Category: Art

Art, Books, Interview

Dante Basco Dives into His Career So Far in ‘From Rufio to Zuko’

Lauren Lola

Actor Dante Basco is a name and face that has been bringing to life memorable characters for over three decades. While there are many to name, most people will probably recognize him as the leader of the Lost Boys, Rufio, in Steven Spielberg’s Hook, and as the voice of Prince Zuko in the Nickelodeon animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender. Now, fans will soon get to read about his experiences in the entertainment industry so far in his upcoming memoir, From Rufio to Zuko.

Continue reading “Dante Basco Dives into His Career So Far in ‘From Rufio to Zuko’”

Art, Music

Join Us at the 2nd Annual Charm City Night Market in Baltimore

The Nerds of Color

This Saturday, September 21, join our very own Keith Chow and Jamie Noguchi at the second annual Charm City Night Market in downtown Baltimore, Maryland!

Continue reading “Join Us at the 2nd Annual Charm City Night Market in Baltimore”

Art, Fantasy, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Hannah and the Dread Gazebo’

Edward Hong

It’s not often we here at The Nerds of Color review theatre performances but once in a while, there comes a production so wonderful, magical, and full of heart that it must be told for all to know.  That production is Hannah and the Dread Gazebo, performing in Los Angeles at the Fountain Theatre (in association with East West Players) from now till September 29.

Continue reading “A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Hannah and the Dread Gazebo’”

Art, Horror, Movies

Inside the ‘IT: Chapter Two’ Gallery 1988 Exhibit

Mike Manalo

Pennywise has missed you! And we know you’ve missed Derry! And so, the geniuses at Gallery 1988 invite you to come back, through their exclusive IT: Chapter Two Art Exhibit!

Located in the heart of Los Angeles on Melrose, you may recall IT featured a gorgeous exhibit at 1988 back in the fall of 2017. In the grand tradition of that film, the Gallery has decided to feature another exhibit, just in time for you to witness “The End of IT” when IT: Chapter Two hits theaters September 6, 2019.

Take a look at some of the gorgeous pieces below featured at the gallery. And feel free to check out the exhibit at Gallery 1988 (7308 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046) this week!

Continue reading “Inside the ‘IT: Chapter Two’ Gallery 1988 Exhibit”

Art, Comics1 Comment

Today at Apple: You Can Be Heroes

Keith Chow

This Saturday, May 25 at 11am I will be joined by artist Jamie Noguchi for a Today at Apple session at the new flagship Apple Store in Washington D.C.’s historic Carnegie Library. This kid-friendly event is free and open to the public, just sign up here.

Continue reading “Today at Apple: You Can Be Heroes”

Art, Movies

#StarringJohnCho Comes to Life in New York City Art Show

Keith Chow

Back in April 2016, I helped launch the #whitewashedOUT hashtag alongside YA author Ellen Oh and a whole team of Asian American activists and authors. If you recall, the spring of 2016 was a rough time to be an Asian American consumer of pop culture.

Continue reading “#StarringJohnCho Comes to Life in New York City Art Show”

Art, Conventions, Fandom1 Comment

Afrofuturism and the Legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: The Black and Brown Comix Arts Festival

Shawn Taylor

Happy New Year to you all. I hope everyone is well and doing what they need and want to do.

I wanted to share a few things with you.

Continue reading “Afrofuturism and the Legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: The Black and Brown Comix Arts Festival”

Animation, Art, Nerd Nostalgia

Mickey: The True Original Exhibition is a Colorful Playground for Disnerds

Constance Gibbs

Have you ever found yourself doodling Mickey ears on pieces of paper? Or find yourself looking for Mouse ears in places outside of a Disney theme park? Then you’re a #TrueOriginal Mickey fan and the Mickey: True Original Exhibition in New York City is for you. The exhibit is also for those who aren’t hip to the power of the Mouse. The exhibit walks visitors through the history of Mickey Mouse — from Steamboat Willie to the latest Mickey x Vans collection (I want those Fantasia hi-tops so badly!) — and his influence on art and popular culture.

Continue reading “Mickey: The True Original Exhibition is a Colorful Playground for Disnerds”

Art2 Comments

Moonlight Forest: Magical Lantern Festival Lights Up Los Angeles

Laura Sirikul

For the first time ever, the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden will host a beautiful lantern festival called the Moonlight Forest. Celebrating nature, art, and culture, the gardens have been transformed into magical night landscapes illuminated by beautiful, hand-crafted lanterns.

Continue reading “Moonlight Forest: Magical Lantern Festival Lights Up Los Angeles”

Art, Hard N.O.C. Life, Movies

Hard NOC Life: Inktober Surprise

Hard NOC Media

Since October is officially Filipino American Heritage Month and Inktober, who better to guest host Hard NOC Life than artist Glenn Urieta?!!

Continue reading “Hard NOC Life: Inktober Surprise”

Art, Comics

Shawn Martinbrough’s TED Talk on Superpowers

Keith Chow

Late last year, TEDxMidAtlantic held an event in Washington, D.C. themed around the “unique insights and talents,” both discovered and undiscovered, that are possessed by everyone. Titled “SUPERPOWERS,” the TED event featured politicians, activists, scientists, journalists, and more as speakers during the two-day event. Of course, what would a Superpowers-themed TED Talk be without a contribution from a comic book creator? Fortunately, D.C.-based artist, and Official Friend of the NOC, Shawn Martinbrough was on hand to tell his story of becoming an artist and the importance of media representation through his work. See the talk in its entirety below!

Continue reading “Shawn Martinbrough’s TED Talk on Superpowers”

Art, Comics1 Comment

EXCLUSIVE: Another ‘Ricanstruction’ Preview

Keith Chow

After Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez unveiled the Puerto Rico benefit anthology Ricanstruction at the New York Times, we also revealed art from one of the stories written by Hamilton star Javier Muñoz. Today, I’ll be exclusively sharing art from another Ricanstruction short story. This time, it’s my own story — illustrated by artist Glenn Urieta — called “A Yellow Sky.”

Continue reading “EXCLUSIVE: Another ‘Ricanstruction’ Preview”

Art, Conventions

#AACC2017 and Failing to Get a Photo with Lewis Tan

AJ Joven

To get to my failure, I should start with a childhood that took place in Los Angeles. Hawthorne, California is a small community situated in Southwest Los Angeles. With Inglewood to the north, Gardena to the east, Torrance to the south, and the glamorous beach communities to the west, it was basically the edge of working class/POC Los Angeles butting up against the elite.

Continue reading “#AACC2017 and Failing to Get a Photo with Lewis Tan”
Art, Conventions1 Comment

The Asian American ComiCon Presents: A Summit on Art, Action & the Future

The Nerds of Color

In 2009, the Asian American ComiCon was held in New York City, bringing together Asian indie and mainstream comics creators for a historic gathering to celebrate the unique and flourishing graphic storytelling of our community. Now, eight years later, AACC is hosting its second event: a Summit on Art, Action and the Future. In a time where diversity and creativity are both under attack, the Summit will feature diverse creators talking about where we’re going next.

Continue reading “The Asian American ComiCon Presents: A Summit on Art, Action & the Future”

Art, Music1 Comment

Getting Geeky With The Hollywood Fringe Festival

Edward Hong

For those living in the Los Angeles area, the Hollywood Fringe Festival is upon you. Perhaps you might have seen their flags flown throughout the city or perhaps you might have heard whispers of it from your actor friends yapping away about which fringe play to watch. And you go, “What the heck IS the Hollywood Fringe Festival?”

Continue reading “Getting Geeky With The Hollywood Fringe Festival”

Art, Comics, Gone Too Soon1 Comment

The Portrait of an Artist: Remembering Michael Turner

Dennis R. Upkins

Little known fact. The late Michael Turner was one of my personal heroes. He was also one the catalysts who inspired me to go to art school and get my BFA in computer animation. It was on the path of getting my BFA that of course eventually led me to becoming a published author and a comic book nerd seraph that you’ve all come to know and feel morally ambivalent about.

And to think none of that might’ve happened had a chance meeting not occurred.

Continue reading “The Portrait of an Artist: Remembering Michael Turner”

Art, Movies

Harvard Man

Dennis R. Upkins

As many of you may know, in addition to being a published author, an equal rights activist, and a nerd seraph, I’m also a pop culture analyst.

A regular fixture on the Nerds of Color, my work has also been featured on Salon, MTV.com, Mental Health Matters, Geeks OUT, Black Girl Magic Lit Mag, and a host of other places.

Whether it’s comic books, video games, blockbuster films, or music albums, it is absolutely paramount that we critique our media if for no other reason than to analyze its influence in molding minds and shaping society.

Continue reading “Harvard Man”

Art, Marvel5 Comments

Thanks to Jen Bartel, Kris Anka: This #AAIronFist Redesign Took Over Twitter

Keith Chow

This past weekend, Netflix finally dropped all 13 episodes of Iron Fist. For the most part, the internet was not pleased. While a smattering of Fist Stans tried their damnedest to pretend what they watched was, you know, good, the consensus among critics (and fans too) was this was Marvel’s first big miss. There was one awesome outcome of the Iron Fist debacle, however: a slew of awesome comics artists began sharing their takes on a redesigned Asian American Danny (or Dani) Rand! And it all started when Jen Bartel shared her riff on Kris Anka’s original:

Continue reading “Thanks to Jen Bartel, Kris Anka: This #AAIronFist Redesign Took Over Twitter”

Art, School of Hard NOCs

SIUniverse Celebrates Lunar New Year at The Met in NYC

Keith Chow

A little over two weeks ago, I had the honor of leading a comics workshop with my SIUniverse partner Jerry Ma at the world renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Part of their annual Lunar New Year festival, Jerry and I helped small children and their families use inspiration from the museum’s rooms of Asian art to create their own superhero characters.

Continue reading “SIUniverse Celebrates Lunar New Year at The Met in NYC”

Art, Fashion, School of Hard NOCs

Help Support a Couple of Good Causes

Shawn Taylor

Hello All,

I received a few emails and messages from people who wanted to support the AfroGeeks Unite! summer camp, but didn’t want to wear a shirt with a raygun on it. I completely understand. We’re living in interesting times and the raygun (with the RBG colors) design could be interpreted in a variety of ways… ways some folks may not be comfortable with.

With this in mind, I’ve added two new designs:

Continue reading “Help Support a Couple of Good Causes”

Art, Comics

La Borinqueña and La La: Heroes Worth Waiting For

Rodrigo Sanchez-Chavarria

When my oldest daughter was 3, we would sit together in her bean bag chair, turn off the lights, and watch the Justice League animated series. Here she learned about superheros and when she started becoming interested in comics, I wanted to make sure she read something that represented and looked like her so I handed her a copy of Araña. That was five years ago, and now she is 12 and is immersed in finding representation in what she reads.

It’s small stories like this that amplify the importance of diversity in literature and, in this case, comics. It is for that reason that the launching of Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez’s La Borinqueña comes at a much needed time.

Continue reading “La Borinqueña and La La: Heroes Worth Waiting For”

Art, Music, Theatre2 Comments

What Artists Can Learn from the Trump v. Hamilton “Distraction”

Guest N.O.C.

by Timothy Yu

Mike Pence went to see Hamilton. He got booed. The actors read a statement from the stage. And our president-elect tweeted a demand that the cast apologize for their “harassment.” Just another day in the dawning Trump Era.

There was plenty to say. Some pointed out the irony of Donald Trump, scourge of political correctness, complaining that the theater should be a “safe place.” Others pointed to the chilling precedent of our incoming president demanding that artists apologize to an elected official. But what most surprised me was seeing some of my friends — many of whom are themselves artists, writers, literary scholars — repeating the argument that the Hamilton controversy was “just a distraction” from Trump’s other problems.

Continue reading “What Artists Can Learn from the Trump v. Hamilton “Distraction””