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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, May 16, 2014 | 20 Local residents showcase their crafts at SuperFan ComicCon by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff Artscene Two Oakville residents will be showcasing their work at the SuperFan ComicCon convention in Toronto this weekend. Paul McCue and Sarah Benning will display -- and sell their animation-, movie- and comic-inspired crafts at the show running tomorrow (May 17) until Monday (May 19) at Exhibition Place -- Better Living Centre in Toronto. SuperFan ComicCon gathers comic retailers to anime vendors, local and international artists and celebrities all in once place. It's where fans and self-proclaimed `geeks and nerds' often embrace dressing up in their favourite costume to check out memorabilia, toys, collectibles, crafts, movies, apparel, video games, kids toys and meet their own celebrity superheroes. Paul McCue McCue, who describes himself as the oldest teenager at age 45, said SuperFan ComicCon is the perfect venue to showcase and sell his space hel- Oakville residents Paul McCue and Sarah Benning will be showcasing their work at the SuperFan ComicCon convention at Exhibition Place -- Better Living Centre in Toronto this weekend. Pictured above are helmets and robots made by McCue. To the left are illustrations and animeinspired pins made by Benning. | submitted photos mets, ray guns and robots made from salvaged and up-cycled toys. It's a place where he meets individuals much like himself who are passionate about pop culture, fantasy, science fiction and the whole culture of escapism, he said. McCue, who has lived in Oakville for 11 years and also paints, draws and takes photographs, added he became a "geek" at the age of nine when he saw the movie Star Wars. "It's one of those things. Just like a lot of other people, I got swept up in that galaxy and never really left," he said. Sarah Benning, who just graduated from Sheridan College's Illustration program, said she's been going to conventions like SuperFan ComicCon ever since she was in high school because she enjoys the camaraderie and atmosphere. The 21-year-old Oakville resident added she started exhibiting her work Sarah Benning at the shows to share her passion for all things "cute" and things she's a big fan of. "I do pins, prints of art work, I also make plush toys and I make phone charms made from acrylic," Benning described. She also does commissioned watercolour illustrations, makes jewelry and sells her craft on Etsy.com (www.etsy.com/shop/ sacari). "I find it appeals to kids. I love it when kids like my work," said Benning. The show runs Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Monday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, visit http://www. superfancomiccon.com. Oakville Centre's new season features established and emerging talent Tickets go on sale May 20 for shows that include Jim Cuddy, Spot the Dog and Latin American folk music ensemble Inti-Illimani by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts has made a name for itself in the community for bringing famous Canadian and international acts into an intimate setting says Manager Robin Howarth. With 485 seats, the main stage provides a quaint experience for both theatregoers and the performers where the furthest seat from the stage is only about 55 seats away, he said. This season will be no different, he continued, introducing the lineup for the 2014 fall/ winter season. Featuring Jim Cuddy from Blue Rodeo, Suzanne Vega, Lighthouse, Steven Wright, and Natalie MacMaster just to name a few, Howarth told the Oakville Beaver the centre, which has been a fixture in the community since 1977, not only celebrates established artists, but also emerging talent, international and community acts and family-orientated shows. "What we're really doing with the new season is we're contributing to a thriving cultural life we have, ensuring we remain a destination ing season. It featured some of the acts that will grace the stage later in the year, including illusionist Mike D'Urzo and musician Royal Wood. What we're really doing with the new season is we're contributing to a thriving cultural life we have, ensuring we remain a destination for lovers of the arts and compelling them to engage, enjoy and explore. Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts manager Robin Howarth The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts hosted a preview event Tuesday (May 13) for their upcoming season. Musician Royal Wood performs in the packed theatre. | photo by Eric Riehl ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or www.facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) for lovers of the arts and compelling them to engage, enjoy and explore," he said. The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts hosted a preview event Tuesday for its upcom- Opening the season on Sept. 20 will be singer Suzanne Vega on Sept. 20, comedian Steven Wright on Sept. 21, dance project company Adelheid presenting Elsewhere on Oct. 8 and Keith Richards One Woman Show on Oct. 18. see Family-friendly on p.21