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Philadelphia, PA – In only its second year as an Arts conference, Artistacon continues to grow and stand as an emerging Arts platform. The three-day program was organized and founded by local Greek-American Chris Kotsakis.
The goal of Artistacon is to produce a conference focusing on the creative process of artists, narrative art, and visual storytelling. We inspire each other through collaboration among seasoned professionals and emerging artists, as they seek to build a bridge between commercial and fine art while pursuing a career in the Arts.
The event, which was held this past weekend, was hosted at Moore College of Art and also at the Natural Sciences Museum on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
On Friday evening, guests and friends gathered for an evening called “Drink and Draw.” The close and informal social gathering allowed attendees and speakers to mingle in a friendly and organic atmosphere, at the historic Sketch Club, founded in 1860 and located on Camac Street in townhomes constructed in the early 1800s. The evening featured a sketch session on the second floor where many guests drew and sketched a live model dressed in belly-dancing attire and posed against a backdrop. Downstairs, guests shot a round of pool and mingled through the evening.
On Saturday, Artistacon featured a full program of classes with industry leaders at Moore College of Art. A variety of creative professionals, including painters, illustrators, sculptors, and writers were on hand managing seminars and interactive lessons. The conference had an intimate feel, where one could just walk into any classroom at any time. Some attendees were looking to expand their knowledge with practical business applications, while others were simply networked.
Following a full day of fun on the campus of Moore, the activities moved next door to the Natural Sciences Museum entrance where display booths lined the lobby. Traffic flowed freely on two levels where guests were able to mingle, purchase art and continue to network. The classes continued again on Sunday with boot camps and classes at both Moore and the Natural Sciences Museum.
The consensus throughout the weekend was that Aristacon has filled a long void due in Philadelphia for this type of event and will certainly continue to grow each year.