Not everybody can get to the world famous Comic-Con every July in San Diego, so local organizers are bringing the same atmosphere to the capital city.

The Edmonton Comic and Entertainment Expo takes place this weekend, coming straight from the creators of the Calgary Expo and the Edmonton Collectible Toy and Comic Show. This pop culture event is expected to draw fanboys and fangirls, sci-fi geeks, comic book enthusiasts, and cosplay nerds to a veritable smorgasbord of video games, art, and celebrity run-ins.

Along with special guests like Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian from the Star Wars movies), Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhuru from the original Star Trek), and Burt Ward and Julie Newmar (Robin and Catwoman from the original Batman TV series), a trade fair will also feature the wares of local artists and artisans.

Malissa Sekela and Rob Weaver are two such artists. The St. Albert residents both say that pop culture has made so much of an impact in their lives that it couldn’t help but seep into their creative outlets, including their pastimes and their art.

“I especially love animation!” Sekela exclaimed, referencing the popularity of The Cartoon Network shows Adventure Time and My Little Pony.

The 24-year-old former U of A fine arts student has made a fine hobby out of producing original and fan art digital drawings through her Bzou Arts banner. She has also taken to sewing plush animals and pop culture characters, and fleece winter hats too.

She sees the venue as the golden opportunity to purvey her wares to the right audience.

“As dorky as that sounds, this is just the perfect place to take it to,” she stated. “You wouldn’t really take a My Little Pony drawing to an art show usually, but this is kind of the exception.”

Weaver, on the other hand, has devoted himself to the same universe that Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia inhabit.

“I’m a huge Star Wars enthusiast, have been since age four. Once upon a time, I had probably one of the largest collections in Alberta.”

That collection of figurines and memorabilia became more than mere decorations. Several years ago, he put them to work and hasn’t stopped since.

“What it morphed into was my own prop collection that I began photographing and basically turning into a giant still photography version of the movies, comics, novels… basically anything Star Wars related.”

In addition to his fan art, he also produces paintings and original art photography.

“I’ve been working on a book that I hope to have published in the near future. I produce really high quality photographs that you’d have a hard time telling if they weren’t still shots from the movies. You would ask yourself, ‘Where in the movie was this?’ My concept is the scenes between the scenes.”

Sekela and Weaver will also be joined in the Artist Alley and exhibitor booths by St. Albert’s Gigi Lau of eECAFE+.

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