, DC.
For more information, please visit:
Substantial Art & Music
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