Meet Joseph R Wheeler III of ONYXCON

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph R Wheeler III.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
ONYXCON began in 2009. I was inspired by the structure of Atlanta’s legendary Black Arts Festival. As a visual Artist, my work has always been a reflection of my love for comic books and fantasy Art illustration. I enjoyed the Black Arts Fest but rarely saw a heavy representation of the genres that intrigued me most. I wanted to see more fantasy, science fiction, and surrealism based representation. It was not until I discovered the Black Age of Comics Movement, that my dreams and wishes had come true.

Via a traveling Art show that landed in Macon, GA’s Tubman Museum I found evidence of my tribe. Kevin Sipp, another Atlanta Art legend had recommended we take a trip to Macon and see the show. ‘Sequential Art: The Next Step’ was its title and that show was partially curated by my now friend Rob Stull (professional comic book artist/curator). It featured independent and mainstream comic book Artist of African descent. It was a marvelous show. The curator of the Tubman Mr. Jeffrey Bruce was kind enough, knowing I was a serious and professionally ambitious young Artist, to share the contacts of the Artist in the show.

I contacted them all and made many friends. Dawud Anyabwile, co-creator/illustrator of the 1990s hit series BROTHERMAN Comics (reborn recently with Brotherman Revelations), was one of them. Dawud and I spoke for hours on phone about being Artist and our love for comics and more Black representation in the medium. He introduced me to the East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention (ECBACC) in his hometown of Philadelphia, PA. It was an established Black culture focused comic book convention.

From my first trip, I fell in love with it all and I made my pilgrimage to the mecca of Philly for many years. I even became an out of town organizer and a judge for the GLYPH AWARDS held at ECBACC. This award honors Black representation in Sequential Arts.

So that made me like family with the ECBACC founder Yumy Odom who was inspired to create his event from seeing the work of Turtle ONLI of Chicago, Illinois. Onli created the first ‘Black Age of Comics Convention’ in Chicago’s Bronzeville community circa 1993. So all of this #BlackExcellence was the foundation and inspiration of me using my Arts community networks in Atlanta to found ONYXCON in 2009. It was its own unique event but was and still is forever inspired by the wonderful link to a pantheon of talented creatives. WE who stay loyal and unified to the need for edutainment and representation in the popular arts – are ONYXCON.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It is always a road filled with large and small obstacles when you love something and create anything that literally becomes a paradigm shift for hundreds of Artist’s careers, fans, and especially youth growing up in the event and seeing all the determination become something special. To get into semantics with the challenges would not fit in an article. The book will be released one day. Until then, I ask that everyone visit ONYXCON.com and absorb the articles, galleries of photos, and general information.

Possibly the one fun challenge I maintain is seeing our cosplayers community grow. We have all ethnicities of fans at ONYXCON, But with our primary being African American families, there remains a stigma that getting dressed up in costumes is strictly for Halloween. For the record we always have cosplayers but I would love to see the countable numbers become an ocean of cosplayers this year at ONYXCON. All ages, all levels of creativity- bring it! Possibly this shoutout will help.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about ONYXCON – what should we know?
I am an Artist in every sense of the word. I always saw fantasy Arts as a metaphor for never forgetting or letting go of what it is to be human and via expression being superhuman and imagining the possibilities of life here and elsewhere!

As an Artist, it was the visual Arts of drawing, painting, sculpture, photography and related that I spent the majority of my life sharpening my skills to express my visions. I have created independent comic books, illustrations for clients, and was able to curate Art exhibitions through ONYXCON during our convention times and satellite exhibits. The reward is seeing the landscape of Atlanta’s Artworld develop and become all it is known to be now. And thanks to articles like this, ONYXCON is getting it’s just due for having over a decade of influence in that growth.

In the last 4 and a half years, I transitioned into the life of a thespian, becoming an actor. It was always a dream but when the tax incentives brought Hollywood to Georgia and especially Atlanta, I jumped on board. Thus ONYXCON also has the ONYXCON Film Festival held annually at our main August event. I know this will grow alongside the industry and give many new, overlooked, and mainstream voices of diversity more options for screenings and intellectual conversations about the film as it relates to our mission.

The other unique thing about ONYXCON is that somehow I have not gotten tired of managing two events annually. We have what is called ONYXCON: Sankofa in February typically for Black History Month celebrating Sankofa – To “Go Back and Fetch It!” This is an Adinkra symbol from the Asante of Ghana and it represents a proverb that emphasizes the importance of knowing your past to move forward into your future. We pride ourselves at ONYXCON in being both ‘grounded’ and ‘cosmic’.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
So many people deserve shoutouts here. As to avoid missing names I will say ALL of the staff and friends of SouthWest Arts Center (our primary and first ever venue) which we shall return to AUGUST 24-26 for ONYXCON X! ALL of my friends and staff of the entire AFPL library system especially Wolf Creek Library, Auburn Avenue Research Library, South Fulton Branch, Cascade Branch, Central Atlanta Branch, and others we have done ONYXCON events at. Love Y’all!

And a huge shoutout to the contributors past and present (still with us or moved on) ARTIST whether illustrators, writers, performers, etc. who have paid time and money, expertise in panels and workshops, and overall support for over ten years. And ATLANTA’s aware population that come and check us out every year keeping the vibes positive and fun for all. We love Y’all! That’s ONYXCON!

And just adding a major note. We have been celebrating the importance and impact of theCW network TV show BLACK LIGHTNING and the epic, classic, record-breaking film BLACK PANTHER all this year at ONYXCON! So if you still have an extra Wakanda Forever outfit to wear- strut your stuff proudly at ONYXCON this August!

Pricing:

• General admission ages 13 and up is $15 per day for Saturday and Sunday, August 25-26
• 12 and under admission is $8 per day for Saturday and Sunday, August 25-26
• Group discounts are now available on GROUPON under search for ‘ONYXCON’

Contact Info:

• Website: ONYXCON.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @ONYXCON
• Facebook: @ONYXCON
• Twitter: @ONYXCONtruth

Image Credit:
Deborah D Dawson, Michael Reese, James MASE Mason, Chris Miller

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.