#shortrunseattle

You know how you don’t realize you’re missing something until  you get it? That was the exact feeling I had during and after my experience at Short Run Comix Arts festival Seattle. First I didn’t realize how badly I needed the 19 hour plus train ride to just sit and be,relax and take in the beautiful scenery of Northern California, Oregon forest and Washington state countryside. I just didn’t imagine that I would enjoy letting someone else get me to my destination. If you know me then you’d realize I don’t like flying and I drive to comics shows and I get nervous letting others take the wheel but I digress.

The train ride to Seattle was cool and all but I truly wasn’t ready for how lovely Seattle is and how colorful the trees and water and public art on buildings and huge statues brought an pop culture but refined urbane energy to the city. I arrived a day early to rest and check out the tourist areas. It was funny how the brief mist and fog of Friday morning gave the streets an oddly cheerful autumn almost Holiday vibe. I got a chance to check out the Public Market well known for Pikes fish where they throw the fish out to ya and walk around to the sea port side of the market to relax in the sun. I am always nervous before events so this was a great chance get my mind off of the next day.

I created a mini comic in the hotel and found a Staples to have a few copies made, turned out that I didn’t have enough room on my table to display it so I’ll probably give a few away at upcoming shows. It’s just a one page folded mini about a Unicorn that likes pizza. LOL. As a said I’m always super anxious about comics/zine events so got up early Saturday and of course it was raining. Hello Seattle. I’m not sure if the Lyft driver was new to the city or I just didn’t put in the correct destination but we got lost. He unceremoniously dropped me off about 3-4 blocks from the venue on the other side of the Seattle center. Did I mention it was raining? on me and my rolling bag full of paper comics? and there was a mega hill of grass and random buildings between me and the venue? So after getting another Lyft and after asking 2-3 people on the street and then a guard/valet for the Seattle center we found the Fisher Pavilion. Thank God I gave myself an hour to find the place, well because turns out a 8 minute Lyft ride would turn into a 40 minute adventure.

  After entering the Fisher Pavilion and entering a big hall set up with rows and rows of tables, I  don’t know what I was expecting but I received such a warm and welcoming greeting from “Otts” and  I immediately felt a sense of calm wash over me and gained an awesome burst of excitement. I remember thinking, “it’s gonna be okay” Thank you Otts because I’m not sure you realized how helpful and calming your positive energy was at that moment. So Thank you.

Set up was fairly quick and my table mate was very sweet James the Stanton who has amazing art and comics. Check him out here, https://gnartoons.com/

It is always nice to run into friends as well like Eunsoo Jeong, https://eunsoo.art/ and Golden,https://www.instagram.com/d.s.press/?hl=en  oh man I definitely loved seeing them and getting great big hugs. I can’t wait to catch up with them again in Oakland at Oakland creates, https://www.facebook.com/events/984791398527204/

I’m sending positive vibes to Kelsey too, https://www.instagram.com/agathafrye/?hl=en  I hope everything worked out and maybe next year I’ll table at Olympia zinefest if ya’ll will still have me.

I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed chatting with everyone who came by my table. I didn’t take attendee photos like I have in the past and to be honest I was so busy trying to help everyone and explain my comic and drawings that I felt like it would take away from the experience of just being in the moment and appreciating all the generous folks who spent time and energy with me. This was my first time in Seattle and my first time tabling at Short Run after several years of applying. I am so grateful. Thanks Seattle you all were amazing and I’m still smiling.

Short Run is very well organized too and I loved the name badges with my name on it and the ability to have lunch pre-ordered and available was top notch. The organizers were all so helpful and checked on me throughout the event which was very cool. Thank you so much. I didn’t get to shop although I did get to walk around a bit after quickly taking powder room breaks but man every time I returned to my table folks were waiting for me.

I look forward to tabling again in the future. I’m missing you Seattle. yep that’s me waving from California.