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Exhibits & Functions

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The Balticon 44 Anime Room, located in Salon E, is open from 6:00 PM Friday through the end of the last feature (which starts at 11:50 am) on Monday. The Anime Room shows feature length anime films as well as consective episodes of many different anime series. Balticon also offers an Anime Panels Track. See Anime Panels Schedule on the Panels and Workshops page for details.

BALTICON 44 ANIME ROOM SCHEDULE

Friday, May 28, 2010

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Monday, May 31, 2010

The Balticon 44 Art Show is proud to exhibit the work of Artist Guest of Honor Howard Tayler. We are also pleased to offer the work of many other artists in a wide variety of media, such as original works in pen and ink, charcoal, pastels, watercolor and oils, sculpture, and handmade crafts and jewelry, as well as limited edition prints.

Visit one of the biggest and best regional art shows on the East Coast featuring SF and fantasy original art and prints. Most of the works and prints are available for sale. Artists must pre-register to be included in the art show. For special requests, send a request to artshow@balticon.org or write: Balticon Art Show PO Box 686, Baltimore, MD 21203-0686. See the Art Show page for more information.

Art Show Rules and Registration Form are available as downloadable MS Word documents.

Balticon 44 Autograph Sessions will be held in the foyer outside the Maryland Ballroom.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Monday, May 31, 2010

For the 13th year in a row, a charity auction will be held during the halftime break of the Masquerade on Saturday night. There will be SF&F collectibles, memorabilia and other exotic items put on the block. If you have something to donate to the auction bring it to the con. In past years BSFS sponsored a charity auction at Balticon to raise money to sponsor Reading is Fundamental program/programs at a school or schools in Maryland. In 2006 the auction was renamed the "Bobby Gear Memorial Charity Auction at Baltcon" in honor of BSFS member Bobby Gear to commemorate her years of service as a school teacher and BSFS volunteer.

Reading is Fundamental is no longer active in Maryland, but it is important to us to keep the work alive. Therefore we are pleased to introduce the BSFS Books for Kids program.

BSFS Books for Kids will gift funds raised to the PTA of the selected school for the purchase of books ordered by students for personal recreational reading. The books will become the personal property of the students. In additon, BSFS Books for Kids collects book donations for local school libraries, as requested by their resident librarians.

The Bobby Gear Memorial Charity Auction at Balticon 44 will be raising money so that BSFS Books for Kids can provide book purchase funding for the students of Buck Lodge Middle School.

Items for the auction are donated by both individuals and companies and generally have a SF or fantasy theme. Author signed copies of books, art work, games, and SF collectables are very popular donated items.

The auction at Balticon is held during the masquerade half-time while the judges deliberate and the audience waits to hear the winners. Part II of the auction is held on Sunday following the art auction. Items available for auction are displayed in the Art Show. To donate items for the auction throughout the year, or for other details about the auction in any given year, please contact "BooksForKids at balticon dot org".

If you would like to bring your donations for the Bobby Gear Memorial Charity Auction with you to Balticon, they can be dropped off at the Convention Operations desk at the end of the hallway on the lower level just past the Art Show.

BSFS Books for Kids is currently collecting new and used book donations for the library of Northwest High School in Baltimore City. They are in need of Romance and Poetry books, as well as less challenging books like Goosebumps, Sweet Valley High, etc. for reading competency levels from grade 3 on (ages 8 and up).

There will be several drop-off locations at Balticon for books donations for the high school - at the volunteers desk, the info desk and at Convention Operations.

Thank you for supporting youth literacy in Maryland!

THE BALTICON 44 CONCERT SCHEDULE

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Balticon offers its members a traditional convention hospitality suite with soda and snack foods in a congenial atmosphere designed to promote casual conversation. Check the special events and panels schedule for various events happening in the Con Suite.

Balticon is working hard to establish a tradition of offering dance and other music and movement events. Check the Panels and Workshops page for Dance Events.

The Balticon DEALER'S ROOM:

Features 6500 square-foot of tables with everything a Fan might want, from hard-to-find books to ancient weapons, costumes, collectibles, models and more. This year, the room will be open late Sunday and until 2 pm Monday. Dealers in SF and Fantasy related merchandise can inquire about availability by writing: Balticon 43 Dealers Room, c/o P.O. Box 70013, Baltimore, MD. 21237 or by e-mail to dealers@bsfs.org.

Balticon 44 Vendors

Anapurnades Fantasy Jewelry - Jamaila Brinkley

A.G.H.I.T.W.Bookstore - Ira Kaplowitz, Used sf, collectable hardcovers & paperbacks, videos

Bayside Books of Maryland - Timothy Doyle

The Book House - Larry Klase

Caldron Crafts

Calligraphic Buttons

Charles F. Miller, Publisher, Inc. - Chuck Miller

Creativi-C DesignsWyrd & Wired Jewelry

Double Dragon - Bethlynne Prellwitz

Firefly Cargo Bay

Fortress Publishing, Inc. - Brian Koscienski

Frank Fogleman/Bookseller

GraphicAudio

Griffons Claw Armory

Henderson’s Books - Collectable hardcover books

Honeck Sculpture

Hourglass Creations - Catherine Madigan

Janet Kofoed Jewelry

Art Vaughan’s Books

Larry Smith Books

Lostshade, Inc.

Luna City Books

Marshall Thomas

Patrick Thomas

Poison Pen Press - Devra Langsam

R.E.Piland, Goldsmiths

Richard Sands

Scherer Glass

Another Grungy Hole in the Wall Bookstore - Rebecca Kaplowitz

Joe Sergi

Sidhe na Daire

Silver Dragon Studio - Thomas J Mulvey

Sir Nicodemys

Solomon’s Mine - Jeanne Robin

Somewhere In Time Books - Jean Gonzalez

SteamPunkFunk

Tales From The White Hart - Filk & a lot of folk music & some hundreds of media fanfiction zines

Terminus Publishing - Darrell Schweitzer

Tigereyes Press

Tiger Torre Art - Jennifer Torre-Oatis

Undiscovered Treasures - Chris Cowan

Very Personally Yours - Nancy Scott

Old Earth Books - Michael Walsh

Angel Crafts

The Sandscrafter

Dragon Moon Press

Doors open at 7:00 PM. Come and make your opinion count! Please note that films shown after 9:30 pm may not be appropriate for children under 13 without an accompanying adult.

The focus of the Balticon Sunday Night Short Film Festival (BSNSFF) is on independently produced science fact, science fiction, fantasy and horror live action and animation projects under 52 minutes run time, which have been completed no earlier than in the two years prior to the festival year. The BSNSFF is a competitive festival with winners in two categories (sometimes more) determined by audience rating. Please make sure you pick up a ballot on your way into the Valley Ballroom on Sunday night. See the Film Festival Schedule for this year's screening schedule.

In addition, the BSNSFF seeks to support the work of independent filmmakers by premiering an independently produced feature-length film on Friday night and bringing you other independent feature-length and short films at the Balticon Friday and Sunday Midnight Movies. We hope you will stay up late to see what we have to show you!

The Balticon Filmmaking program track is new for Balticon 44 with two primary missions:

To provide a forum wherein the producers, directors and others involved in making independent science fiction, science fact, fantasy, and horror films can meet each other and discuss their trade;

To provide opportunities for Balticon members to meet filmmakers and learn about the filmmaking process from those who are doing it.

See the Filmmaking Track Schedule on the Panels and Workshops page for more information.

Balticon 44 marks the year that we will be renaming our game room the Hal Haag Memorial Game Room in honor of fan and gamer Hal Haag, who passed away last year. Bring your own game or play one of ours - we'll be open round the clock, except for a 2-hour housecleaning break each morning.

While you are enjoying Balticon dressed to the nines, stop by the Volunteer Desk at the bottom of the escalator and have Brian take your photo for the Hall Costume Contest. Then tell everyone you see to go vote for you! The winner gets a complimentary membership to Balticon 45.

Monday morning Kaffeeklatshes offer an opportunity to chat with Guests of Honor in a more intimate setting. Sign-up sheets are located at the Information Desk near the top of the escalators.

LARP (Live Action Role Playing) Schedule

      A stone falls to Earth, a battle for control of that stone ensued.

      Now destroyed, the stone is no longer the focus.

      The protection of a single life hangs in the balance.

      The human race will be tested.

      Are you up for the challenge?

Join the returning players in the 3rd year of the Heroes and Villains game. Registration is at the bottom of the escalators Friday, May 28th, 5pm to 10pm and Saturday, May 29th, 9am to 10am. Opening ceremonies will be Saturday, May 29th, 10am to 11:30am in Salon D (registration will be open the entire weekend). Price of participation is $10 (this covers the cost of materials). Apply for a $3 coupon via our Facebook Page: Balticon LARP. Prizes will be awarded at the closing ceremonies Monday, May 31st, from 10:30 to 11:30am in Salon D. New players are always WELCOME!!!! If you never have gamed before, we are willing to get you started. And as always. . . Come for the fun, stay for the MAYHEM!!!

The LARP schedule is on the Special Events page

There's a whole wonderful world of non-traditional media available and, as we did last year, we're bringing you more than just podcasting. Come and meet local artists and writers from the world of web comics and many other fascinating people leading the new media explosion. Learn more about what's available in independent new media and how to turn it to your advantage. Dont let your work be lost in the shadows: find your audience! Balticon was the first con to run new media programming and have its own dedicated podcast, which makes ours the longest running new media track.

On Saturday night Balticon hosts one of the oldest masquerades on the East Coast. Marvel at the participants crafting of fabric and other materials into imaginative and extraordinary costumes. The Masquerade is not just for experienced costumers either -- Hall Costumes and first-timers are encouraged to get up on stage and share their work. The masquerade competition will be judged on the experience skills division system to give beginners a chance to go home winners. Info: e-mail masq@balticon.org or check "Masquerade" on the registration form. Masquerade rules

Let's keep the fun going into the night! If you are interested in throwing a room party at Balticon 44, to support your convention, your Worldcon bid, or just because you want to invite people in to have some fun, we'd love to have you. Please email party@balticon.org for details.

Open parties will be registered and grouped in one area easily accessible to everyone. Registering your open party will ensure that you are covered by Balticon's corkage agreement (allowing you to serve food and non-alcoholic drinks), and that your neighbors don't mind the noise generated. Parties will be open until 3:00 am. Alcohol is not permitted at open room parties.
There is a $50.00 for the weekend party cleaning fee that the hotel will add to your bill for hosting open room parties. This one time fee is $50.00 for one, two or three nights of hosting an open party.

NOTE: The first TEN open party signups we receive will get their cleaning fee paid by the con! This is a first come, first serve deal, so don't wait!

If you plan on holding a private party you should let us know at party@balticon.org; we will put you with the other open parties, so you can stay up all night talking and laughing without worrying about potential noise complaints. If your room is in the party area, but you are not throwing an open party, you will not be charged the additional cleaning fee. The hotel will take a deposit for open party rooms which will be returned when they confirm the room is not damaged. Open party rooms must be confirmed with hotel before May 5, 2010 or the hotel may reject the request for such a room. Please check the box on the registration form if you would like to receive the open-party information packet or send mail to party@balticon.org. Following these rules means we can continue holding open room parties at Balticon.

Balticon program participants with qualifications as authors, editors and publishers will explore varied themes in SF literature through panel debates, author readings and personal autograph session interaction. Everything from philosophical debates, story crafting tips, publishing advice, science speculation and historical perspectives will flow. Reviewers and Fan group officers will review and discuss work and its place in the genre to help you find new literature suited to your taste. Multiple literary program tracks (Readers, Writers, Fan, Young Fan, Teen) make this the core of Balticon programming.

Balticon 44 offers over 30 hours of original science programming, this year featuring Science Guest of Honor Dr. Thomas Holtz, paleontology and other sciences which looking at the past as well as looking at space exploration in the present and future in events such as "Three Mercury Flybys - A prelude to MESSENGER's orbital mission". Meet the scientists and attend fascinating panels such as "Dinosaurs: The Update" "Galaxy Zoo: Galaxies Near and Far and All That is New, Discovered By You (How we know the big bang happened.)"

Balticon 44 Video Room Schedule

Please Note: All Start Times are APPROXIMATE

Friday

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Sunday

Monday

Balticon is an all-volunteer managed convention and we can always use more help. Show your SF community spirit by volunteering a few hours at the con. Volunteers who work more than 10 hours receive our exclusive volunteer T-shirt. Work more than 20 hours and next year's Balticon membership is comped. Sign up via email, at the convention or check the Volunteering box on the registration form. And if you decide not to volunteer, take a moment to say thank you to those who do! This convention wouldn't exit without them.

Balticon brings you a variety of workshops in the literary, art, and new media tracks. See the Panels and Workshops page for the Workshops Schedule.

This is a Workshop to prepare teachers to develop a class on science fiction for primary or secondary students. The Workshop will take place Monday, May 31, 2010, (Memorial Day) from 12 noon to 4 pm in the Garden Room at Marriott Hunt Valley Inn. No advance registration is required. The Teaching Science Fiction workshop covers what to teach, how to organize a class, and ways to promote the course. The workshop answers questions educators may have about this idea-oriented, forward-looking, student stimulating body of speculative literature. Materials for the workshop have been developed by the AboutSF Science Fiction Resource Center, a joint project of the University of Kansas, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and the Science Fiction Research Association. There is no charge for those already registered as Balticon members. A special Workshop-only one-day Balticon membership is available for $11 for teachers attending the Workshop

Poetry Workshop

Enter the Annual Balticon Poetry Contest! Here's your chance to win cash prizes, a convention membership, and have your work published in the BSFAN, the souvenir book of Balticon. Entries should address the themes of science fiction/fantasy/horror/science. Limit: 3 poems/person, maximum 50 lines each. Email/postmark deadline: April 1. No entry fee. Complete information is available on the Baltimore Science Fiction Society Poetry Workshop page.

Writers' Workshop

For those who want to improve your writing skills in the areas of science fiction and fantasy, the workshop is a place and time to discuss ideas, debate styles and comment on each others' work. We look at various aspects of writing:

1. Opening lines
2. Outlines
3. Themes
4. Character development
5. Story structure
6. Dialogue

In addition, we also discuss and debate those things that make SF&F different from 'mainsteam' literature: story ideas ranging from the dawn of time through the future, parallel worlds, civilizations human and non-human, technology advancing and threatening; settings near and far, on this planet and others, running across dimensions, travelling through the past and future; characters that are human, non-human, organic, inorgranic, physical and spiritual; settings ranging from worlds the size of a microbe to civilizations spanning galaxies. Yet all these connecting to us as people.

Having trouble with your short stories? We can work with you. Not sure how to write a novel? Talk to others who have done one or two. Wondering how to approach an editor, or how to write a cover letter? Let us help you. We don't guarantee story sales, but we do what we can to help you. If you have questions, write to writersworkshop AT bsfs DOT org. I look forward to hearing from you.

Poetry Workshop

Enter the Annual Balticon Poetry Contest! Here's your chance to win cash prizes, a convention membership, and have your work published in the BSFAN, the souvenir book of Balticon. Entries should address the themes of science fiction/fantasy/horror/science. Limit: 3 poems/person, maximum 50 lines each. Email/postmark deadline: April 1. No entry fee. Complete information is available on the Baltimore Science Fiction Society Poetry Workshop page.

Writers' Workshop

For those who want to improve your writing skills in the areas of science fiction and fantasy, the workshop is a place and time to discuss ideas, debate styles and comment on each others' work. We look at various aspects of writing:

1. Opening lines
2. Outlines
3. Themes
4. Character development
5. Story structure
6. Dialogue

In addition, we also discuss and debate those things that make SF&F different from 'mainsteam' literature: story ideas ranging from the dawn of time through the future, parallel worlds, civilizations human and non-human, technology advancing and threatening; settings near and far, on this planet and others, running across dimensions, travelling through the past and future; characters that are human, non-human, organic, inorgranic, physical and spiritual; settings ranging from worlds the size of a microbe to civilizations spanning galaxies. Yet all these connecting to us as people.

Having trouble with your short stories? We can work with you. Not sure how to write a novel? Talk to others who have done one or two. Wondering how to approach an editor, or how to write a cover letter? Let us help you. We don't guarantee story sales, but we do what we can to help you. If you have questions, write to writersworkshop AT bsfs DOT org. I look forward to hearing from you.

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