HELLO BARKADA

arts & culture centered on the margins

Photo of an enamel pin of a floppy-eared dog in a show by Karen Alleluia. Orange, tangerine, and light blue pin on a tangerine background.

When not hosting panels, we're hoping to visit the tables of such indie artists as Maxi Rodriguez, Karen Alleluia, Genevieve Santos, Dale Ray Deforest, Anthony Fowler, Jr., Jacoby Salcedo, Patrick Ballesteros, Alvin Alvendia, and more. From Artist Alley to the main floor, here are the exhibitors who've so far caught our eye.

PHOTO BY KAREN ALLELUIA.

Promo graphic for Hello Barkada presenting at WonderCon 2023. Color profile photos of eight panelists grouped by panel under panel title and event info, all on a brown-toned photo of the Anaheim Convention Center. Circle photo of Christine Pasalo Norland and HB round, brown logo in the bottom right corner.

Hello Barkada is excited to host Sandra Equihua, Amanda Meadows, Lea Anderson, Malissa White, Viktor Kerney, John Jennings, Elizabeth Ito, and Reyna Cervantes on panels at WonderCon 2023. The annual spring show and sibling event to Comic-Con International takes place Friday, March 24, to Sunday, March 26, at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Photo of a white flower in bloom, with white stamen and petals that come to a point.

Our March 2023 list includes 20 previously unlisted grants for visual and performing artists, poets, and prose writers with application deadlines between now and April 7, 2023.

Black text says "See More" next to thick black line break.
Collage of six book covers: Nubia & the Amazon, Scent of Apples, Frizzy, Where I'm Coming From, American Born Chinese, and Star Knights.

RESOURCES

NEW BOOKS ADDED IN FEBRUARY!

We're keeping a list of books read and liked in 2023, and updating it often. Books range from frontlist to backlist, prose to graphic novel, middle-grade to adult, and fiction to non-fiction. Follow along!

Profile photo of Black artist Afua Richardson looking up from her drawing desk in her studio.

The Georgia-based illustrator, comic artist, and musician shares her reverence for her family's history and impact, and reflects on her career in the arts. 

COMICS

Each installment of our comics series features a different emerging or established cartoonist. For our first comic of 2023, Caribbean American comic artist and illustrator FeliceY shares a story about coming of age as a nonbinary person in their comic, "I Just Need a Pad."

Photo of zines and buttons in the Collectively 2022 Full pack, on a crocheted afghan.

Two new product packs—Collectively 2022 Mini and Collectively 2022 Full—are now available, featuring limited works previously only seen at the 2022 San Diego Zine Fest. Proceeds from each support the Hello Barkada Comics Series and Guest Writer Series.

A rock painted blue with a pink happy face lays on a concrete curb.

ABOUT

Thanks to the generosity of our readers, patrons, and clients, Hello Barkada featured more guest contributors in 2022! When you become a Hello Barkada patron or client, you help support independent arts journalism and programming by, about, and for marginalized communities. Be a part of the momentum we're building in 2023 and consider a contribution, collaboration, and zine purchase today!

Black text says "Most Read" followed by bold black line break.
White text says, "Hello Barkada Comics #3. Each installment of our comics series features a different emerging or established cartoonist. This edition by Navajo disabled creator, illustrator, and digital comic artist Tatum Begay is called 'To My Husband.'" Text on a darkened black and white illustration of a man kneeling at the beside of a woman, bringing her a glass of water.
White text says "The Breadth of Trinidad Escobar's Arrive In My Hands. Published by Black Josei Press, Trinidad Escobar's Arrive In My Hands is a collection of Queer erotic comics, poem-comics, and illustrations that surges off the page like desire released from dormancy." Text on a darkened illustration of oceanside cliff formations that look like two women laying on their left sides in an embrace.
Print outs of Hello Barkada activity sheets on a light gray and white shag rug.

COMMUNITY

Each activity is made to stir curiosity, start conversations, and build connections. No printer? No problem: Printing isn't necessary! These can be written, typed, and colored on in any free PDF editing application. 

A brown hand holding up the black and white zine in front of a leafy green hedge. The cover of the zine features falling leaves and the title, "isang mahal."

Our first micro-press effort is a 16-page zine featuring the first print reproductions of our 2021 comics series as well as original written and illustrated works. Profits offset our operations and help us commission artists and writers in 2023. Once 100 copies are sold, profits will also be shared with the cartoonists whose comics are featured in the zine. Buy a copy today!

Instagram logo to link to Hello Barkada Instagram profile.
Twitter logo to link to Hello Barkada Twitter profile.
Facebook logo to link to Hello Barkada Facebook page.
YouTube logo to link to Hello Barkada YouTube channel.