Convention Reporter

Today’s batch of World Fantasy reports includes the following:

John Klima seems to have enjoyed himself despite travel disasters.

Catska Ench is unhappy about the art show (it was, by far, the weakest World Fantasy art show I have ever seen).

Jed Hartman found the convention good but odd.

Pixiu Press has photos here and a report on the American Fantastic Tales launch panel here.

Gail Garriger has reports here, here and here, and has photos of the Best Con Party Food Ever here.

Lucienne Diver has more photos of the Halloween costumes.

Devi Pillai shares what she learned at the convention.

Scott Edelman has a bunch of posts of which we particularly like this one about how Twitter enhanced his enjoyment of the convention.

Brenda Cooper has decided that WFC is her favorite convention.

Matt Kressel has video of himself accepting a Howie on behalf of Ekaterina Sedia.

While everyone is away after a night of crazy parties, here are the Chesley Awards results on behalf of our international audience, rebuilt thanks to the prodigious reporter John Picacio! All his twitters were broadcast live on our Special Channel, giving us really the feeling to be there… Best, MM.

The winners:

Best Cover Illustration: Hardback Book

Donato Giancola, A Book of Wizards edited by Marvin Kaye (SFBC, April 2008)

Best Cover Illustration: Paperback Book

John Picacio, Fast Forward 2 edited by Lou Anders (Pyr, November 2008)

Best Cover Illustration: Magazine

Matts Minnhagen, Clarkesworld, April 2008

Best Interior Illustration

Donato Giancola, “The Wraith” by J. Robert Lennon (Playboy, November 2008)

Best Color Work: Unpublished

Simon Dominic, The Gift, Digital

Best Monochrome Work: Unpublished

Simon Dominic, The Kraken, Digital

Best Three-Dimensional Art

Vincent Villafranca, The Celestial Itinerant, Bronze

Best Product Illustration

Dan Dos Santos, Hellboy II promotional art, Dark Horse & Universal Pictures

Best Gaming – Related Illustration

Volkan Baga, Stoic Angel, Magic Card, Shards of Alara, WotC

Best Art Director

Lou Anders, Pyr Books

Award for Artistic Achievement

Julie Bell, website

Note – You can find the full list of nominated artworks here on the ASFA website.

Friday August 7, 2009 – 8pm ET in the Palais de Congres, Room 516AB

THE CHESLEY AWARDS

Jannie Shea, Andrea Senchy

Presenting the Chesley Awards for excellence in the field of sf and
fantasy art for works created or first exhibited or published in 2008.

The Chesley Awards were established in 1985 as a means for the SF and Fantasy art community to recognize individual works and achievements during the previous year. The Chesleys were initially called the ASFA Awards (ASFA is the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artist), but were later renamed to honor famed astronomical artist Chesley Bonestell after his death in 1986.

Check here for all the Nominees and Categories!

I premi Chesley nacquero nel 1985 allo scopo di riconoscere le migliori opere create dagli artisti nel campo dell’Arte Fantastica nell’anno precedente. All’inizio erano denominati ASFA dalla sigla stessa dellAssociazione degli Artisti di Fantascienza e Fantasy, poi il nome cambiò per onorare l’artista Chesley Bonestell, a seguito della sua morte sopraggiunta nel 1986.

Cliccate qui per l’elenco dei finalisti in tutte le categorie!

Here are some pages of Reporters you need to check,
if you have a feeling at art topics:

Irene Gallo is the Art Director at TOR and a 2009 Chesley Award Nominee. There are legends talking about lucky guys seeing spectacular canvas in her sancta sanctorum. Like a modern Muse, she writes a Blog bursting with creativity where she let us know anything worth to be mentioned. If you see Irene strolling in the Worldcon, be assured she’s coming with five-star artists or going to sponsor some unforgettable event…

Lou Anders is the man behind Pyr Books. In addition to the superlative quality of his editorial choices, he’s a lover of Fantastic Arts, treating all us readers and fans with previews of upcoming covers, just for our viewing pleasure! He will attend the Chesley Award as a Nominee in the Art Director category, but if you are in search of emotions, do not hesitate a millisecond… stop at the Pyr booth and don’t miss the Lou’s schedule!

John Picacio has just been informed to be a World Fantasy Award Nominee. Yet here at Anticipation he’s also a Hugo Nominee and – keep tight! – a Chesley Nominee in four Categories. It’s easy to see how he loves his profession. Without slowing his production, he releases interviews, administers social networks and runs more than a Blog. Many fans suspect the existence of a twin brother.

Cheryl Morgan (!). No secret she has been sent here from a faraway future where multitasking human beings are able to handle hundreds of priorities at the same time without the support of electronic devices or cyber-implants. She’s partial with Fantastic Arts. Look out if she tries to skip the tight schedule of panels for rides in the Art Shows, (preliminary Cheryl’s schedule is here). It’s possible that before the end of the Con, we’ll see a video tour of all the awesome paintings showcased there… What else? She’s naturally the commander-in-chief around here, too…

Take note, people! You don’t find these tips in the Montreal guide! MM

I put my trust in the enlisted reporters for first-hand scoops from the Con! My keywords are WorldCon and Fantastic Art. For anything you wish to signal, please contact me through my Multiverse or drop a comment in the posts signed by Yours Truly. WorldCon is a place where the sense-of-wonder lingers and just now hundreds of elves and magical creatures, disguised as artists, publishers and fans are climbing out of their planes, trains, car or brooms to attend Day One of Anticipation. With an eye on the splendid Alps outside my window, I’ll be also looking at my overseas colleagues trying to testify their epic stay.

Ripongo la mia fiducia nei reporter arruolati dallo Staff per esclusive in diretta dalla Convention! Le mie parole chiave sono WorldCon e Arte Fantastica. Qualsiasi cosa desideriate segnalare, per favore contattatemi tramite il mio Multiverso oppure lasciate in questo Blog un commento ai messaggi firmati dal sottoscritto. La Worldcon è un luogo dove aleggia senso di meraviglia e proprio adesso centinaia di elfi e creature magiche, travestiti da artisti, editori e fan sbarcano dai loro aerei, treni, auto o scope per presenziare alla prima giornata di Anticipation. Con un occhio alle splendide Alpi appena fuori la mia finestra, osserverò anche i miei colleghi cercando di essere un testimonial del loro epico soggiorno. MM

John Picacio is a 2009 Hugo Award nominee for Best Professional Artist. He has illustrated covers for books by Michael Moorcock, Robert Silverberg, L.E. Modesitt, Jr., Dan Simmons, Harlan Ellison, Jeffrey Ford, Robert Heinlein, Frederik Pohl, Mike Resnick, James Tiptree, Jr., and many more. He has previously won the Locus Award, the Chesley Award, two International Horror Guild Awards, and the much-coveted World Fantasy Award, all in the Artist category. He won the 2005 Chesley Award for Best Paperback Cover, and has been nominated for the Hugo for Best Professional Artist five consecutive years (2005-2009).

See John’s reports here.

Mary Robinette Kowal is the 2008 recipient of the Campbell Award for Best New Writer. Her short fiction has appeared in Strange Horizons, Cosmos and Asimov’s. Mary, a professional puppeteer and voice actor, lives in NYC with her husband Rob and nine manual typewriters. She is the current Secretary of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).

See Mary’s reports here.