Dr. Who plushies from CitizenNerd.
Being a geek doesn’t require anything more than extreme love for your favorite book, movie or comic. Having all the trappings to go along with that love isn’t required to join the club, but it certainly adds to the fun. Need the perfect pair of comic-book pumps to wear on your next trip to Westfield Comics? Searching for the right keychain to subtly signal your favorite film? On the lookout for a campy coaster to add to your collection?
Batman heels from Altered Eco Designs.
Then make your way to Madison’s first GeekCraft Expo (geekcraftexpo.com.) on March 19 and 20, which will give customers a chance to pick from a carefully curated set of unique and geeky items made by local vendors.
The Expo, which is now held in over a dozen U.S. cities, will be taking over the Madison Masonic Center, 301 Wisconsin Ave. The GeekCraft team, including founders Kim Matsuzaki, formerly of Ubisoft Entertainment, and Daniel Way, told us what to expect from the upcoming event.
On the origins of GeekCraft Expo:
Daniel Way: Kim’s background is as a community developer for Ubisoft, and I’ve been a comic book writer for 13 years, so we’ve both been to tons of comic and gaming conventions. There, you see tables with crafters set up — but hardly anyone visits them! There was no event just for the crafters who make [geek-themed] plushies, jewelry, clothing. No one goes to a comic convention to buy crafts. But hopefully that will change as the GeekCraft name gets bigger.
On what made Madison the right place to host a GeekCraft Expo:
DW: Because I grew up in the Midwest, I knew I wanted a Midwest show. I’ve been working comics for a long time, and I’ve come across so many wonderfully geeky people who are from Madison.
Crocheted Nintendo baby rattle (left) from Tinankins Creations.
On what makes GeekCraft special for customers and vendors:
DW: First, it’s all about keeping it a local event, a part of the community. It’s a place where everyone can meet each other. You can go to Target and buy a million Captain America T-shirts. Or you can go to someplace like this, and buy a piece where there might only ever be five or 10 like it that exist.
On the kinds of crafts you’ll find for sale:
Kim Matsuzaki: To the outside world, “geek” is kind of homogeneous, but once you get in there you realize there’s an incredible spectrum, from sci-fi to steampunk, from Harry Potter to retro games, from classic comics to foreign films. We vet vendors and accept them based on quality as well as quantity — you’re not going to see 10 booths with the same crafts for sale.
On the vendors:
KM: Altered Eco Designs in Madison creates ladies’ pumps with comic book sayings on them; and PinkClayMonkey makes tiny book necklaces — books from Harry Potter or other geeky brands, that you can actually read.
DW: At least if you have a magnifying glass!
Editor's note: some of the vendors mentioned in this article are no longer displaying at the event. Check current vendors at the event website.
