Super Art Fight

Art competition

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Super Art Fight

"The Greatest Live Art Competition in the Known Universe."

Status| Active
Genre| Improv Performance Art
Venue| Katsucon, ConnectiCon, Otakon, MAGfest, Balticon, Small Press Expo, AwesomeCon, ROFLcon, Intervention (convention), Black Cat (Washington, D.C. nightclub), The Ottobar, others
Location(s)| Washington, D.C., Baltimore, MD
Years active| 16
Founded| 15 February 2008 (2008-02-15)
Founder| Jamie Noguchi, Nick DiFabbio
Website| www.superartfight.com

Super Art Fight is a live improvised art competition based in the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore area where artists compete for audience approval by sketching random topics on a mural-sized canvas. The event was birthed at Katsucon in 2008 and has grown to include a rotating roster of artists, a podcast, and online competitions. The main Super Art Fight style involves individual artists (or pairs) facing off in front of a live audience.[1] Topics change throughout the match and the winner is determined by Clap-o-meter/Sound level meter.[1]

As many of the participating artists are webcomic creators the art is generally in a cartoon or comic style, sometimes with manga and other style influences. pop culture references are common, as are mentions of memes, classic science fiction movies, and other geek/nerd mainstays.[2] Since debuting in 2008, Super Art Fight has now put on over 100 shows at a wide variety of venues [1]

## History

[edit]

Super Art Fight was initially thought up during an Iron Artist competition at Katsucon in 2008 by Jamie Noguchi and Nick diFabbio.[1][3] Noguchi and diFabbio recruited fellow artists, particularly webcomic creators and others on the convention circuit, creating the first Super Art Fight roster.[1] It has become a recurring event at Katsucon as well as other conventions such as Intervention (convention) and has traveled to a wide variety of venues; including bars, clubs, conventions, and university events [1][4]

Super Art Fight has celebrated May 4 with ThinkGeek,[5] faced off with CollegeHumor,[6] teamed up with The Protomen,[7] and attended Rutgers Geek Week.[8] Events are generally held in the Baltimore-D.C. area but as the event has matured, the range has expanded to the larger Northeast Corridor and other parts of the United States.

## Event style and format

[edit]

Events generally last for several rounds depending on the number of artists attending and the venue. While Super Art Fight is a competition, it often bears more resemblance to a combination of improv comedy and collaborative performance art.[4][9] Three rounds are most common at convention events.

Super Art Fight at ROFLcon 2010

Super Art Fight artists often develop personas that take inspiration from a variety of popular culture influences such as luchadores and pro wrestling.[9] Personas range from simply a nickname to a full costume with props.[1] Many of the artists are creative professionals such as graphic designers and art teachers.[10] A large percentage of the artists have their own webcomics.

In a Super Art Fight match, artists are given a starting topic, often related to the convention or the night's theme, and may draw anywhere on the canvas, including overtop of each other's work.[3] After five minutes (and every five minutes thereafter) the "Wheel of Death" is spun, selecting a new topic for each artist, with the bout lasting 25 minutes total.[1] Topics are submitted by fans online and curated by the Super Art Fight staff.[10] Competitors may request a topic respin once per match[3]

Winner is chosen via a sound level meter (in a live match) or voting (online).[3] The canvas is often auctioned off for charity. At Katsucon, Super Art Fight canvases are part of the charity auction for Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society.

## Super Art Fight Unleashed

[edit]

Due to the fact that many Super Art Fight shows, particularly ones at anime conventions and science fiction conventions, are all-ages events, an Unleashed version of the show was created.[11] The Unleashed shows originally used topics from Cards Against Humanity, but have since evolved to use suggested topics that would otherwise be inappropriate and/or generally terrible. Instead of being allowed one respin per match, competitors may respin for every topic but must combine their first and second spins in their artwork[11][12]

Cameras are not permitted at Super Art Fight Unleashed due to the NC-17 nature of the event.[12][13]

## Artists and performers

[edit]

### Super Art Fight staff

[edit]

* Ross Nover [2][14]\- Co-host
* Marty Day [1][2]\- Co-host
* Adam Forejt - Referee
* Ryan K-Rai Stinnett - Live Event DJ

### Super Art Fight Roster

[edit]

* Michael Bracco - "Baron Von Sexyful"
* Jamie Baldwin - "The Judge” / "Bunny"
* Kelsey Wailes - "Stompadon" / "Dr. Professor Hemoglobin, MD, PhD, LMNOP"
* Bryan “Old Man” Prindiville
* Dann Malihom - “Charm City Shinobi, PhD”
* Erin Laue - "Red Erin" / "Olivia Oblivia" / "Corduroy"
* Current Pixelweight Champion (Red Erin)
* Alex Kazanas - "Two Drink Alex" / “Your Uncle Al”
* Current Solo Champion (Your Uncle Al)
* Jessi Pascal - "Shoujo-A-Go-Go"
* Current Tag Team Champion
* Colleen Parker - "Killer Colleen" / "Princess of Darkness" / "The Dungeonmaster"
* Mike Donohue - "The Fighting Fanboy"
* Steve Boyland - "Stevie Speed"
* Nicole Roberts - "Wisteria"
* Dee Yazak - "Mistress Doomcannon"
* Zee Ellis - "Vivienne Shamwood" / “Groovy”
* Margaret Huey - "DIETANIUM"
* Megan Vanessa Richards - "Rave Royale"
* Current Tag Team Champion
* Monique Graham - "Ms. Inkwell"

### Inactive Artists

[edit]

* Brandon “Bearpuncher” Chalmers - Referee emeritus
* Jamie Noguchi[1] \- "Angry Zen Master"
* Nick DiFabbio / Nick Borkowicz[1]\- "Ghostfreehood"
* Chris “Impact” Impink
* "Stabby" Abby Boeh
* Henry Alexander - “The Business”
* Darl “Apocalypse” Gnau
* Ashley “MarkerMancer” Katz
* El Russo Rojo
* Greg Benge - "Dr. Destructo Dome" / "Periwinkle the Wizard"
* Brandon J. Carr - “The Nicest Man in Art Fight”
* Chelsea Grose - “Duchess Von Sexyful”
* Gloria Ngo - "The Valkyrie"
* Chris Scott - "General Stormsketch"
* Izzy Kemp - "Slash LaRoux"

### Guest artists

[edit]

* Yuko Ota \- Artist: Johnny Wander
* Ananth Hirsh
* Steve Bennett
* Lar deSouza
* Obsidian
* Alina Pete
* Joe Dunn
* Steve Napierski
* Peelander Yellow - Member: Peelander-Z
* Chris Flick
* Dirk Tiede
* Kaitlin Smallwood
* Robin Edwards
* Danielle Corsetto
* Jo Chen
* Zach Weinersmith
* Tak Toyoshima
* H. Caldwell Tanner
* Steve Ellis
* Tina Pratt
* Bree Rubin
* Ami Bogin
* Alex Heberling
* Josh Taylor
* Garth Graham
* Bill Ellis
* Frank Cho
* Art Alchemy Circle
* Christopher Hastings
* Stan Sakai
* Lea Hernandez
* Ethan Nicolle
* Braden Lamb - Artist: Adventure Time comic
* Shelli Paroline - Artist: Adventure Time comic
* Joe Hunter
* Rob Denbleyker - Artist: Cyanide & Happiness
* Scott Wegener - Artist: Atomic Robo
* Clay Yount - Artist: Rob and Elliot, part of Boxcar Comics
* ND Stevenson
* Shawn Coss - Artist: Cyanide & Happiness

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Sterling, Cassidy (March 7, 2014). "Super Art Fight set for battle at its 100th show at the Ottobar". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
2. ^ a b c Arellano, Megan (June 11, 2011). "Super Art Fight Returns to D.C. With Some Punch". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
3. ^ a b c d "About Super Art Fight". Retrieved February 22, 2015.
4. ^ a b "Not the Same Old Bar". Washingtonian. February 19, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
5. ^ "JABBA THE HUT? PFT, MORE LIKE PIZZA THE HUT". ThinkGeek. May 8, 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
6. ^ "Super Art Fight Makes New York City Debut Vs. COLLEGEHUMOR, November 1st!". Super Art Fight. October 1, 2014.
7. ^ "SAF X THE PROTOMEN: October 22nd!". Super Art Fight. October 11, 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
8. ^ "Schedule of Events". Rutgers Geek Week. Rutgers University. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
9. ^ a b O'Sullivan, Michael (April 18, 2013). "Awesome Con D.C.: Washington's very own comic convention". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
10. ^ a b "Super Art Fight: The Dukes Are Drawn". The Washington Post. December 18, 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
11. ^ a b "SCHEDULE & PANELS MAP". AwesomeCon DC. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
12. ^ a b "Super Art Fight UNLEASHED: We Want YOUR Vote". April 15, 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
13. ^ "Super Art Fight Roster". Retrieved February 22, 2015.
14. ^ Nover, Ross. "The System - About". The System. Retrieved February 22, 2015.

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