Geppi's Entertainment Museum spring lecture series

GEM's new ad from Baltimore's tourism site.

Arnold Blumberg announced a new lecture schedule today in his Scoop column:

GEM “Coffee with the Curator”
GEM relaunches its lecture series with a more casual, conversational mood that invites collectors to join us on the third Wednesday every month at 6pm for coffee and pop culture chat with Curator Dr. Arnold T. Blumberg. In the months ahead, “Coffee with the Curator” will cover the reimagining of the Star Trek universe, the world of L. Frank Baum’s Oz, the magical saga of Harry Potter in books and films, and the many incarnations of G.I. Joe.

All of these meetings will take place on Wednesday evenings at 6-7:30pm.

April 15
Rebirth, Regeneration and Renewal in Pop Culture: The concept of rebirth, so intrinsic a part of many religious faiths, is also an ingrained part of our shared pop culture heritage. Why are we so fascinated by the “hero reborn” myth in the form of Superman, Batman, the Doctor of Doctor Who, and so many more? What aspects of this phenomenon speak to us on such a primal level? As we enter a refreshing new season, take a look at pop culture characters that have also returned again and again.

May 13
Reinventing Star Trek: Boldly Going Where We’ve Been Before

June 17
The Long and Winding Yellow Brick Road: More Than a Century of Oz

July 15
Cinematic Wizardry: A Look at the Harry Potter Films

August 12
Real American Heroes: The Changing Faces of G.I. Joe

Kal at Walters in Baltimore

Cub reporter Rick Banning tells us about a Walters exhibit, "In the 3rd floor of the old building, a map of Word history, 12 feet wide x 6 feet high, has 8 cartoon features by Kal such as the inventions of printing and paper."

Geppi's Museum baseball game discount

I've said it before, but I love this museum.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date of Release: March 19, 2009

Geppi’s Entertainment Museum announces dollar-day admission during Orioles’ and Ravens’ 2009 home games

BALTIMORE – With families more challenged than ever to find economical forms of entertainment, Geppi’s Entertainment Museum at Camden Yards (“GEM”) has stepped up to the plate with a budget-pleasing offer. On any day that the Os or Ravens have home games scheduled this year, admission to the museum – located adjacent to Oriole Park – will be only $1.

“This special offer is an unbeatable value,” said GEM’s Executive Director, Melissa Bowersox, “Our hours of operation will be extended on home game days to allow individuals and families to experience America’s most exciting pop culture museum at a very affordable price. Whether you’re attending a game or just in the area, the admission will be only a dollar.”

A tour guide is required for all groups availing themselves of the Game Day Special. An additional $1 per person tour-guide fee will be added to admission, for a total of $2 per person. Groups at this rate must adhere to guided-tour times of 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30pm. This rate is valid on HOME Game Days only for the Baltimore Orioles 2009 season and Baltimore Ravens 2009 season, and is valid for one group per tour time.

Other discounts available at GEM include; half-price Tuesdays and Thursdays. Last year, GEM introduced half-price Tuesdays, and it proved so popular, a second half-price day – Thursday – was added.

GEM also offers $2 off admission to those who “go green” with transportation and show a public transportation ticket when entering GEM (not valid with any other offers or discounts).

Geppi’s Entertainment Museum at Camden Yards is located on the second floor at 301 W. Camden St., Baltimore, MD 21201. For additional information call 410-625-7060, email info@geppismuseum.com or log on to www.geppismuseum.com.

UMBC profiles KAL

Journalista noted this article about Kal, the editorial cartoonist turned mad tinkerer - "Kal on Campus," Richard Byrne, UMBC Magazine (Winter 2009).

Cartoon mascot exhibit at Johns Hopkins library

Reproduced in full, from Johns Hopkins' website:

New exhibit at MSE Library captures birth of the Blue Jay
JHU Gazette, January 26 2009


Grauer's Blue Jay: A Hopkins Tradition, an exhibit of Blue Jay memorabilia from journalist, author and editorial cartoonist Neil A. Grauer, opens at the MSE Library on Wednesday, Jan. 28, and runs through May 25.

Since the 1920s, the mascot of The Johns Hopkins University has been the feisty Blue Jay — sporting black-and-blue plumage to match the school's athletic colors.

For more than 40 years, the most popular portrayal of that mascot has been the cartoon Blue Jay created in 1966 by Grauer during his student years as a cartoonist for the university's student newspaper, The Johns Hopkins News-Letter.

The exhibit is drawn from the Grauer Blue Jay Collection, a 1996 gift from Grauer to the Sheridan Libraries of more than 50 items. On display are his original sketch of the Blue Jay, drawn on the back of a 3x5 index card; numerous other original drawings; and lacrosse caps, T-shirts, posters, cups, an umbrella and a travel bag, all printed with the Blue Jay logo.

Several items from Grauer's personal collection are also exhibited, including a pair of Nike limited edition sneakers created for members of the 2007 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse championship team.

Grauer has drawn the Blue Jay for numerous JHU athletic teams, the Alumni Association and the Pep Band, and still draws the Blue Jay on request. A 1969 graduate of the School of Arts and Sciences, he is now a senior writer in the Editorial Services Division of the Johns Hopkins Medicine Office of Marketing and Communications.

The exhibit is located on M-Level of the Eisenhower Library and may be viewed whenever the library is open.

Baltimore's Closed Caption Comics in NYC

Baltimore's Closed Caption Comics has a show at a gallery in New York City through early February.

March 5: Book of Esther comic art exhibit

Sayeth Edward Gunts in the Baltimore Sun:

5. Biblical art: From March 5 to July 26, the Jewish Museum of Maryland (jewishmuseummd.org), 15 Lloyd St.,will present Drawing on Tradition: The Book of Esther as Graphic Novel. It's a retelling of the Book of Esther in comic-strip form by artist J.T. Waldman.

A couple of Baltimore comics events this weekend

Tom Chalkley, whose work I've seen in the Baltimore City Paper and who spoke at SPX/ICAF years ago has a caricature poster on Baltimore history out now. He'll be signing it this weekend - "Local artist Tom Chalkley will be signing copies of his Ultimate Cartoon Map of Baltimore this Friday at the Women’s Industrial Exchange from noon to 1:30 p.m. and this Sunday at the Red Canoe Bookstore/Café from 1-3 p.m."

Meanwhile the Post reports, "Super Art Fight, which will kick off its third edition Saturday night at Baltimore's Ottobar, pits indie comics artists against one another in head-to-head drawing battles." $10. Doors open at 8 p.m. Saturday. 2549 N. Howard St., Baltimore. 410-662-0069 or http://www.superartfight.com.

Dec 15: KAL on stage in Baltimore

From "Pan & Praise: Put a wrap around Christmas," By Emily Campbell, Jessica Novak, Examiner Staff Writers 12/11/08:

JESS’ PICKS:
» Stoop Holiday Hoopla: The phrase “holiday high jinks” usually makes me vomit. But in the hands — or rather mouths — of seven Stoop Storytellers such as cartoonist Kevin “KAL” Kallaugher and Mayor Sheila Dixon, their true, personal stories of holiday high jinks should amuse, entertain or at the very least make you feel better about your own personal lows during the most wonderful time of the year. Details: 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore; $20; 410-783-8021; www.stoopstorytelling.com.

Dec 3: Kramer's Ergot 7 tour kicks off in Baltimore

Colin Solan, Senior Editor at www.comicartfans.com and www.comicbookconventions.com wrote in to point out that the extremely large anthology, Kramers Ergot 7 will be signed by some of the cartoonists in Baltimore. Sammy Harkham is the founder and editor of the anthology and I'm sure he'd appreciate people stopping in to buy the large, large book.

Kramers Ergot Book Tour Itinerary

Wednesday, December 3rd
7pm
Atomic Books
3620 Falls Rd
Baltimore, MD.
Sammy Harkham, Kevin Huizenga, John Pham, Ron Rege Jr.

Geppi's Entertainment Museum sponsers mystery authors booksignings

Here's the article - "Geppi’s Entertainment Museum Welcomes Bouchercon" which lists a bunch of comic book writers appearing as well. Although it gives the details, In celebration of the arrival of Bouchercon XXXIX, the preeminent annual gathering of crime fiction authors, editors, artists, and fans, and in conjunction with Crimespree magazine, Geppi’s Entertainment Museum (GEM) will host a signing on Friday, October 10, 2008, from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM, at the museum’s 301 West Camden Street facility in Baltimore, Maryland. the article doesn't say if you have to have signed up for Bouchercon or need to pay to get into the museum.

Also in Scoop, curator Arnold Blumberg talks about his UMD comics course.

Otakon followup article

See "Otakon convention: 'Halloween gone mad' ensues as animation fans hit Baltimore," Sarah Moses, Cumberland Times-News August 15 2008 and there's photos too.

Publishers Weekly on Baltimore's Otakon

See "Fans Flock to Baltimore's Otakon," By Kai-Ming Cha and Erin Finnegan, PW Comics Week August 12, 2008.

Otakon anime fest in Baltimore this weekend

Here's another article on Otakon in Baltimore this weekend - "Wide-eyed wonder: Otakon draws fans of exotically simple anime," By Julia Marie Simpson, Howard County Times 8/07/08.

August 8: Otakon anime fest in Baltimore

For more information, see "Otakon draws people together," By SALLY NEWLIN, Herald-Mail August 5 2008.

I've lifted the relevant physical info from the end of the article:

Otakon
9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 8, to 2 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug.10
Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt St., Baltimore
$65 each day for Friday and Saturday; $25 for Sunday
Visit www.otakon.com for more information and for a complete schedule.

Baltimore Sun blogger gets comics recommendations

See "Check It Out: Comics galore," by Nancy Johnston on July 9, 2008 for the Comics Kingdom store's recommendations. I've read about 1/3rd of them since I don't read too many superhero series any more ... can't take the long, drawn-out storylines or the multi-book crossovers.

Robots exhibit in Baltimore

This little ad at the bottom of an edition of the Examiner led me to Port Discovery, Baltimore's children's museum and the traveling exhibit based on the cartoon Robots which is there from May 24-September 8. Here's their description:

Robots: The Interactive Exhibition is a one-of-a-kind exhibit that features characters from the blockbuster movie "ROBOTS." Each of the characters introduces children to the exciting and wondrous world of robotics through more than 15 interactive and hands-on experiences.

Embodying the spirit of technology and imagination, this exhibit is designed to engage, entertain, and enlighten visitors to the ever-changing field of science.

I enjoyed the cartoon, which I don't think did great at the box office. It had design work by William Joyce whom I always like.

Comics used in education in Baltimore

See "From comics to the Classics," by Madison Park, Baltimore Sun Reporter June 15, 2008 which reports on current efforts using Disney comics and the state's plan to translate simplified French versions of classic stories (although why they can't just buy Classics Illustrated is a question).

Baltimore area county intros comics to elementary classes

Actually, Hartford County's school system comes off rather sadly as the report implies that the students can only read at a comic book level (whatever that might mean), "School has been so traditional for so long. This is providing an outlet for a different kind of learner," said teacher Alana Cassedy. Read it yourself at "Comics Add Excitement To Classroom Reading," Gigi Barnett, WJZ May 30 2008.

April 21: Jef Thompson painting exhibit

Big Planet Comics' Jef Thompson has a show of Icelandic and English Landscapes in Baltimore from April 21-May 16. Viola!