We spoke with Chris Herzog of the Kevin Workman Foundation, this year they are throwing a big party to help the foundation and giveaway some amazing prizes. The party takes place Wednesday at The Kava Lounge. If you’d like to attend you can purchase tickets HERE.
What is the Kevin Workman Foundation? And how did it all start?
The Kevin Workman Foundation “KWF”, is a San Diego-based, Guidestar silver-rated non-profit organization.
Our mission is to promote personal inspiration through art, technology, and community.
KWF was formed in 2013 by friends to memorialize our mutual friend, Kevin Workman, after his untimely passing in 2011. Kevin was a Renaissance man in the truest sense of the word: he had a passion for a wide range of interests including technology, art, science fiction, and fantasy. Kevin was the kind of man whose generous heart fed his inner-child by doing things like giving out giant-sized candy bars to trick-or-treaters.
He was the lodestone that drew and held our social group together, and he inspired and encouraged countless people.
So while we know we can’t solve huge, global problems, our hope is to make the world a little bit better by doing smaller, community-level things in ways that are true to Kevin’s spirit.
What do you have planned for SDCC?
This is our fifth consecutive year of sponsoring an early-career artist to not only attend SDCC, but to exhibit work in a booth on the main hall floor. As you might imagine, this is not trivial: getting any exhibit space — especially on the main floor — is next to impossible. This year, we are very proud to introduce people to the work of Micaela Dawn. We would encourage everyone to visit her website, follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter, and, of course, to come meet her in person during SDCC at booth #934!
People can also learn more about Micaela and her inspiration and process here:
In addition, we are hosting our third-annual Preview Night SDCC Kick-off Party and Fundraiser. This year we are going for a more local, underground feel, and we’re holding the event at The Kava Lounge on Wednesday, July 18th.
The event starts at 6:00pm, but since we know many people will be attending Preview Night at SDCC, this year we are running until at least after midnight so that more people will have a chance to come by and say hi.
We have an incredible lineup of DJ talent (Samazon, DarkMatter, Ryan Kang, and Motek) and insanely tasty taco creations from Mad Hatter’s Custom Catering.
Tickets and event details can be found HERE!
Can you tell us some of the silent auction items?
We’re still finalizing a couple of items, but we have a few fantastic pieces that we know of for sure:
- A sold-out 24”x36” Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles print by Ciro Neili, courtesy of Mondo(tmnt.jpg)
- “The Fisherman’s Bride” by KWF SDCC2016 Sponsored Artist alum Candice Broersma Acrylic on illustration board, convex glass frame, 9.3”x9.3″ outside frame dimensions, originally priced at $485. Convex glass became popular during the Victorian era, making this one-of-a-kind original a real treasure for the Steampunk aficionado!
- A number of signed, numbered, limited edition prints graciously gifted to KWF by local artist Ruben Rosas of A Comic World Art including a kick-ass Rocket/Groot/Scarface mashup, an amazing Spider-man interpretation, and a fantastic Hulk rendering.
Besides your big party, anything else you are looking forward to at SDCC?
Obviously we are really looking forward to seeing Micaela set up in her booth, meeting lots of new fans, and enjoying the Con experience.
We’re all pretty big nerds in one way or another, so we each have our individual interests and areas of fandom: last year, the Blade Runner Experience was a big hit with everyone in our group.
I think the thing we all look forward to every year at SDCC, more than anything, is having the chance to spend some time with friends and “chosen family” we only get to see once a year — people who come in from literally all over the country and the world — and sharing an experience we all love: for us, SDCC is a big piece of the “community” part of “art, technology, and community”.
Other than the party, what’s another way people can help the Kevin Workman Foundation?
Tax-deductible monetary donations (in any amount!) are of course always welcome. 😉
Other than that, following KWF on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, liking (and sharing!) posts, and signing up for our email list is a great way to help.
Supporting our Sponsored Artists by visiting booth #934 during SDCC and following them on social media is a big help, too!
People interested in getting involved by volunteering are always welcome to email us at contact (at) kevinworkmanfoundation.org. (https://www.facebook.com/kevinworkmanfoundation/ https://twitter.com/kworkfoundation https://www.instagram.com/kevinworkmanfoundation/)
What’s next for you after SDCC?
After a shower and a long nap? 🙂 Basically we’re right into planning for 2019: the submission and selection process for our SDCC2019 Sponsored Artist begins in the fall/winter.
We’ve also been expanding our presence at WonderCon in Anaheim, and we’re looking at Intergalacticon San Diegofor 2019 as well.
We plan to continue our partnership with Little Fish Comic Book Studio to provide art education to the Monarch School for homeless kids in San Diego,
and to continue the program we started this year with Little Fish, Monarch, and the National Parks Service and the Cabrillo Foundation at Cabrillo National Monument.
SDCC is fun, and the work we do in sponsoring rising-star artists is important, but our program with Little Fish and Monarch, which happens sort of “behind the scenes”, is where some of the real, trans-formative magic happens.
