The vendor hall at ChesterCon 2011! That's my table at the left. I inadvertently dumped the contents of my camera's memory chip, at one point, and lost some good stuff, but was able to hastily grab a few shots before bugging out.
Shocking, I know, that this report should be so tardy and incomplete, but my trip to the annual convention of the American Chesterton Society (ChesterCon) was, predictably, a blast and a privilege from the start.
First, I got to travel from the Northwest Arkansas Ozarks to St. Louis with a couple of members of our local Chesterton society, Tom and his daughter Michelle. Tom is the one who, incredibly, pulled together the local Society. We have a group that ranges from about 8 upwards to 12 or 15 on a packed night. From what I've heard, that would be an accomplishment even in a much more populous area. Tom and his wife have raised a wonderful Catholic family who are delightful to be around. Daughter Michelle is a real distributist, with a large garden and a beehive. She also brews her own beer. They kept me alert and awake while driving with some great conversation, and provided valuable navigation services.
I had asked a while ago about setting up a table at the conference, just thinking I might sell a few prints of some recent Chesterton artwork and help defray the cost of the trip. It was all very informal, and Dale Ahlquist made it simple and easy, which is good. Complexity makes me perspire and develop tics.
So, I arrived to find a very nice table, in the very nice hotel (I had under-dressed, it turns out) very near to the Versailles Ballroom where the conference was mostly held. Just two tables down was fellow artist Daniel Matsui, who - as you can see - had dressed much better.
The well-dressed and incredibly skilled Daniel Mistui
The conference was amazing, and too rich to recount very well in this brief post. Do I have a picture of me with Sean Dailey? Dale Ahlquist? Nope. But I did get this shot of Chris Check (with his son) who gave a great presentation with tons of helpful background on Chesterton's poem, Lepanto, topped off with a stirring dramatic recitation.
Chris Check (& son?)
There was, of course, great camraderie between talks, at meals and at the informal outdoor gatherings (the "afterglows") where home-brewed beer, homemade wine and a variety of cheesy comestibles were shared freely... and there was much rejoicing ("Yaaayyy..."). The conversations were a real highlight. At one point, Danial Mistui and I talked for more than a half-hour, and it was like getting another fascinating seminar speaker thrown in, gratis. What a kick to visit with him about his background and his approach to his philosophy and his art.
Leaguer Del was resplendent in his kilt as he talked with Dave, both accomplices from the Christian Pipe Smokers forum.
Del & Dave... both fellow CPS-ers.
It turned out to be a trip blessed many times over; as I said, I had mahhh-velous company on the drive, I sold enough prints to pay all my expenses, and even landed a very gratifying job offer, which it appears ever-more likely I will accept.
The cherry on top was getting the offer of a book-jacket deal from Ignatius Press for my Chesterton oil portrait before the paint was even dry. Here is how it looks;
Pretty bodacious, eh?
What a thrill to have my art on the cover of a collection of Chesterton essays! Thanks, Ignatius (especially John Herreid).
Next year, in Reno!
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