Mini-Con has a maxi schedule.
Alaska Robotics’ annual Mini-Con takes over the Juneau Arts & Culture Center from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 27, but there’s a lot more to the comic convention than one day and one building.
“It’s kind of spread out a little bit,” said Pat Race, Alaska Robotics co-owner. “I don’t think we’ve done this many Thursday things before.”
A Tusken Raider (Joshua Jarrett) makes an appearance at the Alaska Robotics Mini-Con on Saturday, April 28, 2018. (Lance Nesbitt | Juneau Empire File)
Convention-related events are planned for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 25-April 27, with readings, presentations, school visits, workshops and more.
Race said that sprawl has more to do with attendees being in town a bit earlier than usual than the convention growing in size or scope.
He said the fourth annual Mini-Con includes about the same number of exhibitors as past iterations — 56 are specifically named on the event’s website — and that’s a result of constraints created by Juneau venues and the vision for the convention.
Brittany Dresen volunteers at the Alaska Robotics Mini-Con at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center on Saturday, April 28, 2018. (Lance Nesbitt | Juneau Empire File)
“We’re kind of comfortable with it being the size that it is,” Race said. “If we do grow, we want it to remain accessible. We want it to stay a free community event and keep it in the spirit of something like Folk Fest.”
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However, at its present size, Mini-Con offers up multiple events during the back half of this week with both local and nationally known artists.
Here is a full schedule of events and locations by day culled from the event’s website.
Thursday, April 25
Story time with Michaela Goade, 11 a.m., Douglas Public Library. Children’s book author Michaela Goade, whose work includes “Encounter,” and “How Devil’s Club Came to Be,” will lead story time.
Zine Making Workshop, 5:30-7 p.m., Douglas Public Library. The Giant cartoonist and self-described zine-slapper-together, will lead this workshop.
How to Invent Everything, 6-7 p.m., Downtown Public Library. Ryan North will discuss his book, which serves as a guide for a stranded time traveler.
Jigsaw Puzzle Making Workshop, 6-9 p.m., Juneau Makerspace. Chris Yates will lead this work shop. Registration ahead of time at Alaska Robotics Gallery is encouraged. There is a $25 or pay-as-you-can materials fee.
Friday, April 26
School Visits- Visiting artists will appear in over 40 classrooms and in assemblies at schools all over Juneau.
Mini-Con kickoff, 5 p.m., Mendenhall Valley Public Library. There will be snacks at 5 p.m. and a variety show at 6 p.m. There will be short presentations, readings and music.
Saturday, April 27
Convention floor hours, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Juneau Arts & Culture Center.
Board games, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Juneau Arts & Culture Center Gallery. This is hosted by Platypus Gaming.
Book Signings, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at the Alaska Robotics booth at the JACC. There is a new signing every hour starting at 10 a.m. They are in order Jen Wang and Michaela Goade; Tillie Walden and Dylan Meconis; Kazu Kibuishi, Toni Cliff and Scott C.; Raina Telgemeier, Cale Galligan and Ryan North; Tillie Walden and Tony Cliff; Jen Wang, Raina Telgemeier., Dylan Meconis and Michaela Goade; Kazu Kibuishi, Gale Galligan, Scott C. and Ryan North.
Making Picture Books, noon-3 p.m. Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum. From noon-1 p.m., Inari Kylanen and Lee Post will cover self-publishing picture books, 1-2 p.m. will feature Hannah Lindoff discussing writing picture books, 2-3 p.m. Michaela Goade and Lucas Elliott will cover illustrating picture books.
Presentations, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., KTOO. There is an hour-long presentation every hour until 4 p.m. They are sponsored by Travel Juneau. From 11-noon, Lucy Bellwood will talk about Jeanne Baret, noon-1 p.m. is Baby-Sitters Club Super Secret Club Meeting featuring Raina Telgemeier and Gale Galligan, 1-2 p.m. award-winning graphic novelist Tillie Walden will present, 2-3 p.m. New York Times bestseller Jen Wang will present and 3-4 p.m. Kazu Kibuishi, illustrator for the “Amulet” graphic novel series and cover artist for the 15th anniversary Harry Potter paperbacks will speak.
Workshops, 11 a.m.-2 p.m, KTOO Conference Room. Scott C. will talk character design 11 a.m.-noon and noon-2 p.m. Dik Pose will help attendees make stop motion animation.
Activities and hangouts, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Zach Gordon Youth Center. From 11 a.m.-noon there will be a drawing hangout with Kazu Kibuishi and Tony Cliff. From noon-1 p.n. there is a writing hangout with Ryan North and Karla Pacheco. From 1-2 p.m. is making Sculpey monsters with Shing Yin Khor, and from 2-3 p.m. is a drawing hangout with Raina and Andy.
