In the days surrounding AI-AP’s special events next week, Big Talk and The Party, New York opens its doors to artists and creative from all over with a number of talks and presentations designed to throw some fun on the work of being an artist. For Illustration Week 2016, here’s a sampling of what’s up:

On Saturday, October 29, from noon to 7 pm, Brooklyn Draw Jam and Shoestring Studios presents HallowZINE, a new comics and print festival taking place featuring the works of a number of local independent creators, as well as some ghoulish Halloween spirit. HallowZINE: event on Facebook 

On Tuesday, November 1 and Wednesday, November 2, the 166^th and 167^th meeting of the NY Comics & Picture-story Symposium will be held at Parsons School of Design, Featuring David Kunzle on November 1, 7 pm and David Sandlin on November 2, 7 pm. University Center, 63 Fifth Avenue, Room L105, NY, NY Info

On Wednesday, November 2, 6:30 pm,  Christoph Niemann takes the stage with a talk about Sunday Sketching at The Auditorium, New School. Christoph will talk about his new book (and words), his process, the balance of self initiated and client work, his reluctance to collaborate, the struggle with social media and the stifling creative fears of not being good enough and running out of ideas. signing and reception to follow. The Auditorium, New School, 66 West 12^th Street, NY, NY Info

On Wednesday, November 2, from 7-10 pm, AI-AP presents the Big Talk Symposium, featuring the Int’l Motion Art Awards 5 winners in a screening and panel with Ben Moon, Paul Trillo and Jeff Lee from AbelCine. Reception to follow. SVA Theater, 333 West 23rd Street, NY, NY Info

On Thursday, November 3, from 7-11, AI-AP hosts its premier event of the year, The Party, celebrating American Photograhy 32, American illustration 35, Latin American Fotografía and Ilustración 5 “los diez”, and the Intl Motion Art Awards 5. Angel Orensantz Foundation 172 Norfolk Street, NY, NY Info

On Thursday, November 3, from 6-8 pm, the German Consulate General hosts an opening reception for Upcycling New York: MetroCard Collages by Nina Boesch. 871 United Nations Plaza, NY, NY. Info

On Friday, November 4, from 10am-10 pm, Pictoplasma returns to NYC with the 5^th Pictoplasm Conference on Contemporary Character Design and Art. This all-day program features inspiring artist talks, state of the art animation screenings and lively panel discussions to celebrate the next generation of character design and art! Parsons School of Design, The New School Auditorium, 66 West 12^th Street, NY, NY Info

Meanwhile, at Society of Illustrators, artists and creatives are always welcome to continuing exhibitions and sketch nights. Currently on view are The Original Art, an annual exhibition celebrating the fine art of childrens’s book illustration and Drawn to the Music, works by artist members who have illustrated lyrics from songs, from jazz to rock to hip hop. Sketch Nights take place on Tuesday [live music/nude models] and Thursday [burlesque models and buffet]. 128 East 63^rd Street, NY, NY Info

The Masters Series: Louise Fili continues at SVA Gramercy Gallery, honoring designer and educator Louise Fili with the first comprehensive retrospective of the designer’s influential career, including her book jacket, branding, food packaging and restaurant identity work. 209 East 23^rd Street, NY, NY Info

Photos from The Party 2015 by Frank Rocco, courtesy AI-AP