FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE First Ever Newark Culture Con Debuts at Express Newark on Rutgers Day on April 28 Marvel/Image Artist Will Torres, DC/Image Artist Vita Ayala, and Luke Cage Actor Khalil Maasi Headline Special Panel Discussions
(Newark, NJ, April 19, 2018) – Rutgers University–Newark, in partnership with FarCorners Studios, LLC, and powered by The Newark International Film Festival, is hosting the first ever Newark Culture Con at Express Newark (54 Halsey Street) in the iconic Hahne & Co. Building in downtown Newark on Saturday, April 28, 2018. Culture Con, an official Rutgers Day event, is a comic fan convention centered on the arts across all genres featuring traditional comic con fare, such as artists alley, cosplay, vendors, live performances, and special panels. However, this comic con is centered on the trending issues of inclusion and representation, and highlights diversity, inclusion, and representation in the industry and in the medium. Culture Con is also removing traditional comic con economic barriers with free admission, free activities, and free parking. For the full program and times, and to register online, visit https://www.newarkculturecon.com/activities
Culture Con highlights include the panel discussion "Secret Identity: The People Behind it All," featuring comic book artists Will Torres and Vita Ayala, and Luke Cage actor Khalil Maasi. The trio will discuss what it's like working behind the scenes for the biggest names in the comic book industry and bringing our favorite comic book characters to life. Torres, an accomplished artist for Marvel and Image comics, teamed up with comic book legend Stan Lee to create his own comic book titled Mr. Venture: Man of Adventure #1. DC, Image and Dark Horse comic book artist Vita Ayala worked in book retail and night security before pursuing a career as a comic book writer. She has since penned her own comic book The Wilds through Black Mask Studios. Maasi, an actor, writer, producer and fight choreographer, has been studying martial arts since age 5 and currently stars in Netflix's Luke Cage, based on the classic Marvel comic series of the same name.
Actor and slam poet Darian Dauchan will headline the Creative Clash interactive performance workshop including open mic and Q&A. Experience the poetic rhythm of reinventing worlds as new frontiers in storytelling and collaborative opportunities are explored at the crossroads of spoken word, comic books, sci-fi, and fantasy. Featured workshop artists include Newark's own poet / producer Poet On Watch, Noni Williamston, Founder of Newark Women In Film, and visual artist and performance poet Bernard Collins, Jr. The panel will be moderated by on-air personality, author, poet, and producer, Suite Franchon from Soul Opera Radio & TV and the Peace, Love, and Poetry performance group. Principals are available for interview.
Some of the features at Newark Culture Con include:
- Cosplay Contest
- Screen Printing (first 100 guests get free T-shirts, free posters all day)
- Green Screen Action Photos
- Individual Professional Photoshoots
- Live 3D Printing Demonstration
- Virtual Reality Demonstrations by Microsoft
- Dungeons & Dragons Character Creation Workshops
- Cosplay Creation Workshops
About FarCorners Studios
Newark Culture Con is the brainchild of educator and artist Lincoln Farquharson, FarCorners Studios' (FCS) Editor-In-Chief and CEO. FCS debuted its first printed issue and flagship title Team Genesis #01 in June 2014. Since then, the FarCorners Universe has not only been producing game-changing digital and print comics, it is also engaging artists, businesses, and the community in collaboration to bring the Universe off the page. Contact Lincoln Farquharson for more Culture Con details at (347) 766-3275 or email info@newarkculturecon.com. For more information, you can also visit www.farcornersstudios.com
About Rutgers University – Newark
Rutgers University - Newark is a diverse, urban, public research university that is an anchor institution in New Jersey’s largest city. Approximately 12,000 students are currently enrolled at its 38-acre campus in a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered through the Newark College of Arts and Sciences, University College, the Graduate School-Newark, Rutgers Business School-Newark and New Brunswick, Rutgers Law School, the School of Criminal Justice, and the School of Public Affairs and Administration. RU-N is in and of a city and region where its work on local challenges undertaken with partners from all sectors resonates powerfully throughout an urbanizing world. For more information, visit www.newark.rutgers.edu
