Set up for Vendor at Spooky Empire began at 6pm on October 24th at the Double Tree Hotel right across Kirkman Drive from Universal Studios. Vendors cars and vans were parked in front of the hotel as they unloaded. Shane and Heather Herbert Malesky of Chronic Damage Art were there setting up. Heather had kindly invited me to stop by and document the show as it took form in the convention hall. Tattoos and brightly colored hair circulated the hall.
The vendor to the left in my sketch was the first to be completely set up. A table cost $300 for an artist to rent for the weekend. Shane got 2 tables and he set up his own electricity using a marine battery since hotel electric would cost an extra $100 for the weekend. His exhibit utilized a metal grid which he and Heather attached a Chronic Damage banner. It would have towered high above all the other signage but unfortunately it broke apart as they tried to scoot the structure up against the wall. When all his paintings were in place and the lights went on, Shane’s paintings created an impressive display. During the show, Heather looked quite demonic as one of Shane’s paintings.
Tommy Castillo was hanging demonic looking super hero’s and Mark Hadley was hanging paintings on coffin shaped canvases. A machine gun was moved to the top of a bookcase. It looked heavy, I do believe it was the real thing but don’t know if it was for sale or just for display. Every possible horror themed painting was on display. There was a demonic rabbit whose bubbling guts flowed out of it’s open wounds. There was Freddie, Elvira and multiple skeletal creatures. Local artist Morgan Wilson actually found someone who had one of her paintings tattooed on her leg.
Exhibiting would be a costly risk for any artist, but as the saying goes, you have to spend money to make money. I didn’t spend as much time as I would have likes at the convention, it was without a doubt a sketching landmine since zombies and cosplay characters were everywhere.