WETA Arts May 2025
As the twelfth season of WETA Arts concludes, enjoy three Emmy Award-winning segments from past seasons. First, explore the craftsmanship and community of cosplay at Awesome Con. Next, follow Arlington-based street photographer Ashley Tillery as she takes viewers on a photo shoot. And, learn the surprising history of the creation of the Lincoln Memorial.

Awesome Con
Awesome Con is one of several annual conventions that hold cosplay gatherings and activities. Another is OTAKON in July and Katsucon in February. You can also find cosplay events at the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival, which takes place on the last two days of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. To keep current on local cosplay news and events, follow Plus Ultra Entertainment, Shady Haze, Black Crystal Cosplay, and Awesome Con.

Ashley Tillery, Street Photographer
Ashley Tillery shares her work on Instagram, and has also exhibited through the DC Street Photography Collective, a non-profit intended to create a photographer community. Wade into street photography through ExposedDC, which offers networking, mentoring, and exhibition opportunities to photographers of all levels, and StreetMeetDC, which holds free monthly photographer meet-ups.

Lincoln Memorial Origin (1865-1922)
The first Lincoln Statue, from 1868, is in front of the DC Court of Appeals, 451 Indiana Avenue NW. The first premises named in Lincoln's honor is Lincoln Park in Capitol Hill, formerly "Lincoln Square". For a deep dive into the history of DC’s design, check out Designing the Nation's Capital: The 1901 Plan for Washington, D.C., a publication by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts.
Previews + Extras
Preview: WETA Arts May 2025
S12 E8 - 30s
As the twelfth season of WETA Arts concludes, enjoy three Emmy Award-winning segments from past seasons. First, explore the craftsmanship and community of cosplay at Awesome Con. Next, follow Arlington-based street photographer Ashley Tillery as she takes viewers on a photo shoot. And, learn the surprising history of the creation of the Lincoln Memorial.
Explore the Hidden History of the Lincoln Memorial
S12 E8 - 8m 17s
The Lincoln Memorial is one of the most iconic landmarks in Washington, DC—but its creation was far from inevitable. In this episode of WETA Arts, we explore the decades-long struggle to commemorate Abraham Lincoln, from the first statue in Judiciary Square to the grand Beaux-Arts monument we know today.
Go Inside Awesome Con and the Community of Cosplay in Washington, D.C.
S12 E8 - 9m 18s
Every spring, Awesome Con transforms the Washington Convention Center into a vibrant celebration of pop culture, drawing over 70,000 fans from across the DMV and beyond. In this episode, WETA Arts takes you behind the scenes of the con’s beloved cosplay competition, where creativity, craftsmanship, and community shine.
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