Friday, October 30, 2009

Pop culture professor Ray Browne dies

"Ray Browne, 87; Professor saw the potential in studying pop culture," By T. Rees Shapiro
Washington Post Staff Writer, Thursday, October 29, 2009.

I never met him, but obviously I agree with his life's work. By the way, the current New Yorker, November 2, 2009, is this year's thin cartoon issue - it doesn't even say it on the spine - and it's got work by Chris Ware in it. Speaking of pop culture sneaking into high brow worlds...

Maira Kalman visits the Capitol

...and discovers that law making can be a messy thing - E Pluribus Unum, New York Times' And The Pursuit of Happiness blog (October 29 2009)

 

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Nov 6: Photographs Redefining the American Superhero

Another one from Michael O'Connell...


Contact: Brooke Seidelmann
1632 U Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
p: 202.483.8600
brooke@smithfarm.com
www.smithfarm.com/gallery


  


Redefining the American Superhero


Washington, DC
- Opening Reception: Friday, November 6, 6:00-8:00PM. The Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery located at 1632 U Street, NW celebrates the opening  of The Real Story of the Superheroes, featuring photographs by Dulce Pinzón.

This exhibition introduces the Latino immigrant in New York in a satirical documentary style featuring ordinary men and women in their work environment donning superhero garb. In doing so, Pinzón raises questions of both our definition of American heroism and the ignorance of and indifference to the workforce that fuels our ever-consuming economy. The exhibition runs November 4 - 28.

Above: Spiderman.  Bernabe Mendez from the State of Guerrero works as a professional window cleaner. He sends $500 home each month.  

High resolution photos are available upon request.

Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Friday 11:00AM-5:00PM, Saturday 11:00AM-3:00PM and by a
ppointment. Additional details are available at www.smithfarm.com/gallery.

This exhibition is a part of FOTOWEEK DC and sponsored in part by the Mexican Cultural Institute.  

   


About the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery at Smith Farm Center:

The Gallery is a mission of Smith Farm Center for Healing and the Arts, a Washington, DC nonprofit organization grounded in the profound belief that each person has tremendous innate abilities to heal in the face of life's challenges, Smith Farm's mission is to develop and promote proven healing practices that explore physical, emotional, and mental resources that lead to life-affirming changes.  Programs and exhibitions in the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery celebrate and stimulate the dynamic creative resources that contribute to health and wellness in each of us.
   
  
        
     


Garfield Teams Up With Attorney General, Virginia Schools to Teach Online Safety

Thanks to Michael O'Connell for the tip...

COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Office of the Attorney General
Richmond, VA 23219

William C. Mims
900 East Main St.
Attorney General
Richmond, VA 23219

 804-786-2071


For Immediate Release
Contact: David Clementson
http://www.vaag.com/
804-692-0552
dclementson@oag.state.va.us

Garfield Teams Up With Attorney General, Virginia Schools to Teach Online Safety

RICHMOND – The Commonwealth of Virginia is hoping that a grouchy, opinionated, lasagna-loving cat can help teach children about Internet safety.

At the 15th annual Virginia Educational Technology Conference today, Attorney General Bill Mims and the creator of Garfield, Jim Davis, unveiled an interactive program to teach children about Internet safety, which the Virginia Department of Education is offering to schools statewide.

The Department of Education worked with the Garfield Foundation to draft the script and comprehensive curriculum. The Attorney General's Office provided guidance and funding. Paws Inc. Studios and Hollywood talent provided the animation, voices and production, including legendary film and television voice Frank Welker as Garfield.

"What better than a grouchy, opinionated, lasagna-loving cartoon cat to entertain kids while teaching them how to stay safe on the
Internet?" Attorney General Mims said. "Our Office has partnered with the Department of Education for years through the Youth Internet Safety Task Force and other various initiatives. We thank Jim Davis and his entertainment team for doing this so we can continue to reach students, parents and teachers while having fun."

The first installment of the program, entitled "Online Safety and You," goes live today with interactive lessons, episodes, games,
quizzes and teaching materials. The first lesson is about "cyberbullying." It is offered free to everyone through InfiniteLearningLab.org.

"You wouldn't believe the number of moms, dads and teachers who've told me that Garfield was the reason their child started reading, and – gasp! – learning," Jim Davis said. "Professor Garfield can teach students about Internet safety, tickling their brain and their funnybone."

Two years ago Virginia became the first state in the nation to mandate that all public schools teach Internet safety. The new Professor Garfield program is not mandatory for schools, but rather a recommended addition to the teaching arsenal.

"Professor Garfield is an exciting addition to the Commonwealth's nationally-recognized Internet safety team," said Patricia Wright,
Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Virginia Department of Education. "On behalf of Virginia's public schools, I thank Jim Davis for his generosity and commitment to the children of Virginia."

Today  the Garfield comic strip is in almost every newspaper in the world. More than 2,400 newspapers now carry Garfield and an estimated 200 million people read the strip every day. The strip is the most widely syndicated comic strip in the world.

The Professor Garfield Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational collaboration between Paws, Inc., the global headquarters
for Garfield the Cat, and Ball State University's teacher training and digital education.

Oct 31: Beyond Comics sale along with Blair Witch signing

Blackbeard Legend of the Pyrate King Autograph Event
Featuring
Eduardo Sanchez, Writer and Director, The Blair Witch Project

Saturday October 31st 1:00 p.m to 3:00 p.m.

HUGE SALE !!! NEW COMICS $1 Each
Certain Restrictions May Apply

OVER 7,000 25 cent COMICS

Trade Paperback & Manga Clearance Books from $3 each

Catching up with comics in the Post

Comic Riffs looks at a couple of dunderheaded decisions in the Style section –

Doonesbury shrunk by almost an inch in the latest redesign, but it’s back at a bit larger now:


The Post's 'Doonesbury' shrinkage: winning the Battle of Inch-On

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog October 28, 2009

and Frazz, which has been exiled to appearing sometimes on the Kid’s page is missing this week because of a Halloween story which has a naked kid in a tree - god, you just can’t make this stuff up. The kids flip past, in today’s paper “TV report on breast self-exam bares all” and “The Dark Side of Peter Pan” book review to get to the Kid’s page, and they’re then protected from cartoon nudity. Anyway, here’s the story with the rationalization “
There was no way this could run in KidsPost so we decided to hold it out for a week.”:


Calling all comics readers: To save 'Frazz,' what strip should we send to KidsPost?

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog October 29, 2009

In yesterday’s Style section (not the trend here), there’s a TV report on how inappropriate Family Guy is, at least as far as Microsoft is concerned:


Microsoft realizes that it's incompatible with Seth MacFarlane, after all

By Lisa de Moraes
Washington Post Wednesday, October 28, 2009

and a review of a play with an imaginary superhero friend:


A bittersweet 'Barrio Grrrl!'

By Celia Wren
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 28, 2009


Tonight - "Looking for Calvin and Hobbes" Reading and Signing


Nevin Martell says
--------------------
Subject: *TONIGHT* "Looking For Calvin and Hobbes" Book Release Party *TONIGHT*

Just wanted to remind everyone that tonight is the book release party for "Looking for Calvin and Hobbes" at Big Planet Comics in Bethesda from 7-9. There will be a reading, a presentation of early, unseen Watterson art, a Q&A session and a book signing. Hope to see you there!

My best,
Nevin

Link for info on Big Planet Comics:
http://www.facebook.com/l/85efb;www.bigplanetcomics.com/

I'm planning on being there. - Mike


Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Baltimore - Halloween party at Atomic Books


Halloween and comic books get matched at one exclusive gathering on Oct. 31. Atomic Books has announced their Heroes and Supervillains Costume Ball in Baltimore. The Windup Space, where art exhibits and bartenders attribute the environs, hosts the... Read more »


DC Comic Books Examiner, Mark Ruffin
Mark Ruffin, a freelance writer and story editor, recalls a first read of Peter Parker, the Amazing Spider-Man #8 and a collection of comic books from that point. Following honorable service in the military, he has contributed and edited articles on subjects political, sports car related, and of murder mystery dinner games. Grouped with his enthusiasm for culinary arts and sports, he enjoys discussions on the various perspectives of the comics medium. Contact Mark here.
 

 


NPR's Weldon on Brave and the Bold cartoon

(Batman - Brooding + Obscure Characters) x NPH = A Thing That is Arguably Good

By Glen Weldon

National Public Radio's Monkey See blog October 28, 2009

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2009/10/batman_brooding_obscure_charac_1.html?sc=nl&cc=msb-20091028

 

Fantom Comics new store

Masteribid writes in

I was in Pentagon City Mall last night so I stopped in to Fantom Comics. They haven't gotten on the mall map yet. They're kind of out of the way so you're not likely to just stumble across their store. They're up on the top floor near Nordstroms and the Radio Shack. For such a small space they've done well with it. The walls are all glass so they've positioned their most popular selections (comics and graphic novels for kids)  where you can see them from up the hall. The inner walls are filled with graphic novels. They had several that I hadn't seen in other shops. Hidden behind the hallway viewable stuff is a small selection of back issues.

The whole place can be described as small, but well proportioned. It has a good selection despite its dimensions. They will not, however, be hosting Magic or D&D sessions.


Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Weldon on crime comics

Crime Comics Make A Comeback With 'Noir'
by Glen Weldon
National Public Radio's Books We Like (October 27 2009)

You know, for a small city, we bloggers don't run into each other. I've never met Weldon, or Mark Ruffin, or Zadzooks... They may all be fictional. I know I'm real.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Arthur Szyk talk in DC for Veterans Day

Dear friends and members of The Arthur Szyk Society:
 
Greetings! You and your family and friends are invited to attend
 
 

    Arthur Szyk: Soldier in Art

    An illustrated presentation on the art and messages of Polish-Jewish artist Arthur Szyk (1894-1951)

    by Irvin Ungar, Curator of The Arthur Szyk Society

 

    Veterans Day

    November 11, 2009

    1:00 - 3:00pm EST

 

    National Museum of American Jewish Military History

    1811 R Street NW

    Washington, DC 20009

    (202) 265-6280

 
 
 
The Society is delighted to announce that the NMAJMH has invited Irvin to speak on the art of Arthur Szyk in honor of the Jewish War Veterans (JWV). As you may know, Szyk – a veteran of World War I – was an active member of the JWV in the United States. He created several beautiful works of art exclusively for the JWV's use, works that will be highlighted in Irvin's exciting presentation.
 
We hope you will invite your family and friends to enjoy this timely and inspiring event in our nation's capital. To help you spread the word, we have attached the NMAJMH's official event flyer (in both Microsoft Word and PDF format) so you can easily print or email it.
 
Please notify us if you are coming to Washington DC on November 11th so Irvin can plan to greet you with a warm "hello" on behalf of all of us at The Society. Hope to see you there!
 
Best regards,
Allison Chang
Society Coordinator
The Arthur Szyk Society
1200 Edgehill Drive
Burlingame, CA 94010
Tel: 650-343-9588
Fax: 650-579-6014
allison@szyk.org
www.szyk.org


Looking for Calvin and Hobbes This Thursday at 7 PM at Big Planet Comics in Bethesda

Nevin Martell writes in,

LOOKING FOR CALVIN AND HOBBES" BOOK RELEASE PARTY

Come on down this Thursday to celebrate the release of my latest book, "Looking for Calvin and Hobbes: The Unconventional Story of Bill Watterson and His Revolutionary Comic Strip." There will be a reading, a presentation of unseen Watterson art, a Q&A and a signing. Feel free to bring friends and pass along this invite.

THE DETAILS

This Thursday, October 29th

7 PM - 9 PM

Big Planet Comics
4908 Fairmont Ave
Bethesda, MD

http://www.bigplanetcomics.com/

--

Blair Witch movie director at Beyond Comics UPDATED

Randy pointed out that Blair Witch Project Director Eduardo Sanchez will be at one of the Beyond Comics in Gaithersburg on Saturday October 31st from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Beyond Comics | Gaithersburg Square | 536 North Frederick Avenue | Gaithersburg | MD | 20878

2 obituaries for Addams Family music composer

Composer wrote snappy themes to 'Addams Family, 'Green Acres'

By T. Rees Shapiro
Washington Post, October 22, 2009

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/21/AR2009102103966.html

 

Vic Mizzy, Songwriter of ‘Addams Family’ Fame, Dies at 93

By MIKE HALE, October 21, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/21/arts/television/21mizzy.html

 

 

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Fantom Comics 'settled' at Pentagon City

Fantom Comics' belated October newsletter says they've "settled into the Pentagon City Mall" which sounds good. I still haven't visited yet - anyone made it?

Zadzooks reviews comic books again this week

Zadzooks: Comic book reviews, Marvel Zombies Return, Emily the Strange and more
Joseph Szadkowski
Washington Times October 22, 2009

Post's Astro Boy review

This was buried in the Weekend section, but at least they reviewed it - "He's caught between two worlds," By Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post Staff Writer, Friday, October 23, 2009.

AAEC's Cartoons for the Classroom features Herblock

Click here for the October 25th teacher's handout on Herblock.

Comic Riffs greets returning USO cartoonists

Playing the Palace: Hours back from Iraq, top cartoonists share tales of a USO tour
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog October 24, 2009