PechaKucha has invaded San Antonio, and it’s catching on like wildfire! What is PechaKucha, you ask? PechaKucha is a monthly event where people from various walks of life gather to be educated, entertained and wowed by a handful of unique presenters.

The concept of PechaKucha comes from Japan, and the word itself actually means "chit-chat." Each presenter is allowed 20 images for 20 seconds each. In other words, each person has approximately seven minutes to share whatever it is he or she has to share. The format keeps presentations concise and fast-paced.

PechaKucha Nights in San Antonio vary in times and locations — Photo courtesy of PechaKucha San Antonio

PechaKucha Night started in Tokyo in February of 2003 and was invented by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Tokyo's Klein-Dytham Architecture as a way to attract people to SuperDeluxe, their experimental event space in Roppongi. The goal of the event was to allow young designers to meet, show their work and exchange ideas.

In 2004, a few cities in Europe began holding PKNs (PechaKucha Nights), the first of several hundred cities that have since launched similar events around the world. As of June 2012, PechaKucha Nights were held in an unbelievable 534 cities worldwide, including San Antonio.

A typical PechaKucha Night includes eight to 14 presentations, and the presenters as well as a large portion of the audience are usually from the design, architecture, photography, art and creative fields, but also academia. Most presenters are design professionals showing their creative work, but presenters often speak about such topics as their travels, research projects, student projects, hobbies, collections or other interests. Visitors from out of town can equally enjoy this opportunity to learn about new things and network with other creative and professional minds.

Some examples of past PechaKucha presenters in San Antonio include Sommelier Fabien Jacob, who most definitely knows a thing or two about the process of making wine. In his presentation, he showed the audience what that process looks like. He also explained the types of grapes used and famous winemaking regions.

Also, George Schroeder has appeared. He's a local metal artist who works in steel, aluminum and many other metallic elements to produce often large-scale sculptures that are inspired by sound forms. He discussed his numerous public installations. 

Finally, Jake Zollie Harper, a glass artist, and Amada Miller, a graphic artist and painter, showcased their work and discussed their collaborative projects with other San Antonio artists.

Typically, PechaKucha Nights in San Antonio are held once a month and cost $5 to get in. The dates and venues are always changing, so be sure to check out the PechaKucha website for specific details.