Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Post on Argentine book fair mentions comics
In "At Annual Fete, A Nocturnal Tribute To the Printed Word" By Monte Reel, Washington Post Foreign Service, Wednesday, May 2, 2007; A10, he notes "There are publishers of Arabic books, medical texts, legal tracts, military manuals and comic books." But "Those who like to read Japanese manga graphic novels don't get enough sleep, which must explain why they get so testy when gently questioned by reporters." I can't really see Washington hosting an overnight book fair.
The State of Editorial Cartooning
Washington's American Political Science Association (APSA) has put online the April issue of PS: Political Science and Politics containing "The State of the Editorial Cartoon April 2007 PS Symposium" edited by Kent Worcester.
Elk's Run comic interview not in today's Express
But you can read Scott Rosenberg's interview "Daddy Dearest: 'Elk's Run'" with author Joshua Hale Fialkov online at Read Express.com (May 2): http://www.readexpress.com/read_freeride/2007/05/daddy_dearest_elks_run.php.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
May 5: Free Comic Book Day
Besides Big Planet, other stores in DC advertising participating in Free Comic Book Day include Big Monkey Comics, Fantom Comics and Beyond Comics. They ran an ad in this week's City Paper.
Feiffer accepts McGovern award from Cosmos Club
As you can see from the above scans of the program, Jules Feiffer was awarded the Cosmos Club's McGovern award last night. Mr. Feiffer gave a short overview of his career in comics strips, read a few pages from a memoir that he's working on which sounds very interesting to me, had a short interview with moderator Alan Fern and then took a few questions. I'll post in more detail when I have a chance to decipher my notes, but it was a great pleasure to see him get this award for the humanities. I had the opportunity to sit with him and discuss old comic strips too as he finished his scotch and he talked about his old friends like Bill Mauldin and Milton Caniff. I'll update this post soon!
"Flood" in Library of Congress
This week's Dark Horse newsletter reported, "The Library of Congress has recently acquired Eric Drooker's original Flood! artwork to rest in their public prints collection." Perhaps one of the curators will give us more details.
May 15: IMAGES OF IRISH-AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS lecture
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
101 Independence Avenue SE
Washington DC 20540
Phone: (202) 707-2905
Fax: (202) 707-9199
Email: pao@loc.gov
April 26, 2007
Public contact: Martha Kennedy (202) 707-9115
IMAGES OF IRISH-AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS
FEATURED IN LECTURE BY SWANN FELLOW ON MAY 15
Swann Foundation Fellow Sharrona Pearl will discuss depictions of Irish-American immigrants in mid-19th century prints and analyze the ambiguous nature of the graphic imagery, on May 15 at the Library of Congress.
Pearl will present the lecture, titled “Black and White: Drawing the Irish-American Immigrant in Shades of Grey,” at noon on Tuesday, May 15, in West Dining Room on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, DC.
Pearl’s illustrated presentation is based on research conducted at the Library of Congress during her fellowship awarded by the Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon. The Library administers the foundation. Sponsored by the Library’s Prints and Photographs Division and the Swann Foundation, the lecture is free and open to the public; no reservations are required.
At mid-19th century, Irish-Americans held rights of citizenship and voting and quickly became the most important political force on the East Coast. Many prints show politicians and others seeking support from the Irish, even as the imagery also suggests that they were racially and religiously different. Pearl will argue that close examination of selected prints from the 1830s through the 1860s demonstrates that Irishness was depicted more noticeably through linguistic and external symbols, such as clothing and weaponry, than through distinct racial and facial markers. Pearl will observe that the poor Irish were often depicted as more easily identifiable than their wealthier counterparts.
Pearl completed a Ph.D. in the history of science at Harvard University in 2005. She is currently working on a book tentatively titled “Facing the Victorians: Physiognomy in Nineteenth-Century Britain,” under contract with Harvard University Press. Pearl has published articles on a number of related topics, including her new research on science and theater. She is a lecturer with the Committee on Degrees in History and Literature at Harvard University, which is a three-year, post-doctoral fellowship.
Pearl’s presentation is part of the Swann Foundation’s continuing activities to support the study, interpretation, preservation and appreciation of original works of humorous and satiric art by graphic artists from around the world. The Swann Foundation awards one fellowship annually (with a stipend of $15,000) to assist scholarly research and writing projects in the field of caricature and cartoon. For more information, visit www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/swannhome or by e-mailing swann@loc.gov.
# # #
PR07-90
4/26/07
ISSN: 0731-3527
101 Independence Avenue SE
Washington DC 20540
Phone: (202) 707-2905
Fax: (202) 707-9199
Email: pao@loc.gov
April 26, 2007
Public contact: Martha Kennedy (202) 707-9115
IMAGES OF IRISH-AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS
FEATURED IN LECTURE BY SWANN FELLOW ON MAY 15
Swann Foundation Fellow Sharrona Pearl will discuss depictions of Irish-American immigrants in mid-19th century prints and analyze the ambiguous nature of the graphic imagery, on May 15 at the Library of Congress.
Pearl will present the lecture, titled “Black and White: Drawing the Irish-American Immigrant in Shades of Grey,” at noon on Tuesday, May 15, in West Dining Room on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, DC.
Pearl’s illustrated presentation is based on research conducted at the Library of Congress during her fellowship awarded by the Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon. The Library administers the foundation. Sponsored by the Library’s Prints and Photographs Division and the Swann Foundation, the lecture is free and open to the public; no reservations are required.
At mid-19th century, Irish-Americans held rights of citizenship and voting and quickly became the most important political force on the East Coast. Many prints show politicians and others seeking support from the Irish, even as the imagery also suggests that they were racially and religiously different. Pearl will argue that close examination of selected prints from the 1830s through the 1860s demonstrates that Irishness was depicted more noticeably through linguistic and external symbols, such as clothing and weaponry, than through distinct racial and facial markers. Pearl will observe that the poor Irish were often depicted as more easily identifiable than their wealthier counterparts.
Pearl completed a Ph.D. in the history of science at Harvard University in 2005. She is currently working on a book tentatively titled “Facing the Victorians: Physiognomy in Nineteenth-Century Britain,” under contract with Harvard University Press. Pearl has published articles on a number of related topics, including her new research on science and theater. She is a lecturer with the Committee on Degrees in History and Literature at Harvard University, which is a three-year, post-doctoral fellowship.
Pearl’s presentation is part of the Swann Foundation’s continuing activities to support the study, interpretation, preservation and appreciation of original works of humorous and satiric art by graphic artists from around the world. The Swann Foundation awards one fellowship annually (with a stipend of $15,000) to assist scholarly research and writing projects in the field of caricature and cartoon. For more information, visit www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/swannhome or by e-mailing swann@loc.gov.
# # #
PR07-90
4/26/07
ISSN: 0731-3527
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Canadian cartoonist Steve Mielczarek starts ComicsDC-inspired blog
A month or so ago, Canadian cartoonist Steve Mielczarek sent a cartoon to me, in response to a previous post.
Today, he wrote again, "I just want to say thanks for posting my cartoon and letter on your site a while back. And, Thanks to you, I realized that I too, could set up a blog. Of my own cartoons. If you'd like, take a look:
http://alienspaceworms.blogspot.com/
Best of luck, Steve!
Today, he wrote again, "I just want to say thanks for posting my cartoon and letter on your site a while back. And, Thanks to you, I realized that I too, could set up a blog. Of my own cartoons. If you'd like, take a look:
http://alienspaceworms.blogspot.com/
Best of luck, Steve!
Saturday, April 28, 2007
April 28 Nick Bertozzi at Big Planet Bethesda UPDATED
Nick Bertozzi signed his two new books Houdini and The Salon, as well as the older Boswash and The Masochist at Big Planet today. A few non-comics readers stopped in and bought The Salon, which I think is one of the best graphic novels of the year. Nick was very pleasant and it was a joy to talk with him. His 6-year old daughter was there, and was helpful in pointing out when your drawing was dry and you could take your book. ;^) Nick talked a little about his books - showing me the page of The Salon that's gotten Gordon Lee in trouble in Georgia (it shows Picasso's penis swinging as he jumps across his studio) and saying that he never wants to draw another bowler hat after Houdini's crowd scenes.
Nick's got an interesting question he asks when he meets you - I won't give it away except to note that answers were INXS / PIL; Clapton or Jason and the Scorchers; and The Who opening for Herman's Hermits. His next project, which should be excellent, is a graphic novel on Lennie Bruce with Harvey Pekar.
This was a good signing - Nick says he'll be at SPX in the fall - if you didn't make this, go to that. And Tom Spurgeon's got a new interview up.
Morin's Herblock award, Bryan Talbot, French & American Cartoons, Nick Bertozzi pictures
I'm behind on transcribing my notes, so I've loaded pictures at Flickr. These are of Jim Morin accepting the Herblock award; Bryan Talbot signing at Big Planet; KAL, Nick Galifiankas, Ted Rall and Jeff Danziger speaking at Alliance Francaise; and Nick Bertozzi signing at Big Planet. There's also other shots I took of various comics and cartoon events over the past year. These are Creative Commons copyright - feel free to use them, just credit me and let me know please.
Eventually I'll move them over here with appropriate commentary.
Eventually I'll move them over here with appropriate commentary.
May 5: Free Comic Book Day
Next Saturday, the day after Spider-Man 3 opens, will be the 6th annual Free Comic Book Day. Simply present yourself at a comic book store and pick up the freebies. I know Big Planet is participating. Anyone else in the area?
Friday, April 27, 2007
Pakistan needs comic strips like the Washington Post has
"POSTCARD USA: Cartoon-time USA" by Khalid Hasan in the Pakistan Daily Times (April 22 2007) is actually a fairly touching article in which he runs through the Sunday Post's comic section and concludes, "It is time we had a national comic strip running in all Pakistani newspapers."
Tom the Dancing Bug on VA Tech tragedy in Post
In the back pages of the Post's Weekend section, Reuben Bolling did a fairly tasteful cartoon on the killings at VA Tech. It's not online yet, but should eventually appear here.
Breathed and Lust in the new Onion
Thurday's Onion had a couple of articles on comics.
"Random Rules: Berkeley Breathed" by Tasha Robinson is an interview about his taste in music. The online version is about twice as long as the print one.
The second article is a review by Keith Phipps of the 1950s graphic (in both senses) novel "It Rhymes With Lust" by Arnold Drake, Leslie Waller, and Matt Baker just reissued by Dark Horse, in the same spring when both writers Drake and Waller died.
"Random Rules: Berkeley Breathed" by Tasha Robinson is an interview about his taste in music. The online version is about twice as long as the print one.
The second article is a review by Keith Phipps of the 1950s graphic (in both senses) novel "It Rhymes With Lust" by Arnold Drake, Leslie Waller, and Matt Baker just reissued by Dark Horse, in the same spring when both writers Drake and Waller died.
DC Anime Club movie showing
The Post's Weekend section says the Anime Club will be meeting at the Martin Luther King library at 1 pm on Saturday in room A9 to screen Elfenlied, Azumanga Daioh and (I love this) BYO anime. They also list Wednesday at 6 pm. Phone is 202-262-2083.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Comic-making workshop in D.C. area
Matt Dembicki's written in to say,
I'm the founder and one of the organizers of the D.C. Conspiracy (the comics-creating group - Mike). In conjunction with promoting our graphic novel "Mr. Big," my wife, Carol, and I will be holding several local creating comics workshops this summer. Here's a list of what's lined up so far (and they're all free to the public):
May 9, Free Comic Book Day, Big Planet Comics, Vienna, Va., noon-2 p.m. (I'll also have a free mini-comic made especially for FCBD by the D.C. Conspiracy!)
June 25, Chantilly Regional Library, Chantilly, Va., 7
p.m.
June 28, George Mason Regional Library, Annandale,
Va., 7 p.m.
July 10, Dolley Madison Library, McLean, Va., 4 p.m.
July 17, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, Va., 7 p.m.
July 24, Great Falls Library, Great Falls, Va., 7 p.m.
July 25, Patrick Henry Library, Vienna, Va., 7 p.m.
July 30, Reston Regional Library, Reston, Va., 7 p.m.
July 31, Centreville Regional Library, Centreville, Va., 7 p.m.
August 2, John Marshall Library, Alexandria, Va., 7 p.m.
August 6, Kings Park Library, Burke, Va., 7 p.m.
Matt can be reached at m@waspcomics.com or http://www.comicspace.com/dembicki
I'm the founder and one of the organizers of the D.C. Conspiracy (the comics-creating group - Mike). In conjunction with promoting our graphic novel "Mr. Big," my wife, Carol, and I will be holding several local creating comics workshops this summer. Here's a list of what's lined up so far (and they're all free to the public):
May 9, Free Comic Book Day, Big Planet Comics, Vienna, Va., noon-2 p.m. (I'll also have a free mini-comic made especially for FCBD by the D.C. Conspiracy!)
June 25, Chantilly Regional Library, Chantilly, Va., 7
p.m.
June 28, George Mason Regional Library, Annandale,
Va., 7 p.m.
July 10, Dolley Madison Library, McLean, Va., 4 p.m.
July 17, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, Va., 7 p.m.
July 24, Great Falls Library, Great Falls, Va., 7 p.m.
July 25, Patrick Henry Library, Vienna, Va., 7 p.m.
July 30, Reston Regional Library, Reston, Va., 7 p.m.
July 31, Centreville Regional Library, Centreville, Va., 7 p.m.
August 2, John Marshall Library, Alexandria, Va., 7 p.m.
August 6, Kings Park Library, Burke, Va., 7 p.m.
Matt can be reached at m@waspcomics.com or http://www.comicspace.com/dembicki
April 28 - Disney illustrator in Reston
Toby Bluth will be at ArtInsights animation art and framing shop in Reston (11921 Freedom Dr.; 703-478-0778) on Saturday from 2-7. According to the Post, he's illustrated children's books and will be displaying the art.
Bertozzi article in today's Express; benefit in NYC
Scott Rosenberg interviewed Nick Bertozzi who will be at Big Planet Bethesda on Saturday from 2-4 pm. You can see the article as a pdf at the website, scroll down past the main paper to page E15. UPDATE - Scott's posted it online so you can see the article on the main page now with added information about the CBLDF.
The Salon was an excellent book, but unfortunately has led to a ridiculous prosecution of a comic book store owner in Georgia. There's a benefit in New York tonight for him:
This Thursday, April 26, The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is proud to present a benefit book launch party for Nick Bertozzi's controversial graphic novel THE SALON. Bertozzi's graphic novel about the birth of Cubism is the subject of the Fund's current casework. The launch party will be at The Village Pourhouse at 64 3rd Avenue in Manhattan, and will feature an open bar & appetizer reception from 7 - 8 PM, live music by The Cangelosi Cards all night, and a free signed Picasso print by Bertozzi for all attendees.
Since 2005, The Fund has been defending Georgia retailer Gordon Lee for distributing a preview of THE SALON which depicted Picasso in the nude. To date the case has cost upwards of $80,000, with the Fund successfully knocking out 5 of the 7 charges originally brought against Mr. Lee. A trial is expected in early June where the Fund's legal team will work to defeat the two remaining counts.
The Salon benefit launch party is presented to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund in cooperation with JahFurry and St. Martins Press. The Village Pourhouse is located at 64 Third Avenue at 11th Street in Manhattan. The party is this Thursday, April 26 from 7 PM to Midnight. For more information, please contact Charles Brownstein at 212.679.7151. For further details, please see: http://www.nickbertozzi.com/pourhouse_invite.jpg
The Salon was an excellent book, but unfortunately has led to a ridiculous prosecution of a comic book store owner in Georgia. There's a benefit in New York tonight for him:
This Thursday, April 26, The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is proud to present a benefit book launch party for Nick Bertozzi's controversial graphic novel THE SALON. Bertozzi's graphic novel about the birth of Cubism is the subject of the Fund's current casework. The launch party will be at The Village Pourhouse at 64 3rd Avenue in Manhattan, and will feature an open bar & appetizer reception from 7 - 8 PM, live music by The Cangelosi Cards all night, and a free signed Picasso print by Bertozzi for all attendees.
Since 2005, The Fund has been defending Georgia retailer Gordon Lee for distributing a preview of THE SALON which depicted Picasso in the nude. To date the case has cost upwards of $80,000, with the Fund successfully knocking out 5 of the 7 charges originally brought against Mr. Lee. A trial is expected in early June where the Fund's legal team will work to defeat the two remaining counts.
The Salon benefit launch party is presented to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund in cooperation with JahFurry and St. Martins Press. The Village Pourhouse is located at 64 Third Avenue at 11th Street in Manhattan. The party is this Thursday, April 26 from 7 PM to Midnight. For more information, please contact Charles Brownstein at 212.679.7151. For further details, please see: http://www.nickbertozzi.com/pourhouse_invite.jpg
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
French and American Politics... In Cartoons!
This event was extremely well attended and overflowed the Alliance Francaise's living room (ok, it was the living room before the townhouse was converted). In addition to KAL, Nick Galifianakis, Ted Rall and Jeff Danziger (in seating order), Cameroon cartoonist Issa Nyaphaga was there. The moderator Claude Porsella, Correspondent for Radio France Internationale,* had some good questions, and each cartoonist took a shot at drawing a cartoon relevant to the French election. I'll try to read my notes and post something more extensive with pictures possibly in a couple of nights.
*corrected from earlier version.
*corrected from earlier version.
Dykes to Watch Out For publishing schedule changes
I'd been blaming the Blade's incompetent strip editing (which is still a problem - why are we getting Paige Braddock's Jane's World strips from 4 years ago?)
Anyway Alison Bechdel's announced a new book contract and a thus a reduced Dykes strip schedule. Read the whole post on her blog, but here's the relevant bits:
Man. I don’t even know where to start. I’ve been working on a post about the blog for days, and it’s about 12 pages long and completely disjointed. But before I get to that, I have to make an announcement. I’ve made the very difficult decision to temporarily cut back to one new Dykes to Watch Out For episode every four weeks, instead of every two weeks. I’ll be interspersing these new strips here and in the newspapers with “archive” strips from 1987, 20 years ago. ...
...The reason I’m doing this is that I have to crank out a new memoir by 2009. I just signed a contract for it. (MLK, thank you for raising the very interesting question a while ago about the difference between writing without a contract, and with one. I’ll get to that in a minute.) As many of you know, Fun Home took me seven years to complete. And most of those were spent quietly and reclusively at home, not galavanting around the country (and beyond) yammering about myself to all and sundry, like I’ve been doing for the past year.
Dykes is still one of the best soap opera strips running and I'm sorry to get less of it, but Fun Home was one of my favorite graphic novels last year.
Anyway Alison Bechdel's announced a new book contract and a thus a reduced Dykes strip schedule. Read the whole post on her blog, but here's the relevant bits:
Man. I don’t even know where to start. I’ve been working on a post about the blog for days, and it’s about 12 pages long and completely disjointed. But before I get to that, I have to make an announcement. I’ve made the very difficult decision to temporarily cut back to one new Dykes to Watch Out For episode every four weeks, instead of every two weeks. I’ll be interspersing these new strips here and in the newspapers with “archive” strips from 1987, 20 years ago. ...
...The reason I’m doing this is that I have to crank out a new memoir by 2009. I just signed a contract for it. (MLK, thank you for raising the very interesting question a while ago about the difference between writing without a contract, and with one. I’ll get to that in a minute.) As many of you know, Fun Home took me seven years to complete. And most of those were spent quietly and reclusively at home, not galavanting around the country (and beyond) yammering about myself to all and sundry, like I’ve been doing for the past year.
Dykes is still one of the best soap opera strips running and I'm sorry to get less of it, but Fun Home was one of my favorite graphic novels last year.
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