Local pop-inspired artist receives D.C. arts grant

Per press release from College of Southern Maryland

A College of Southern Maryland art professor known for his affinity to superheroes, childhood nostalgia and science fiction has been honored with a fellowship grant. 

Professor Andrew Wodzianski has received an artist fellowship grant for 2017 by the District of Columbia’s Commission for the Arts and Humanities. 

“The grant is wildly important in part because it has no funding restriction. With no unallowable costs, I can choose how to best spend this award for my art practice,” Wodzianski said. “A portion of the grant will certainly pay for expendable materials, but I'll also use the funds to travel and conduct research.” 

College of Southern Maryland Art Professor Andrew Wodzianski
has been awarded an artist fellowship grant for 2017 by the District
of Columbia’s Commission for the Arts and Humanities. (Photo: CSM)

 The honor and the funding that comes along with the artist fellowship grant came at an opportune time for Wodzianski, who will be on sabbatical from CSM from June through January 2018. During that time, he plans to pursue his own art projects and hopes to be selected for a residency. He is also scheduled to curate two fine art shows. “These exhibits are an exciting balancing act between rose-colored nostalgia and newly transcendent images,” he said. “The artists I've selected have one foot planted in their childhood, and another dangling over a pool of prophetic slime. That may sound horrifying to some, but I assure you — it's a fun position to find yourself.”.  

Both Wodzianski and his art are quirky and memorable. The art he creates reflects pop culture, particularly pop culture from his childhood growing up in northwest Pennsylvania. He is a fan of film ephemera, and he incorporates that interest into his art. For instance, this summer he created a series of color theory exercises on blueprints of vehicles that were used in the television show “Star Trek.” That series was juried into a group exhibit “Emulsion” that will take place in March at the Pepco Edison Place Gallery in Washington, D.C. His office at CSM reflects his interest in film, science fiction and horror as well. Students who visit his office are met with walls covered with posters from old horror movies, skulls placed amid the books and games on his shelves, and fantasy and superhero collectible figures studding the walls, shelves and ceiling. 

In 2011, the Tony Hungerford Memorial Art Gallery at CSM hosted an exhibit of Wodzianski’s work, “Games We Play,” that was inspired by board games and drawing toys from Wodzianski’s childhood. In 2010, Wodzianski himself became art when he lived in a storefront window for two weeks on U Street NW in Washington, DC.

PR: March 13: Join us for WHAM-BAM-POW night of comic books & literature!

I've just bought my ticket - Mike

WHAM! BAM! POW!

O.B. Hardison Poetry & PEN/Faulkner
on the influence of comic books in literature

On Monday, March 13 at 7:30 pm, O.B. Hardison Poetry and PEN/Faulkner combine forces to showcase the influence of comic books on literature. Novelist Manuel Gonzales and poets Yona Harvey and Gary Jackson will read from their work and participate in a post-reading conversation moderated by poet Dr. Tara Betts, Visiting Lecturer at University of Illinois-Chicago. Using handwritten poems and passages, the artists of Ink Brick, a micro-press for comic book poetry, have created a one-of-a-kind comic book broadside, free to audience members, to celebrate this event.

The reading is followed by a complimentary wine reception, with an opportunity to purchase books and to speak with the authors while having your book signed. Come and join us for a wonderful evening.

Buy Tickets

We Wear The Masks 

Monday, March 13 at 7:30pm

Manuel Gonzales is the author of The Miniature Wife and Other Stories, which won the Sue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction and the John Gardner Prize for Fiction, and the novel, The Regional Office Is Under Attack! He teaches creative writing for the University of Kentucky and the Institute of American Indian Arts. 

Yona Harvey is the author of Hemming the Water, which won the 2014 Kate Tufts Discovery Award, and is a co-author of the Marvel Comics series Black Panther: World of Wakanda.  She has just been announced as an author of the upcoming Black Panther & The Crew series for Marvel Comics, which will make her the first black woman to write Marvel's Storm character.

Gary Jackson is the author of Missing You, Metropolis which was selected by Yusef Komunyakaa as winner of the 2009 Cave Canem Poetry Prize. He is an assistant professor at the College of Charleston in South Carolina.

For more information on the O.B. Hardison Poetry Series – including our line-up of poets for the spring and to purchase single tickets, please visit www.folger.edu/poetry or call our box office at 202.544.7077.

We hope to see you in the coming weeks!

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VISIT | SUPPORT | CONNECT

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Folger Shakespeare Library

201 East Capitol Street, SE Washington, DC 20003  

Main (202) 544-4600 | Box Office (202) 544-7077 | info@folger.edu 

New Kickstarter by Arsia Rozegar

Shahnameh For Kids - New books about Rostam and Gordafarid!

By Arsia Rozegar

Children's book series inspired by Ferdowsi's Persian Epic Myth, The Shahnameh. Featuring THE MIGHTY ROSTAM & THE BRAVERY OF GORDAFARID

As the story continues...

This Kickstarter campaign is intended to help fund the production of two brand new Shahnameh For Kids books; The Mighty Rostam to be followed by The Bravery of Gordafarid.

Maryland cartoonists Kane and Gallagher interviewed

Women in Comics Month: Interview with Kata Kane

Mar 01, 2017

https://www.previewsworld.com/Article/191091-Women-in-Comics-Month-Interview-with-Kata-Kane

Women in Comics Month: Interview with Monica Gallagher

Mar 01, 2017

https://www.previewsworld.com/Article/191110-Women-in-Comics-Month-Interview-with-Monica-Gallagher

Willow Wilson reviews The Animators

Can a friendship between two cartoonists survive their own success? [in print as Will fame burst the cartoon bubble of two aspiring artists?]

By G. Willow Wilson
Washington Post March 5 2017

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/can-a-friendship-between-two-cartoonists-survive-their-own-success/2017/02/01/bc84c21e-e8a3-11e6-b82f-687d6e6a3e7c_story.html

Comic Riffs on 'Logan'

'Logan': Thank you for your service to the X-franchise, Sir Patrick Stewart. You were a gift most sublime.

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog March 3 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/03/03/logan-thank-you-for-your-service-to-the-x-franchise-sir-patrick-stewart-you-were-a-gift-most-sublime/

'Logan' is the Wolverine movie Hugh Jackman always deserved

By David Betancourt
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog February 27 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/02/27/logan-is-the-wolverine-movie-hugh-jackman-always-deserved/

Mario Brothers becomes a play

A video-game plumber loses his bounce in 'Brother Mario'

By Celia Wren
Washington Post March 3 2017

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/theater-dance/a-video-game-plumber-loses-his-bounce-in-brother-mario/2017/03/01/882c4e5c-fd42-11e6-8ebe-6e0dbe4f2bca_story.html

Lee Liebeskind as Mario and Ryan Tumulty as Bowser star in Flying V Theatre's "Brother Mario," at the Writer's Center in Bethesda through March 12. (Ryan Maxwell/Flying V Theatre)

Today! Kendall Goode and Paulina Ganucheau Signing at Big Planet College Park

MARCH 4

Kendall Goode and Paulina Ganucheau Signing

Hosted by Big Planet Comics of College Park and Big P...

Today at 2 PM - 4 PM

Big Planet Comics of College Park

7315 Baltimore Ave, College Park, Maryland 20740

PR: April 9: Baltimore Comic-Con Throws a Spring Fling

Baltimore Comic-Con Throws a Spring Fling BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - March 3, 2017 - The Baltimore Comic-Con will be back again this year in the Inner Harbor's Baltimore Convention Center on September 22-24, 2017, but as a special thank you to our fans, we're throwing a Spring Fling. What is a Spring Fling? If you were with us for our first show back in 2000, you'll have a pretty good idea of what to expect. This will be a good old fashioned comic book show: rows and rows of comic book dealers from 6-8 states around the country with comics and collectibles from the ancient to the very modern...and we're bringing in a few guests as well! Harvey and Eisner award nominee Frank Cho launched his career as a comic strip artist at the University of Maryland-College Park student newspaper, penning University2, which was the predecessor of his creator-owned syndicated strip and comic series, Liberty Meadows. His body of work also includes Marvel Comics' New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Shanna the She-Devil, New Ultimates, and X-Men: Schism, as well as Jungle Girl for Dynamite Entertainment. His recent work can be seen in BOOM! Studios' Skybourne, and on covers from DC Comics' Harley Quinn and Wonder Woman. Long-time friend of the show, Harvey and Eisner Award nominee, and guest since our inception in 2000 (!), artist and writer Steve Conley has contributed to numerous comic titles, both printed and on-line. His Astounding Space Thrills was self-published, published by Image Comics, and collected as a trade paperback by IDW. He has been featured in titles such as JLA-Z from DC Comics, Star Trek: Year Four from IDW, and Michael Chabon's Amazing Adventures of the Escapist from Dark Horse Comics. His creator-owned Bloop, is available through his online store in print or soft copy editions, and you can read his webcomic, The Middle Age, on his website. John Gallagher is the award-winning artist and writer of graphic novels Buzzboy and Roboy Red (with Rich Faber). John teamed with sons Jack and Will to create a kids book, E.P.I.C. Bros., about two kids whose superhero dad is always out saving the world, and they pass the time using his gizmos for lovable mayhem. Jack and Will follow in the footsteps of big sister Katie, who teamed with her dad to create Zoey and Ketchup. John's Buzzboy is back from American Mythology Productions in Buzzboy Go Digital Monster Mayhem, where he has also contributed to the recently relaunched Casper the Friendly Ghost and The Inspector. When not creating comics, John is executive director of Kids Love Comics (kidslovecomics.net) and works as art director for Ranger Rick magazine. Mark Morales has established himself as one of the industry's go-to inkers for major titles and events for the big publishers. He has inked a vast number of titles at Marvel Comics including, among many others, A+X, Amazing Spider-Man, Avengers vs. X-Men, New Avengers, Secret Invasion, Sentry, Siege, Thor, Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine, X-Force, and X-Men. He has also done work for DC Comics on titles like Action Comics, Batman/Superman, JLA, New Suicide Squad, Prez, and Superman: The Man of Steel. He was also awarded the Harvey Award for Best Inker in 2009 and 2011. Brandon Peterson has been a professional illustrator for over 20 years, working primarily as a penciller and inker, but often as a colorist, writer, editor, and art director. He has done a great deal of work at Marvel Comics, as the artist on books like AvX, Avengers, The Ultimates, Ultimate Vision, Ultimate Extinction, Ultimate X-Men, Astonishing X-Men, X-Men, and Uncanny X-Men. Brandon was also VP of Special Projects and Art Director of the now-defunct CrossGen Comics, where he created titles like Mystic and Chimera. He is also a veteran of Top Cow Productions, having worked on Codename: Strykeforce, Cyberforce, Ripclaw, Medieval Spawn/Witchblade, and his own book, Arcanum. His work is recently featured on IDW's Revolution Heroes and DC Comics' Trinity. So here are the details: When: Sunday April 9. 10-5 Where: BWI Airport Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Linthicum, MD 20190 How much: FREE! Free?!? Yes, free! The Baltimore Comic-Con Spring Fling is a thank-you to our fans for helping us grow and making our show into the institution it has become. This one's just for the fun of it, and we hope we'll see you there! Want to join us in September for the main event? Visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com for more information on the Baltimore Comic-Con and www.baltimorecomiccon.com/tickets/ to purchase your advanced tickets!   In the coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found on our website, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages.   Contact Information Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con: press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution promoter@baltimorecomiccon.com - for requesting exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley applications registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com - for inquiries about submitted registrations general@baltimorecomiccon.com- for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries    About The Baltimore Comic-Con The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 18th year of bringing the comic book industry to the mid-Atlantic area. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.

Baltimore Comic-Con, P.O. Box 917, Reisterstown, MD 21136

TODAY!! Coast to Coast Comic Con Live Streaming at Beyond Comics

This is a live streaming event! At our Frederick Store!

TODAY! - March 4, 2017 This is a Live Streaming Event!   BEYOND COMICS Frederick Location    Featured guests: Jim Lee Matt  Kindt, Jim Zub, Kieren Gillen, Gene Luen Yang, Charles Soule, Sarah Gaydoss, Mike Johnson, Ralph Tedesco   Enjoy a One-of-a-Kind Convention Experience from the comfort of Beyond Comics!   This event will be Live Streamed into the store.  Watch only the portions you want. Featuring first looks at upcoming projects from the biggest publishers in the industry, hear from your favorite creative teams about upcoming projects, without the hassle a convention brings. Ask questions to the publishers via social media! ]Get some great Convention-exclusive items and covers! Featured Exclusive Comic Variants Check out our Facebook Event! Check out the Coast to Coast Facebook Page! Beyond Comics Frederick 5632 Buckeystown Pike Frederick, MD 21704 301-668-8202 All events subject to change due to product availability, attendee levels and events beyond our control. We will do our best to update customers upon any changes.

Beyond Comics, 18749 B North Frederick Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20879

DCist reviews Logan

'Logan' Is The Most Dour, Bloody 'X-Men' Film Yet, Thank God

by Dominic Griffin
DCist Mar 3, 2017
http://dcist.com/2017/03/logan_is_the_most_dour_bloody_x-men.php

City Paper on France's Zucchini

My Life as a Zucchini Is For Kids. It's Also About Death.

The Best Animated Feature nominee is the rare animated film that doesn't condescend to its young target audience.

Alan Zilberman

Mar 2, 2017
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/film-tv/blog/20853755/my-life-as-a-zucchini-reviewed