Category: conventions

JerseyFest 2012

Posted by John Dennett in Conventions

01

Sep

2012

​Only a few weeks back I was a guest again at yet another summer GK show in the great state of New Jersey. JerseyFest.

This time it was presented by Dave Tomarchio who is no stranger to putting on a hobby event. For a good six years Dave had held Jerseyfest in his home with a faithful following of fans attending each year till the attendance grew bigger than his house could hold. 

This year brought a move to the Rider University Campus where there was plenty of room for everything. 

There were vendors galore, sculptors aplenty, seminars and displays and an incredible model contest and art show highlighted by the majestic paintings of my old friend Daniel Horne who is without a doubt an amazing artist who's work needs to be seen in person to truly appreciate it.

I put on a sculpting seminar/ Q & A session which went quite well with a darn good attendance of modelers intent on picking up as many tips as could be thrown out into the room. Here I showed works in progress along with displaying some older prototypes from the 80's & 90's to give folks a chance to see and actually handle original sculptures from the early GK days. 

One particular modeler upon seeing my original "Tremors" sculpture told me it was his grail kit and so I handed him the actual piece to hold and scrutinize. He seemed happy to handle the original sculpture and his enjoyment really made my day. That's just one of the great things about being at a show, meeting the dedicated fans who have purchased, built, painted or only admired artwork I was responsible for doing.

I always enjoy having dialog with anyone wanting to ask a question or share a story involving the hobby and Jerseyfest was definitely terrific gathering spot for making the community strong. 

I look forward to attending the next Jerseyfest in September 2013.

Resintopia 2012

Posted by John Dennett in Conventions

01

Sep

2012

​This past June marked the premier of a new East Coast Model Kit Show with a focus on figural models and the people who produce them.

Presented by Fritz Frising and Vin Bordogna, two ardent fans and supporters of the Garage Kit world, this show was a total blast! Sculptors and model kit producers from all around the country converged on the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Fairfield, New Jersey for a weekend of pure resin bliss.

I was honored to be asked to attend as a guest along with longtime veterans of the hobby Thomas Kuntz, Wayne (the Dane) Hansen, Ray Santoleri, Tony Cipriano, Joe Laudati, Spider Sue Finley, Jon Wang and a respectable list of some of the newer sculptors in the hobby today.

Attendance was pretty impressive for a first time event and based on this and the sheer fun of the entire weekend its safe to say that the next Resintopia in March of 2013 will be bigger still.

This too was my first show as a dealer since 2000 and I brought back a couple of my older kits in response to popular demand. Both The Caretaker and Rin Tin Tindalos were updated with some new parts and received quite a flow of positive reaction from the crowd.

It's nice to be back in the GK hobby after so many years.

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