CONVENTIONAL WISDOM chronicles photographer Arthur Drooker’s travels to the quirkiest of these conventions, including gatherings for mermaids, furries, Santas, and fetishists, and the overarching expressions of community, culture, and connection.

Venturing behind the scenes, Drooker goes deep into the heart of these often zany subsets of American popular culture. In fact, for the weekend duration of most conventions, the outside world doesn’t even exist. His humorous and insightful text, including intimate interviews with attendees, complements the stunning photographs he took over a three-year period. From the ballrooms to the vendor rooms to the guest rooms, his ubiquitous camera captures the essence and exuberance of these annual gatherings.

CONVENTIONAL WISDOM proves that regardless of what they’re about, where they’re held, or who attends them, all conventions satisfy a basic human urge: a longing to belong. Those who share similar interests, even obsessions, come together to be themselves, while forging new relationships and joining a larger community. An attendee Drooker met at the taxidermist convention expressed it best. This isn’t a convention, he said. It’s a family reunion.