I don't believe for a minute the subject matter of your art turned people away. I think it's just the nature of a big fest. People are gung-ho for the first part, begin to trail off for the middle part, and become absentee for the final part. Or after awhile, they simply observe instead of comment. I know I'm guilty of that. After reading/seeing enough great things, I run out of unique commentary, and so fall back into lurkdom. And with your art, I kept waiting for the story to go off the rails, and it never did! I was under the impression you were going to leave it hanging in the end -- a hopeful nod, perhaps, but an indistinct conclusion. Regardless, I still loved it, and applaud you for doing it in the first place, and for staying true to your vision. To me, that's what it's all about. *hugs*