If you’re looking for a fun and exciting way to celebrate your love of comics and pop culture, then the Aurora Public Library District’s (APLD) will hold a CAPE Con event Saturday, Aug. 26 at the Santori Library in Aurora is the place to be! Participants come to this event to show off their creativity, meet others with shared interests, and learn from industry experts. This year’s event includes award-winning writer and illustrator, Gene Ha, informative workshops, lots of cosplay, and a whole lot more fun!
Gene Ha is a comic book artist we are honored to have as our guest presenter throughout the day’s events. He is the winner of four Eisner Awards (the comic book world’s equivalent to the Academy Awards) for his creative achievements, including Alan Moore’s Top 10 and sundry Marvel & DC superhero comics. Incidentally, the five-person nomination jury for the Eisner Awards always includes at least one librarian, among other comic book experts. Gene is the artist of Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons Vol 2 with writer Kelly Sue DeConnick from DC Comics and the creator of Mae from Oni Press. At this year’s event, Gene will be offering a variety of engaging workshops, including ‘Draw Yourself as a Superhero’, ‘Comic Strip Writing Workshop’, and ‘How to Draw Anything’. Between programs, look for him to sketch in the Atrium! He’ll have plenty to see and draw ascosplayers from the League of Enchantment (LOE) and interact with event participants.
For the second year in a row members of the League of Enchantment will be at CAPE Con. The League of Enchantment is a nonprofit whose work at local hospitals, community organizations, and special events brings smiles to the faces of kids and kids-at-heart through the power of cosplay. League of Enchantment is an official partner of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and has worked with numerous charities, including The American Cancer Society, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Easter Seals and Autism Speaks. Members of LOE have been cosplaying for years and have found great joy in bringing their characters to life for children and event participants.
For attendees who are still trying to find their cosplay character and bring them to life, there is a workshop for you, as well! Veteran cosplayer and Library staff member, Tess Foral, will return to lead another cosplay workshop and meet-up. This time she’ll be sharing information on how to use Library makerspace technology to level up your favorite costume. “Attending conventions such as CAPE Con creates a sense of community and gives participants a place to be creative, whether through fanart, fanfiction, cosplay, YouTube videos, or more,” said Foral. “Conventions are great places to go to meet like-minded individuals and be inspired by their enthusiasm, as well!” After Foral’s presentation, join other cosplayers for a costume parade to the Alley Art Festival at Water Street Mall in Aurora before it wraps up for the day! We were happy to coordinate our CAPE Con event with the Alley Art Festival to ensure a day of fun, music, and art for anyone visiting downtown Aurora that Saturday, Aug. 26.
The CAPE Con fun starts at the Santori Library at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26 with the ‘Draw Yourself as a Superhero’ workshop, led by Gene Ha, but there will be activities to see and do all day long! Pop culture fanatics and superhero fans can expect to learn new things, discover new interests, and develop current passions by attending CAPE Con. For more information, please visit www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/events or contact the Library at 630-264-4117.
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.