Category Archives: Alternative Press Expo

1001 Black Men #678

 

I met Roy Miles at the Alternative Press Expo, back in October. He stopped at my booth and chatted with me for a while. I explained my 1001 Black Men project, and he let me snap a photo for later use. It was only later that I would learn that he was a puppeteer, toy designer, musician, and filmmaker. Whenever we cross paths I feel energized and inspired.

Ajuan Mance

1001 Black Men–#640

1001BlackMen640Web

 

I participated in my first zinefest in August of 2012, and since then I’ve adopted a few strategies for interacting with attendees. For example, I always do a few drawings while I’m sitting at my table. I do the drawings using my standard medium, Pigma Micron pen (.08 or .05) on paper. It’s a great way for me to document my experience of the festival, and it’s also fun to be able to show visitors some actual works in progress.

I did the outline for this drawing at the Alternative Press Expo (APE), in October of this year. I passed these two men as I was driving to the second day of APE. They were standing in front of an empty storefront in Oakland, near the corner of Foothill and 50th, dressed in their Sunday best. I don’t know what kind of sermon they’d just heard, but whatever it was, it must have been hilarious.

Ajuan Mance