Local creators are Liz Reed, Ann Telnaes and Matt Wuerker.
September 16, 2017
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm White Flint Auditorium
1001 Knights Roundtable: An Artist Discussion About Work And People Positivity
Artists from the 1001 Knights anthology join curators Annie Stoll & Kevin Jay Stanton to discuss their work and process in relation to the journey of the 1001 Knights books. This is a safe, creative, and positive space where artists Shannon Wright, Zack Clemente, Alice Meichi Li, Barbara Perez Marquez & Deandra Tan as well More Info »
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Glen Echo Room
Comics Workbook Hangout with Juan Fernandez
Join the Comics Workbook team for an hour of comics-crafting. Learn about color and line, explore the rhythm of the grid, and take your comics-making game to a new level. Simple exercises will push you in mind-bending directions. Juan Fernandez organizes the Pittsburgh Comics Salon, teaches and writes for Comics Workbook and facilitate the CreatorsMakersTeachers network in More Info »
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm White Oak Room
Gilbert Hernandez & Jim Rugg in Conversation
With Love & Rockets, legendary cartoonist Gilbert Hernandez helped create one of the most lauded comic series of all time. Pittsburgh cartoonist Jim Rugg has built a loyal fanbase with Street Angel, a beloved indie comic about a sword-wielding skateboarder and her heroic adventures. Join these two celebrated cartoonists as they discuss craft and practice, More Info »
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm White Flint Auditorium
Architecture Of A Page
Architecture of a Page is a panel that's all about LAYOUTS! Moderator J. A. Micheline chats with four cartoonists–Tillie Walden, Sloane Leong, Iasmin Omar Ata, and Chris Kindred–to discuss their thought processes when it comes to page layouts, how structure can contribute to emotional content, and their major influences/go-to inspirations when constructing a page.
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Glen Echo Room
Clay Sculpture Characters with Liz Reed
Make miniature clay sundae characters with Sweet Competition author/sculptor Liz Reed, who with her husband Jimmy are the creators behind Cuddles and Rage. Learn different techniques on how to apply realistic texture to your sundae and how to create facial expressions that will bring your delicious creation to life. For kids of all ages.
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm White Oak Room
Kick-Ass Annie-versary: Koyama Press Turns Ten
Annie Koyama has championed the work of emerging cartoonists for 10 years. As a leading publisher of underground comix, her roster features the work of many of today's top names in the indie comics scene, including Michael DeForge, Aidan Koch, Alex Schubert, Daryl Seitchik, and many more. Join KP artists Patrick Kyle, Eleanor Davis, Dustin More Info »
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm White Flint Auditorium
Barometer Of The Free Press
Tom Spurgeon moderates political cartoonists Ann Telnaes, Matt Wuerker, Keith Knight and Ben Passmore as they expand on Telnaes' keynote speech in Ottawa. They will explore the role and responsibility of being a political cartoonist in a time when the freedom of the press is under attack.
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm White Oak Room
Fukushima Devil Fish: Susumu Katsumata's Anti-Nuclear Manga
Critiques of nuclear energy in Japanese manga did not begin with the Fukushima Daiichi meltdowns in 2011. One of the regulars of the legendary alternative manga monthly Garo in the magazine's heyday of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Susumu Katsumata (1943-2007) has the curious distinction of having risen within the world of political cartooning More Info »
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm White Flint Auditorium
Genderfluidity, Technology and Futurism
Moderator L.Nichols will explore the recent movement in comics toward exploring genderfluidity within a science-fiction context, with an emphasis on technology and utopian ideals. Panelists Jeremy Sorese (Curveball), Carta Monir (Secure Connect), Kevin Czap (Fütchi Perf) and Rio Aubry Taylor (Jetty) will each discuss how their own work fits into this bold new vision of More Info »
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm White Oak Room
Emil Ferris: My Favorite Thing is Monsters
SPX is proud to feature cartoonist Emil Ferris in a rare east coast appearance. Her book, My Favorite Thing is Monsters from Fantagraphics, has garnered a lot of positive attention in the comics community and beyond. Legendary comics creator Art Spiegelman even dubbed her "one of the most important cartoonists of our time." Washington Post More Info »
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm Glen Echo Room
Comics with Gilbert Hernandez – moderated by Frank Santoro
Sit at the feet of a master – glean some comics-making tips from one of the founding fathers of the alternative comics scene. Whether Gilbert talks about Love & Rockets, or the early days of punk rock, you won't want to miss this amazing opportunity. All ages.
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm White Flint Auditorium
Shock Humor, Farce and Satire
In a world that seems increasingly difficult to satirize, come see how cartoonists Tommi Musturi (Simply Samuel), Aaron Lange (Trim), Sabin Cauldron (Maleficium), and Katie Fricas (The New Yorker) use different comedic tools to address the absurd, the awful and the just plain ridiculous. Moderator Heidi MacDonald will assist in keeping track of each artist's More Info »
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm White Oak Room
World Building From Reality
Compelling environments, idiosyncratic details, atmospheric flourishes… The ability to build worlds is often discussed with genre/fantasy stories, but what role does it play for adult comics grounded in reality? Ethan Rilly (Pope Hats), Noah Van Sciver (Fante Bukowski), Gabrielle Bell (Everything is Flammable), and Chris Kim (Herman by Trade) discuss their personal approaches to building More Info »
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Glen Echo Room
Comics with Connor Willumsen
One of the rising stars of the comics scene, Connor Willumsen, will lead exercises in comics-making. As someone who walks the line between alternative and mainstream comics, with work published by Koyama, and Breakdown Press, as well as Marvel and DC, Connor brings loads of talent to the table and he's eager to share. All More Info »
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm White Flint Auditorium
Filling In The Pieces: Comics Biography
When doing a comics biography, how do cartoonists approach the material they have at hand? For Box Brown, who did a biography of Andre the Giant, he struggled to find material that might reveal the wrestler's inner life. Anais Depommier had to sift through a mountain of material for her biography of Jean-Paul Sartre, a More Info »
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm White Oak Room
Science Fiction and Marginalization
Science fiction is a realm of exploration and for marginalized voices, a place to imagine and redefine futures where basic power structures are deconstructed and societies are decolonized. Moderator Sloane Leong will lead a discussion with cartoonists Alexis Zirrit (Space Riders), Albert Monteys (Universe!), Alex Alice (Le Troisieme Testament) and Carla Speed McNeil (Finder) who More Info »
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm White Flint Auditorium
Trump Presidential Library
Celebrants and detractors alike are chewing on the fact that Donald Trump was elected president. Shannon Wheeler and Robert Sikoryak will help you swallow. In their books Sh*t My President Says from Top Shel and The Unquotable Trump from Drawn & Quarterly (respectively), these two cartoonists illustrate Trump's words for comedic effect and insight. There will be More Info »
September 17, 2017
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm White Flint Auditorium
Balancing World-Building and Character In Kids' Comics
Laura Terry (Graveyard Shakes), Ben Sears (Volcano Trash), Janet Lee (Return Of the Dapper Men) & Lucy Bellwood (Baggywrinkles) all create elaborate worlds for their colorful characters to dwell in. They will join moderator Isaac Cates to discuss how to balance the immersive quality of world-building with the development of character and story, particularly as More Info »
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm White Oak Room
Spinning With Tillie Walden
Tillie Walden, in her short cartooning career, has created some stunning, critically acclaimed stories. On a Sunbeam, her unconventional science fiction webcomic, was recently nominated for an Eisner for Best Digital Comic. Tillie's newest project, Spinning from First Second, focuses on her decade spent in competitive figure skating. This emotional graphic memoir, along with her More Info »
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Glen Echo Room
Comics with Alexis Ziritt
No one can draw Space Rider like Alexis Ziritt – come see how he does it and pick his brain about using color and line in his unique way. Alexis Ziritt is originally from Venezuela but has lived in Florida for the past decade. He's been published in Complex Magazine, Heavy Metal, BOOM! Studios and Dark Horse More Info »
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm White Flint Auditorium
The Serious Business of Humorous Memoir
Panelists Keith Knight (K Chronicles), November Garcia (Foggy Notions), Glynnis Fawkes (Reign Of Crumbs), and Jennifer Hayden (The Story Of My Tits) will explain to moderator Marc Sobel how their focus on the funnier side of their lives doesn't stop them from discussing serious issues as well. Indeed for some of these cartoonists, humor is More Info »
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm White Oak Room
Eleanor Davis & Jillian Tamaki In Conversation
Jillian Tamaki (Boundless) and Eleanor Davis (You And A Bike And The Road) are two of our generation's greatest cartoonists. Both create beautiful imagery while telling incredibly poignant stories which are thoughtful and evocative. Join moderator Jim Rugg (Street Angel) for an in-depth talk about their storytelling approach, inspiration, and process.
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Glen Echo Room
Comics Workbook Hangout w/Sally Ingraham and Audra Stang
Take a crash course in comics making – for kids big and small. We will bring the grids, the markers, the know-how – you bring your personal spark. Discover the comics-maker within you and let them out! Sally Ingraham is a cartoonist, educator, and journalist in Pittsburgh, and Audra Stang is a cartoonist currently located in More Info »
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm White Flint Auditorium
Troubled Teenagers and Modern Times
Panelists Mardou(Sky In Stereo), Charles Forsman (The End Of The Fucking World, This is Not Okay), Sean Knickerbocker (Killbuck), Melissa Mendes (Lou, The Weight) and Nate Powell (Any Empire, Swallow Me Whole), led by moderator Craig Fischer, will discuss how they are able to realistically and empathetically create vivid teenage characters who are struggling with More Info »
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm White Oak Room
Reading Without Walls
Gene Luen Yang has distinguished himself as a prominent voice in youth-friendly literature through his books American Born Chinese and Boxers and Saints. He continues to inspire young readers by championing diversity as the recently appointed National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. Join us for a very special conversation with Gene as we spotlight Reading More Info »
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Glen Echo Room
Comics Workbook Free Draw
You never know who you might bump into at this Comics Workbook hangout session. Everyone needs a place to chill out as the show starts to wind down – we might be working on comics when your favorite pros show up to hang out towards the end of the day! Come one and all.
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm White Flint Auditorium
Good Minnesotans and Mirror Mirrors: Ten Years of 2dcloud
Join moderator Jared Gardner, publisher Raighne Hogan and an array of 2dcloud artists as they celebrate and recount the history of this cutting-edge indy publisher and look toward its future. Panelists Xia Gordon (Kindling), Margot Ferrick (Yours), Fifi Martinez (Deep Affection), and Laura Lannes (Mirror Mirror II) will all be debuting new comics at SPX. More Info »
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm White Oak Room
Koyama & DeForge: Lose, Everyone Wins
For nearly a decade, Annie Koyama (Koyama Press) and Michael DeForge (Sticks Angelica, Folk Hero) have been wowing readers with their strange and darkly humorous, ongoing anthology series, Lose. Join us for a special conversation with a celebrated, master cartoonist and an award-winning publisher as we take an insightful look at one of small press More Info »
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Glen Echo Room
Comics with Sacha Mardou
Sacha Mardou will talk about scripting and planning processes for longform graphic novels, and will give a reading from her new graphic novel, Strange Kind of Love. Dig into process and research techniques. All ages.
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm White Flint Auditorium
Mental Illness, Motherhood and Memoir
A new trend in memoir comics is an exploration of motherhood and the ways in which mental illness and societal forces have a profound effect on the experience. Keiler Roberts (Sunburning), Luke Howard (Our Mother), Tyler Cohen (Primahood: Magenta) and Summer Pierre (Paper Pencil Life) will provide their perspectives on the topic, both from the More Info »
SPX's Graphic Novel Gift Program is an expansion of the philanthropic and charitable endeavors that are part of its corporate charter, and is in addition to SPX's annual support to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. The targets of this program are public and academic library systems in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area as selected by the Small Press Expo.
