Denver has always been a city with deep creative roots, but in recent years, a new movement has been taking shape, one led by Indigenous and marginalized artists reclaiming their narratives, their joy, and their space. At the center of that movement is áyA Con, a festival equal parts celebration and call to action. Through art, performance, storytelling, and connection, áyA Con is building a community that challenges stereotypes, amplifies diverse voices, and plants seeds for future generations to thrive.
In this interview, áyA Con co-founders Kristina and Rafael Maldonado Bad Hand share how the convention is reshaping Denver’s cultural landscape, the ways it fosters intergenerational exchange, and why Indigenous leadership in creative spaces is not just powerful, but essential.
About áyA Con
Q. How do you see áyA Con changing the landscape for Indigenous and marginalized artists in Denver and beyond?
áyA Con is transforming the landscape for Indigenous and marginalized artists in Denver and beyond by creating a dedicated platform that uplifts their voices and stories. Through representation and visibility, it challenges dominant narratives and stereotypes, empowering artists to express their identities and experiences authentically. By addressing issues like racial inequality, environmental justice, and gender violence, áyA Con uses art as a tool for advocacy and social change. It fosters cultural reconnection and cross-cultural understanding, making space for community empowerment and long-overdue recognition.
Q. What role do you think conventions like áyA Con play in helping communities reclaim and celebrate their cultures?
Conventions like áyA Con play a vital role in helping communities reclaim and celebrate their cultures by centering Indigenous voices and creating space for authentic expression. By challenging mainstream narratives and holding space for underrepresented perspectives, áyA Con empowers artists to reconnect with their roots and share their stories on their own terms. It fosters community through shared experiences in storytelling, illustration, fashion, and performance—celebrating both individual identity and collective heritage.
How has feedback from the community shaped the growth of the festival from year to year?
Feedback from our community, which includes attendees, vendors, performers, and panelists, has been essential to the festival’s growth each year. Their insights and experiences help shape everything from programming to accessibility, ensuring the event remains rooted in community needs and values. We view every participant as a co-creator of the celebration, and their voices directly influence how we evolve. Testimonials and reviews that have been collected, offer valuable guidance and reflect the impact of the festival. This ongoing dialogue ensures that áyA Con continues to grow in a way that honors and uplifts the communities that we serve.
Q. Can you share a story of someone whose life or career was positively impacted by participating in áyA Con?
One powerful story comes from Kesia King, an artist who described her experience at áyA Con as a highlight of her artistic journey. She shared how the sense of community, support, and meaningful conversations about representation and tradition left her feeling more connected to her roots and inspired for the future. Similarly, Nazhoné M., a participant in the Novice Artist Program, gained invaluable skills in selling her art and building confidence as a new artist, crediting the experience with helping her grow both personally and professionally. Artists like Maxx Lake and Frankie-Lee Allen also found empowerment and inclusivity at the event, emphasizing how áyA Con creates space for cultural exchange and celebration. These stories reflect how the festival not only uplifts artists’ careers but also strengthens identity and builds lasting community connections. These are just a few examples among many.
Q. What are the ways áyA Con creates intergenerational connections between elders, youth, and emerging artists?
One of the key ways áyA Con fosters intergenerational connections is through our Novice Artist Program, an all-ages initiative that provides emerging artists—regardless of age—with a free vending table and mentorship from experienced professionals. This program creates a unique opportunity for younger and newer artists to learn directly from established creatives, gaining hands-on experience in everything from booth setup to pricing and community engagement. Across the festival, events like panels, performances, and vendor gatherings bring together elders, youth, and artists from diverse backgrounds to share stories, traditions, and artistic practices.
Q. How do you measure success beyond attendance numbers, what are the markers of real impact for you?
We measure success beyond attendance numbers by looking at the connections we build and the sense of community and belonging people experience at áyA Con. When artists, attendees, and vendors leave feeling seen, supported, and inspired, that’s a true marker of impact. The lasting relationships formed, the cultural pride rekindled, and the opportunities created for growth and collaboration all speak to the deeper success of the festival. It’s in the testimonials, the shared stories, and the genuine joy of being in a space that honors and uplifts Indigenous and marginalized voices. For us, real impact is felt in the community we’re building together, year after year.
Q. In what ways does áyA Con provide a safe space for Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ voices in Indigenous creative communities?
áyA Con provides a safe and affirming space for Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ voices by intentionally centering their presence within the festival’s programming and culture. Events like the Two-Spirit drag performance celebrate queer Indigenous identities through art, performance, and visibility, creating space for joy, self-expression, and community pride. By uplifting these voices and making space for diverse stories and experiences, áyA Con helps challenge stigmas and break down barriers within both Indigenous and broader creative communities. This commitment to inclusion ensures that all participants can share their work and culture in a space of safety, respect, and celebration.
Q. How has the Denver community responded to áyA Con, and what partnerships have been most meaningful in amplifying its reach?
The Denver community has warmly embraced áyA Con, with its success deeply rooted in the strong partnerships we’ve built over the years. Support from city partners like Denver Arts & Venues, Denver Parks and Recreation, arts organizations like RedLine and MeowWolf, and collaborations with the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida and various Native nonprofits have been essential in providing space, resources, and expanding our outreach. These relationships have helped us create a truly community-driven festival focused on uplifting Indigenous and marginalized voices across regions.
Q. What challenges have you faced in making áyA Con accessible and inclusive, and how have you worked to overcome them?
One of the main challenges has been ensuring the festival is financially and physically accessible to a diverse range of participants. To address this, we offer free admission to remove cost barriers and provide support like the Novice Artist Program to help emerging artists of all ages participate.
Q. Looking at the long-term, what kind of legacy do you hope áyA Con leaves for future generations of artists and community members?
Long-term, we hope áyA Con leaves a legacy of empowerment, cultural pride, and community resilience for future generations. We want it to be remembered as a space where Indigenous and marginalized artists could reclaim their narratives, build lasting connections, and inspire social change through creative expression. Ultimately, we aim for áyA Con to continue fostering intergenerational dialogue and opportunity, ensuring that the richness of these cultures thrives well into the future and that the bonds and connections carry on.
As a graphic designer and illustrator, Kristina brings both artistry and intention to áyA Con. Her work ensures the festival not only uplifts Indigenous voices but does so with a visual identity that reflects inclusion, resilience, and community. Her perspective reveals how design and leadership intersect in shaping spaces where creativity can thrive.
Q.As a graphic designer and illustrator, how does your creative background influence the way you shape áyA Con’s identity and visual storytelling?
My own experiences navigating conventions, facing tokenization and the high costs that often exclude new voices, deeply shape how I approach áyA Con’s identity and visual storytelling. I’m committed to creating an inclusive space that prioritizes emerging Indigenous artists and creators, giving them the chance to shine rather than being overshadowed by established names. This perspective drives me to design visuals and programming that celebrate diversity, accessibility, and authentic representation, ensuring áyA Con truly reflects and uplifts the community it serves.
Q. You designed the áyA Con logo. How does it reflect your personal vision for the festival?
Our logo features a crow flying into a sun filled with creative tools and rays of people, symbolizing resilience, creativity, and community. Like crows that fly through storms instead of avoiding them, it represents pushing through adversity to create, connect, and advocate. It’s a reminder that everyone has a voice and the power to make art, tell their story, and never be silenced.
Q. What has been the most rewarding aspect of working with young or emerging artists through áyA Con?
The most rewarding aspect of working with young and emerging artists through áyA Con is watching them step into their power—gaining confidence, finding community, and realizing their voices matter. Seeing their work celebrated, connections formed, and opportunities unlocked reminds me why creating this space is so important. It’s not just about showcasing art; it’s about nurturing the next generation of storytellers and changemakers.
Q. How do you balance your role as an organizer with your own artistic practice, and do the two feed into each other?
Balancing my role as an organizer with my artistic practice can be challenging, but the two definitely feed into each other. Organizing áyA Con keeps me connected to a vibrant creative community, constantly inspiring new ideas and perspectives in my own work. At the same time, being an artist helps me design the festival with empathy—knowing firsthand what creators need to feel seen, supported, and valued.
Q. What advice would you give Indigenous women and femmes who want to step into leadership roles in creative and community spaces like áyA Con?
We recently did a panel at FanExpo Denver, about organizing festivals and conventions and I realized I was the only female, person of color, con director I knew of—and honestly, I struggled to think of any others, especially locally. That moment showed me just how important it is for Indigenous women and femmes to step into leadership roles in creative and community spaces. My advice is: don’t wait for permission or to be “voluntold”. Take up space, build your vision, and know that your perspective is not only valid but necessary. You belong in these roles—and your leadership can open doors for so many others.
For Rafael, comics and storytelling are more than art forms, they’re tools for connection, activism, and cultural reclamation. His experiences navigating the comics industry have fueled his commitment to mentorship and breaking down barriers for Indigenous creators. Through his lens, áyA Con emerges as a place where stories live, grow, and inspire across generations.
Q. As a comic book artist and storyteller, how do you see áyA Con creating pathways for Indigenous voices in comics and graphic storytelling?
I see áyA Con creating vital pathways for Indigenous voices by providing a space where creators can share their stories on their own terms. Hosted by Indigenous peoples of North America, the festival is more than a convention, it connects aspiring and emerging artists with the opportunity to network and build connections, opening doors that might otherwise be closed.
Q. How has your experience navigating the comics industry informed the way you mentor or support artists at áyA Con?
My experience in the comics industry, where gatekeeping is common and connections are often guarded closely, has deeply influenced how I support artists at áyA Con. I believe in openly sharing resources and knowledge to break down these barriers and create a more supportive, accessible community. By encouraging artists to freely exchange opportunities and advice, I help foster a culture of collaboration rather than competition, so everyone has a fair chance to grow and succeed.
Q. What moments have stood out to you when seeing Indigenous youth connect with comics or art at the festival?
We had an amazing young artist design our poster, which features a diverse group of people of all ages cosplaying various characters. My favorite moment is actually when we have it displayed at Denver March Powwow and all of the kids waiting in line at Grandentry point out characters and see themselves represented. Then they come to áyA Con and see that same representation reflected throughout the festival, in the art, performances, and community. It feels real, familiar, and empowering—not a stereotype, just a celebration of who they are.
Q. How do you approach blending pop culture, traditional storytelling, and community activism within the space of áyA Con?
We just do it. Pop culture is in our DNA. We read comics, watch anime, experience scifi, it’s just second nature. Traditional storytelling is woven into the fabric of our Indigenous communities—it’s how we live our history. The same goes for community activism; it’s not separate from who we are, it’s in our blood.
Q. From your perspective, what does it mean to build not just a festival, but a movement that centers Indigenous creators?
Building a movement that centers Indigenous creators means prioritizing purpose over profit and sovereignty over spectacle. Too many festivals and conventions have become corporate, driven by showrunners chasing visibility and dollars instead of meaningful impact and connection. A true movement places Indigenous artists in positions of leadership, shaping narratives on their own terms and timelines. It invests in long-term community infrastructure, not just short-term programming. Above all, it values depth, legacy, and cultural integrity over hype and scale.
As Kristina and Rafael remind us, áyA Con is a living, breathing movement rooted in community, culture, and creativity. The future they’re building is one where art connects generations, dismantles barriers, and redefines what it means to belong in creative spaces. And judging by the stories and impact shared here, that future is already unfolding one artist, one community, and one unforgettable Con at a time.
Discover more from Red Pop! News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
