The Who, the What, and the Why of Intervention:

Hi, I am the comic artist, blogger, and illustrator known as Onezumi Hartstein.

Just call me “Oni”. It’s easier.

Me and web developer James Harknell founded Intervention together in 2010 based on our experiences touring to support my absurdist and Lovecraftian webcomics.

This “internet convention” is meant to Intervene and Inspire the whole family to embrace Technology, Digital Media, and the potential of the Internet in order to make a better world. Our community-centric event consists of 2 elements:

- Learning from the pros: We have 3 days of panels and workshops taught by people who are already using digital media to make something awesome.

- Having fun: Geeky performances, fan panels, gaming, dance parties, steampunk tea parties, concerts, networking, and Children’s Programming overseen by school teachers, NASA employees, and Wired.com bloggers.

We are a new kind of fan convention that focuses on education and real life training. We believe that fandom is empowering and motivating.

Why we started Intervention:

I have never hidden that I have worked my way up from a very economically disadvantaged position. In 2003, a little girl approached my table and told me that me sharing my story, looking at her art, and giving her advice had given her hope that she could do it, too. Her family didn’t have much money. Before reading what I had to say she had given up on ever being someone.

It brought me back to my own childhood where I had been in the same position. I had given up on my art because I had thought that I was too poor and unconnected to ever get anywhere with my life. Artist Julie Bell had been the person to tell me that I could be anything I wanted to be if I just kept at it. When none of the other artists at this particular show seemed to care about the shy little girl – she did. That moment was key for me – it was because of this that I kept at it.

Then the final piece of the puzzle fell into place. The internet happened. No longer did you need a lot of money or a big publisher to reach an audience. Thanks to the internet, I was able to pay my way through college, meet people, learn about life, and do my comics and art. I became a better person with a great job primarily because of the intersection of art and technology.

Harknell and I sort of broke down into tears after hearing from this little girl. It was like looking into a reflection of ourselves. Art and educational programs like the ones I had available to me are being closed down due to budget cuts all over.

We knew right then and there that we had to put something positive out there to help people.

Since this conversation with this little girl in 2003, many other people (both adults and children) have said similar things to us. They have said powerful things about their adversity, triumph, and desire to use art and technology to overcome their own hardship like I did.

The biggest request we get is for help and advice. Art tutorials are great, but not enough.

Fast forward to 2010, and we founded Intervention. And we are here to stay.

Intervention is here to Intervene and Inspire you to be more. To create more. To do more, and to party more.

This is how the next generation of Geeks party.

Join us.