If you have ideas for programming, please email them to:programmingdept@iowa-icon.com
| Saturday, Nov. 6 Programming |
Sunday, Nov. 7 Programming |
Please note that programming may change as we get closer to the convention.
Amtgard Exhibition – 10am
Rosewood
Amtgard is a live-action fantasy role playing and boffer combat game. The fighters from Duchy Olympus, located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will be doing an exhibition fight as well as demonstrating the different weapons used in Amtgard-style fighting.
Cory Doctorow- Reading – 10am
Elm
Cory reading some of his own work.
Fanzine History – 10am
Chestnut
The University of Iowa is home to a significant collection of fanzines – learn how they developed over the years. Learn about this collection while Rusty talks about his experiences as an editor. Program by Greg Prickman and Rusty Hevelin
Death, Illness and Disability in Fantasy and Science Fiction – 10am
Dogwood
Does the future really only belong to the physically perfect? Discussion lead by Mickey Zucker Reichert and Galen Silversmith
Readings
Boardroom 234
Hear writers read and discuss their own works; check out the Pocket Program to see who is reading and when.
Artist Reception – 11am
Waterfall Terrace
Meet our Artist Guest of Honor, Daniel Dociu, and our other artists in the Art Show.
Interview. Gay Haldeman & Joe Haldeman: The Writing Life – 11am
Elm
Gay Haldeman, Joe Haldeman Gay interviews Joe about his process and Joe interviews Gay about life with a writer.
Stormtrooping 101 - 11am
Chestnut
The Empire's finest will show you how to become the Imperial elite and answer any questions you have about the life of a Trooper...as long as it's not about the guys on the Deathstar......we had friends on the Deathstar. Brought to you by the 501st Legion.
Bellydance 101 – 11am
Dogwood
Come learn some basic bellydance moves from Klee Burke.
Hands-On Origami – 11am
Boardroom 334
Come learn how to create things with the ancient art of origami. Beginners to experience participants welcome. Workshop taught by Susanna Meyers and company.
Gateway “Drugs” – Noon
Chestnut
Paranormal romance, Harry Potter, and movie tie-ins, all are often the first SF and fantasy books that readers encounter. We often sneer at them, but they really do seem to provide a new crop of readers. Why? What do they change about the expectations of genre? Discussion lead by Mickey Zucker Reichert
Knitting Circle – Noon
Dogwood
Our workshop leader specializes in a variety of knitting modes. She will talk about her knitting (and crocheting) and offer tips and creative ideas. Feel free to bring your own projects. Moderated by Klee Burke
Art in an Hour – Noon
Boardroom 334
Watch our attending artists as they collaborate on one or more pieces of art that will be donated to the Benefit Art Auction, which is held during the Art Auction (Saturday 5:30 pm). See the creative process and decide which one-of-a-kind original you would like to take home with you.
Eli August Concert – 12:30pm
Rosewood
Eli August creates music with zeal and energy, focusing on mood, tonality and lyricism. The songwriting mines memories of past regrets and failures to create melancholy aural set pieces that are sincere, passionate and some times dark, but never completely devoid of redemption. Eli August comes to you with no preconceived notions or carrying any musical airs. The music is here to say one thing. Though the outlook may seem bleak and the path dark, we are in this together.
Steampunk: Fish or Fowl? – 1pm
Chestnut
Is it fantasy? Is it SF? Is it an approach to design? Whatever the case, steampunk has been getting lots of attention lately. Writers and readers explain what it means for them. Moderated by Susan Leabhart
The Art of Improv for Writers, Actors, and Gamers – 1pm
Dogwood
Improvisation, the timeless art of making crap up, has always been an important part of the creative process in the theatre. But the principles of improv are valuable in lots of other places. So grab your pantomime briefcase, and come discover how improv can demolish your writer's block or make your D&D sessions amazing. Improv is infinitely more fun to do, so be ready to get up and improvise. A two hour workshop lead by Marc Muszynski
Beth Kinderman and the Player Characters Concert – 1:30 pm
Elm
Their music is fannish at heart and their brand new Apocalypse Blues is named after a trilogy of songs about the women of Battlestar Galactica.
Kaffeeklatsch with Cory Doctorow – 2pm
Elm
Come chat with Cory
Q&A with Daniel– 2pm
Chestnut
Come chat with our Artitst GoH, Daniel Dociu, about his process about working in the video game industry and much more.
Build-A-Blinkie Workshops- 2pm
Boardroom 334
Interested in building a blinkie? Then we have just the thing for you! Never soldered before? No problem - our ever patient blinkie techs will provide as much or as little assistance as you require! Our goal is to help you build you very own blinkie. Saturday Free-for-All: 2pm to 4pm. No charge. Free. Just show up early afternoon Saturday! No soldering or circuit-building skills required - just a willingness to learn. More complex blinkie kits are available for an additional cost. Open Sessions: Saturday 4pm to 10pm and Sunday 10am to 1pm. These blinkies do more than just blink! They do communicate with each other, attempting to infect other blinkies with one of several patterns.
Whose Con Is It Anyway? – 3pm
Rosewood
A fannish version of the show Whose Line Is It Anyway? Come enjoy an hour of laughing and watching friends, loved ones, and total strangers make fools of themselves, just to make you laugh. Hosted by Beth Wheeler.
Technology of Writing – 3pm
Elm
What do You Use: Pencil, Pen, Paper, Typewriter, Computer, Speech Software Is the pen mightier than the speech recognition software? Writers discuss the quirks of how they write and whether they are low-tech or high-tech writers. Discussion lead by Joe Haldeman, Mickey Zucker Reichert and Glen Cook.
The Rise of the Paranormal Romance – 3pm
Chestnut
The transformation of the European Bete Noire What happened to scary Vampires/Werewolves and things that go bump in the night? How did we get from them to Twilight, True Blood and our modern versions? Paranormal Romance is now one of the fastest-growing segments of the fiction market. Why? And why is it more than just horny vampires and angsty werewolves? Discussion lead by Angela Gross and Mary Wilson.
Doctor, Doctor, Who's the Best Doctor? – 3pm
Dogwood
Dr. Who fans discuss the various incarnations and choose their favorite. What’s going on with Dr. Who? Has becoming a sexual being made him a more or less interesting character? Just how far can they go with this? Moderated by Bill Albert
Guests of Honor Interview – 4pm
Rosewood
Come listen in as Toastmaster Rusty Hevelin interviews and chats with our Guests of Honor.
Is Fantasy an Inherently Violent genre? – 4pm
Elm
Is the roll of violence in fantasy different than in other genres? Can you have good fantasy without violence? Discussion lead by Mickey Zucker Reichert and Orange Mike
"Finishing" the Costume – 4pm
Chestnut
Discusses the pieces needed to make a costume really "finished". Finding, making, and decorating appropriate headpieces and footwear for costumes. Materials and methods to make stage props. Moderated by Ange Anderson
Make-up Demo– 4pm
Dogwood
Come learn some tricks and tips from Lynda Sherman
Kaffeeklatsch with Joe Haldeman – 5pm
Elm
Come chat with Joe.
Steampunk Costuming – 5pm
Chestnut
How to costume in the Steampunk style. Come learn from Susan Leabhart
Beeps In Space: When the Truth Sounds Like Science Fiction – 5p
Dogwood
The University of Iowa Libraries is currently working on a major project to preserve magnetic tapes containing the telemetry from the earliest US satellite missions – Explorer I, III, and IV – launched in 1958. These satellites contained experiments designed by James Van Allen and his students, which quickly led to the discovery of the radiation belts around the earth. The data tapes containing this information are being cleaned and readied for digitization. Come hear about the history of the project and the fascinating engineering and technical work done at the time, and see how these tapes will live on into the future. Presentation by Greg Prickman
Art Auction – 5:30pm
Rosewood
Whenever a piece in the Art Show has two or more bids, it goes to the Art Auction. Here you get to furiously bid on the pieces of art you want – even if you didn’t know you wanted them before you walked into the room. Don’t forget to pop into the Art Auction if you bid on any art; you don’t want someone else to get it! The Benefit Art Auction for the American Diabetes Association also takes place at this event. Charles Piehl is your auctioneer.
Masquerade Aid Station 6-8pm
Located in the Coat Check near the ICON registration tables.
Need a little help with your costume for the Masquerade? Want to zombie up your Saturday-evening look? Come to the Masquerade Aid Station. The volunteers will help you get ready for the contest or simply for the evening. Check-in for the Masquerade is HERE, starting at 7pm.
The New Media – 6pm
Elm
How has turn of the millennium technology affected the arts? Books, Music, Film, Comics and the Web -- are they all in the process of merging into one mixed media? What media will the artist of the future work in? Cory Doctorow, Dave Stagner, Zombie Shawn and Mickey Zucker Reichert.
Kaffeeklatsch with Glen Cook – 6pm
Chestnut
Come chat with Glen…find out what is new. Don’t forget your coffee.
And then one time at whateverCon – 6pm
Dogwood
We've all had them. Those once in a life time moments at a convention where the stars seem to align and everything goes just perfect, but sadly will never happen again. Lets hear'em. Let's hear those perfect moments. Let's hear the funny moments. I suppose we could hear about the nightmare's too, but why it's too depressing. Moderated by Gay Haldeman and Rusty Hevelin
Masquerade – 7:30pm
Rosewood
One of the highlights of ICON, the Masquerade is a theatrical presentation where you will see fandom’s best costumers briefly bring to life characters and scenes from science fiction and fantasy. Michelle Clark is your MC.
Dance – After Masquerade
Rosewood
This dance is being brought to you by the letter “D”…..D is for dancing. Music provided by Lion’s Pride Entertainment.
Intellectual Property and Creative Commons – 9pm
Elm
Ok, so you think you know about copyright? But the world is changing and new modes of production are leading to new ideas about who owns what, and who doesn’t, about what rights can be signed away, and who seems to want to just assume. Creative commons offers new possibilities and new challenges, but may also be open to exploitation. Cory Doctorow, Jen Show and Dave Stagner
Soldiers: Life vs. Fiction – 9pm
Chestnut
From Starship Troopers to Honor Harrington, modern SF abounds with image of life in the military. How do fictional soldiers compare to those who have experienced the military as a career? Moderated by Joe Haldeman and Tyree Campbell
Videos?!, Bah, humbug – 9pm
Dogwood
Steam punk films. None of that fancy-schmancy digital video doo-dah. An assortment of REAL 16mm FILM PRINTS featuring movie trailers, Ray Harryhausen, Civil Defense: How to survive fallout, and more random stuff. If you have ssomething to show, bring it along. Color fade, splices, print scratches, monaural sound, mis-registration, print breaks and focus problems...the way Real Movies are supposed to be! Brought to you by Denny Lynch
Friends Without Benefits? – 9pm
Boardroom 234
How good are SF and fantasy at depicting the full range of human relationships? Is there something about the stories that these genres like to tell that privileges romantic attachments over friendship and familial bonds (of all kinds) – and prefers the new to the old, or ongoing? And if so, why? Discussion lead by Mickey Zucker Reichert
The Small Press in the Big Woods – 10pm
Elm
Come talk about the role of the small press in SF/fantasy fiction. What do small presses bring to the table? Are they the mad laboratories of the fantastic or the hothouse gardens nurturing the next wave of SF/fantasy? Mary Wilson (owner/publisher Jupiter Gardens Press), and Tyree Campbell (publisher Sam’s Dot Publishing) will lead discussion. This programming item will be repeated at 11am Sunday morning.
Astronomy and Looking at the Stars – 10pm
Start out in Chestnut
After the discussion the group will adjourn to the outside for an observing session. Moderated by Mitch Thompson
Open Filk – 10pm
Boardroom 234
Whether you want to participate or just listen, come join us as filkers do what they do best – filk!
Chocolate Ceremony – Midnight
Rosewood
A pagan celebration of chocolate. Two words: Yum Yum!