Photo Links

Some More.

SUCCESS!!! and PHOTOS!

Thanks to everyone who braved the ice to attend FLUKE! It was a wonderful feeling to know that so many of you loved FLUKE enough to come and freeze your rears off. We took tons of photos, and if you'd like to see them, go here!

If anyone would like to share photos that you took of FLUKE, you can send them to maryjessicahammesATyahooDOTcom. I can't guarantee that we'll post every photo we receive, but send them in (in a reasonable size/format that you would expect Yahoo to handle)!

See you next year!

FLUKE 2005, It's ON!!!

This is Robert.
I know it says that this was posted by Mary Jessica, but it's not. I totally forgot my blogger password.

So, maybe you're wondering about FLUKE 2005 because of the total Ice Storm (not the boring one by Ang Lee) that decided to hit Athens today of all days. The weather right now isn't really all that good, and the roads are iced over and slippery, so if you're coming into Athens today, PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL. We're going down to Tasty World at around 10:30 or 11:00 to start setting up, and we're still going through with this thing so if you can make it, please come on down.

If you need to ask directions or about the weather or about what different kinds of Kryptonite there are and the different effects of each (White Kryptonite, for instance, only affects plant matter), then please feel free to call the FLUKE 2005 ICE AGE EMERGENCY HOTLINE (my cellular telephone) at (706)-614-3499.

As far as we know, the rock show's still going on tonight, too.

The irony of all this, of course, is that it's supposed to be like 50 degrees tomorrow.


Stupid weather.

more press!

And the Athens Banner-Herald featured a story on FLUKE yesterday; read it here (free registration required).

We're extremely excited to see everyone tomorrow! Bundle up and we'll see you soon!

all press is good press...

...I think. Anyway, there's definitely good press for FLUKE in this week's Flagpole cover story . Thanks to the writer, Rob Walsh - good job! In the online version, there's also an interview with Flaming Fire member and Vineyland artist Lauren Weinstein. Also, there's a nice sidebar of where to get comics in Athens for all of our out-of-town visitors -though we recommend Bizarro Wuxtry above all, of course!

Tomorrow I'll link to our story that's due to come out in the Athens Banner-Herald.

almost here!

We can't wait to see you at FLUKE!

We expect some good local press this week and I'll be sure to link to the articles. Don't forget - tables are first come, first serve, and space is limited, so consider sharing a table with some friends.

See you soon!

Time's almost out for those hotel rooms!

You have until January 15 to book your room at the lovely Holiday Inn, which is the most conveniently-located hotel in town for FLUKE, at the discount rate! Time's running out! You can book online by clicking on the "Location" page on this here web site, so do it! They are super duper nice people, we promise!

Also, I thought I'd post the latest press release I sent out, to answer any of the FAQs recently coming my way. (Please note that we have since gained another sponsor, AdHouse Books, publisher of many of the fine items you will find at Wide Awake Press, courtesy of our wonderful webmaster J. Chris Campbell & company!)Here it is, enjoy!
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TWO NIGHTS OF ROCK AND LOTS OF ART FOR FLUKE MINI-COMICS FESTIVAL 2005

Athens has long been known for its music and arts scenes. Witness a fiery explosion of these two arenas in a celebration of comics, zines and independent publishing!

This year’s FLUKE Mini-Comics Festival - sponsored by Alternative Comics, Bizzaro Wuxtry, Flagpole Magazine, General Jinjur, Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records and Top Shelf - will take place on Saturday, January 29th at Tasty World on 312 E. Broad Street, Athens GA from noon until 6 PM. Admission is $5.00 for all attendees. Live music and trapeze performances will follow throughout the evening, and an additional night of rock (and potluck action) will kick off the weekend Friday night, welcoming out-of-towners and locals alike to the fourth annual FLUKE.

A FLUKE meet-n-greet benefit for the Athens Recess Center will take place the evening before FLUKE, at 6 pm on Friday, January 28, at Tight Pockets, a local community space (call 706-340-0990 for directions). The evening will feature a vegan potluck and preview showcase featuring work by FLUKE exhibitors as well as live music. The entertainment, according to organizer and artist T. Edward Bak, includes: Lance Simmons, a visionary young cartoonist and soundscape artist from Alabama; 63 Crayons, a hot new local pop outfit on the recently transplanted Happy Happy Birthday To Me label (one of our sponsors); Lets Surf, epitomizing Athens DIY punk rock mayhem; and Carrie Nations, who are nothing more and nothing less than the future. They just finished a tour of the West Coast, are currently recording a follow-up to their Plan-It-X debut.

About ARC, from their own literature: The Athens Recess Center is a skill-sharing, volunteer-run, not-for-profit, non-discriminatory environment open to all, inviting Athenians to meet their neighbors and discover commonality through discussion, deliberation, education and direct democracy. ARC offers meeting space and resources for social organizations, supplies literature from voices in the margins and provides a safe space for reading, refreshment and relaxation for residents and guests of Athens, Georgia. ARC plans to offer a library, book and music store, café with coffee and vegan treats, and general space for meetings, studying and organizing.

On the evening of Saturday, January 29th, following the FLUKE festival, visitors will be treated to trapeze performances from the local Canopy trapeze studio (www.canopystudio.com) as well as live music. According to Bak, We Vs The Shark will supply hot local awesomeness on their first hometown show off their first tour of the new year; noise-wave metal transplants and bastard sons of goat-pirates Ceramic Duck have descended from the brothel of Lafayette, Louisiana to play; and wrapping up is Flaming Fire (www.flamingfire.com), whose inspired lunacy comes courtesy of New York City, featuring artist/cartoonist Lauren Weinstein.

The FLUKE festival includes the debut of the fourth annual FLUKE anthology including the work of both national and local cartoonists and artists, including locals T. Edward Bak, Patrick Dean, Mary Jessica Hammes and Devlin Thompson, and many more! All attendees will receive a token upon purchase of admission the day of the event to exchange for a copy of the anthology at Bizarro Wuxtry.

EVENT SPECS
Tables and spaces will be provided for mini comic artists and distributors on a first-come, first-serve basis. All attendees are welcome to bring enough work to fill a small (4' x 5') table space. In the interest of providing display space for as many artists as possible, attendees may not use more than one table. Large displays and booths are not permitted at FLUKE, so please do not bring them. You will be asked to keep them in your vehicle.

FLUKE’s STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/ MISSION
FLUKE is a mini-comic festival that has been organized by Athens-area comic artists, underground publishers and their enthusiasts since 2002. Conceived as a venue for the discussion and exchange of timely ideas related to mini-comics, zines, and other independent publications. FLUKE is not a large comic convention or merchandising-saturated extravaganza. This isn't to say we don't like our share of stuff--'cause we do. However, we have kept the organization of the event as simple as possible to ensure that it remains focused on work and ideas rather than merchandising.

FLUKE’S SPONSORS
With gratitude, we acknowledge our sponsors.
Alternative Comics (http://www.indyworld.com/altcomics/)
Founded in 1993, Alternative remains a leader in the comics publishes such comics luminaries as Gabrielle Bell, Sam Henderson, Tom Hart, James Kochalka, Laurenn McCubbin, Jen Sorensen, Rich Tommaso, Lauren Weinstein and more. Alternative regularly helps distribute the work of Xeric Foundation Grant Award winners.
Bizarro Wuxtry (http://www.wuxtryrecords.com/bizarro.html)
Athens’ downtown comics shop boasts a staggering array of alternative comics and zines, as well as a friendly and extremely knowledgeable staff. There’s also lots of toys, models, cards, clothes and vintage delights to enjoy as well. Peter Bagge featured the store in an issue of “HATE” once.
Flagpole Magazine (www.flagpole.com)
Athens’ alternative weekly is a much loved and used source of information on local music, film, art, food and politics, all delivered with a real sense of ownership and advocacy for our fair city.
General Jinjur (www.generaljinjur.com)
General Jinjur is Athens’ newest publishing company, and the only one in town devoted to comics! Look for INDIES, a monthly comics magazine chockfull of local and national emerging talent coming soon. Prose and graphic novels are on the horizon as well.
Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records (http://hhbtm.com)
This label began in 1999 as a zine-related project. Recently moved to Athens, HHBTM includes the bands 63 Crayons, Calvin Don’t Jump, Visitations, Bugs Eat Books, Casper and the Cookies, Fable Factory and many more in their roster.
Top Shelf (www.topshelfcomix.com)
Since 1997, Top Shelf Productions has produced a wide range of handsomely designed craft comics. Based in Marietta, Ga. with offices across the country, their catalog includes work by Craig Thompson, Andy Runton, James Kochalka, Bob Callahan and Spain – plus many more.

Book your room now

Pretty soon we should have this link up on its own page, but for now, you can
use the e-booking tool to book your hotel room here !

Or, you could be old-fashioned and call (706) 549-4433 and ask for
reservations, or (800) 862-8436. Be sure to ask for the FLUKE group rate, which is a discounted $69 a night.

Here's the skinny on the rooms:
- Available on Friday-Saturday, Jan. 28 and Jan. 29: 20 twin bed smoking rooms, 5 twin bed smoking rooms, 5 king bed smoking rooms, and 20 queen, non smoking
rooms.
- Available Sunday, Jan. 30: 10 twin bed smoking rooms, 5 twin bed non smoking rooms, 5 king bed smoking rooms and 10 queen non smoking rooms.

See? We made it easy as pie for you to come early and take advantage of the FLUKE meet-n-greet, which takes place 6 pm on Friday, January 28 at Tight Pockets (Call 706-340-0990 for Top Secret Directions). A vegan potluck, preview showcase of FLUKE exhibitors and live music (from Lance Simmons, 63 Crayons, Lets Surf and Carrie Nations) all can be yours! Donations go to the Athens Recess Center, a new community space here.

And here are some disclaimers on those hotel rooms: All reservations will be made by individual attendees. All room and tax is the responsibility of individual attendees.

The cut off date for making reservations is January 15; any unsused rooms on January 15 will be released. So book 'em now!