Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Claude E. Toles exhibit at the Cosmos Club

Lieberman's favorite work by Toles (not exhibited)

by Mike Rhode

Randy Liebermann purchased a collection of Elmira, New York cartoonist Claude E. Toles a few years ago. A selection of the material is now on display at the Cosmos Club, which is only open to members and their guests. He kindly showed the exhibit to me last weekend and has agreed to let us feature it here.

Toles is barely known today. He worked for about 10 years from 1891-1901, before dying at age 26 of Bright's disease (ie kidney failure). In that time, he was stunningly prolific, doing over 6000 drawings, or 600 / year, or about 2 / day. Very few of these seem to have survived. The best source for information on Toles is John Adcock's article, A Remarkable Collection: C. E. Toles (1875-1901), and this link will take you to all of Adcock's articles on Toles, and more pictures. Alex Jay also did a fine job digging around on Tole's life, and Allan Holtz has another example on the same site. Liebermann had all of the pieces in this exhibit conserved, and they look very good indeed. The Library of Congress has a piece, described here.

The Cosmos Club's Art Committee chose Deja vu All Over Again: The Art of Claude E. Toles as the exhibit title because they felt that many of the political situations seen in Toles' 115-year-old cartoons were recurring now. Here's their exhibit text and Toles' editorial cartoons for the Elmira Telegram.



 

The first image a visitor sees is this one of a man who's too poor to have his shoes shined.



President Grover Cleveland and Congress were at odds over 
his Supreme Court nominees as the next four cartoons show. 


"David's Hornblower a Blasting Hoister for Grover's" depicts a modified Edison talking machine.
 

 
The President was at odds with Congress over his Supreme Court nominees.



 Neither the Republicans nor the Democrats were looking very good to voters.




Despair - Liebermann noted that there was a depression from 1893-1897 but no social net.



Liebermann usually collects material on technology, and Uncle Sam grasping this wet cell battery shows the electric shock of racism over the annexation of Hawaii.



Toles drew Congress as lost in a snowstorm


A standard end of year cartoon for 1893.


Like any other working cartoonist, Toles did a wide variety of work including sheet music,


gag cartoons,

original art, with tear sheet in lower right

tearsheet with 19th century style joke

magazine mastheads (Twain also lived in Elmira),


proto-comic strip pages,


...and illustration work which doubled as social commentary.

"A Varsity Crew. As It Isn't" ca. 1899. Women didn't row in college

His rowers were definitely influenced by Charles Dana Gibson's Gibson Girls...
But his babies preceded Rose O'Neill's Kewpies by a few years...

And what this art nouveau fairy coxswain means is anyone's guess.

The only known photograph of Toles

Besides being very prolific, and short-lived, Toles may confuse historians due to his multiple signatures...






...which he definitely did on purpose when he moved to Baltimore to set up The International Syndicate which would sell stock images to a newspaper or magazine.




Toles drew most, if not all of the cartoons and illustrations in this book, but signed a variety of names to cartoons of different styles as demonstrated in his scrapbook, which Liebermann brought in for us to see.

Photo by RL

Finally, one last piece also not in the exhibit is this unsigned painting, which Liebermann had extensively conserved. Randy thinks it's a one-off piece; I think it shows that Toles was considering moving into the newly-enlarged illustration market which was about to enter its golden age.





Cartoonists draw blood (donation) returns

Monday, October 24, 2016

SPX 2016 Panel - Graphic Content: Voices from Erotic Comics

SPX 2016 Panel - Graphic Content: Voices from Erotic Comics

 Oct 20, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhhYApj21N0

From the emotional and sensual to the lewd and graphic, veteran comickers Jenova Silver, Celine Loup, Shivana Sookdeo, Kori Michele, and Kendra of Team KK explore their experiences and perspectives creating and consuming erotica. This panel delves into their work, early influences, the challenges they've faced, and the changing landscape of the industry. Moderated by Dechanique.

Oct 26: Glen Weldon speaks in Columbus, Ohio at Thurber House

Glen Weldon: Evenings with Authors

Wednesday, October 26, 2016
7:30 pm

Steve Canyon in the Falls Church Echo in 1950



Tom Corbett, Space Cadet in DC

Rocket Expert Advises Artist, Keeps 'Space Cadet' Plausible.
Washington Star November 1951

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Nov 5: German-language animated films at Landmark's E Street Cinema

Goethe-Institut Washington






Only the animation descriptions are included in this repost...

New Short Films from Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Saturday, November 5, 2 pm

With an introduction by Joe Bilancio, Director of Programming for DC Shorts

Who Will Pay the Bill? (Wer trägt die Kosten?)
Germany, 2015, animation, color, 4 min., German with English subtitles, Director/Screenplay: Daniel Nocke, World Rights: Studio FILM BILDER GmbH
In this talk show satire moderated by a hyena, two lions, a vulture and a lonely zebra debate about justice in a society of eating and being eaten.

  • Short Tiger Award 2016
  • FBW-rating: "exceptionally valuable"

Daniel Nocke (b. 1968 in Hamburg, Germany) studied at the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg from 1994 to 1999. He lives in Hamburg, where he works as an author and animation artist.

Domino
Austria, 2014, animation, color, 2 min., without dialogue, Director/Screenplay: Anna Vasof, World Sales Rights: Not for sale, all rights are reserved by Anna Vasof
A video camera continuously follows and films a progression of dominoes falling, creating the illusion of the movement in an imaginary space. Domino is a video which combines the mechanism of a progression of dominoes falling with stop-motion animation technique and introduces a new animation technique, the "Non-stop stop motion".

  • Best Austrian Animation (ASIFA AUSTRIA 2014)

Anna Vasof (b. 1985) is an architect and media artist. She studied architecture at the University of Thessaly in Greece and Transmedia Art at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. Since 2004, her videos and short films have been presented in several festivals and have won some prizes.

Uncanny Valley
Austria, 2015, animation, color, 13 min., without dialogue, Director/Screenplay: Paul Wenninger, World Sales Rights: Sixpack Films
In Uncanny Valley, we are immediately bombarded by the psychological and physical intensity of a battle fought between desperate soldiers during the First World War. Within the scope of a physiological apparatus looking in the direction of war, Uncanny Valley develops a dramaturgy of interrupted images - stuttering pictures that interrupt the narrative structure of a sequence of scenes.

  • Public Award and Best Austrian Animation (ASIFA AUSTRIA 2015)

Paul Wenninger (b. 1966 in Vienna, Austria) is father of three daughters, a filmmaker with a focus on pixilation and animation, a freelance dancer and the author of choreographical works. He was part of international productions, having worked and lived from 1994-1998 in France.

Flirt
Switzerland, 2015, animation, color, 6min., without dialogue, Director/Screenplay: Rahel Gerber, World Sales: Interfilm Berlin Management GmbH
Dreams woven from airy fabrics make wishes tangible. Walter is a loner. Hanging up his laundry the resident sees how easily his shirt contacts his neighbor's dress. Might he be closer than ever to his own happiness?

  • Berner Filmpreis 2015 Category Animation

Rahel Gerber (b. 1977 in Switzerland) received her master's degree in illustration and animation from Lucerne School of Art and Design. Flirt is her thesis project.

Related links
  • Purchase tickets for this film on Landmark's E Street Cinema's website   english
  • Uncanny Valley Trailer   english
  • Flirt Trailer   english

  • Thursday, October 20, 2016

    SPX 2016 panels catch-up

    SPX 2016 Panel - March with Andrew Aydin & Nate Powell

    Oct 12, 2016
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrREdkxIc-I

    The March trilogy relates the story of the African American struggle for dignity and equality in the U.S. during the 1950's and 60's through the perspective of civil rights icon, Congressman John Lewis. Co-author Andrew Aydin and artist Nate Powell discuss their years-long journey of working with Rep. Lewis to tell the powerful and moving story of his life and experiences during those turbulent times which marked a watershed moment in American history. Moderated by comics critic Julian Lytle.

    SPX 2016 Panel - Spotlight on Gilbert & Jaime Hernandez

     Oct 10, 2016
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkNPUidcsbw

    The comics careers of creators Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez are explored and discussed. The primary focus being Love and Rockets as well as its pivotal relationship to the development and growth of Fantagraphics (which has been publishing Gilbert's and Jaime's work for 34 of the 40 years it has been in business) and how the relationship ultimately led to a transformation of American comics. Moderated by long-time Hernandez Bros. historian Bill Boichel.

    SPX 2016 Panel - Spotlight on Charles Burns & Daniel Clowes

     Oct 7, 2016
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60dSEN1RIbE

    Comics legends Charles Burns and Daniel Clowes together on stage, talking about their respective careers and current projects! The lively discussion is facilitated by Eric Reynolds, Associate Publisher and Editor of Fantagraphic Books.

    SPX 2016 Panel - Comics Journalism with Joe Sacco & Sarah Glidden

    Oct 6, 2016
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYC91HUh-wQ

    Comics journalism is a form of journalism crafted by Joe Sacco in his award-winning graphic novels (Palestine, Safe Area Goražde, Fixer, Footnotes in Gaza, The Great War) and explored in depth by Sarah Glidden in her new release, Rolling Blackouts. These two amazing comics creators discuss the intersection of storytelling and fact, and how they report on humanity's history and current events through the medium of comics. Moderated by Matt Bors of The Nib.

    SPX 2016 Panel - Spanish Fever: Stories by the New Spanish Cartoonists

    Oct 9, 2016
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BylaOmj3f8

    Cómics, tebeos, and novelas gráficas have been making waves on the European comics scene for decades. SPX, in partnership with the Spanish Cultural Center, proudly presents some of the most exciting Spanish talent in the comics scene! Bienvenido a David Rubín, Javier Olivares, Ana Galvañ, José Domingo, and Santiago García. Moderated by cartoonist and teacher Matt Madden.

    The Spanish Fever panel is supported by the generous time and effort of Spain arts & culture.

    SPX 2016 Panel - The Art of Printing Comics

     Oct 9, 2016
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N51p5qAKEb8

    There is an art to printing comics and 'zines. Comics creators Natalie Andrewson and Kris Mukai, along with Patrick Crotty and Elliot Alfredius of Peow! Studio explain how they craft their own risograph comics and 'zines to beautiful imperfection every time! Robyn Chapman of The Tiny Reporter moderates.

    SPX 2016 Panel - Indie Publishing: Make the Comics You Want to See

     Oct 7, 2016
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLiYn8sKo5Q

    What does it take to become an indie publisher? Grit, luck, talent, or all three? These diverse and innovative publishers saw a need for certain types of comics, so they went out and made them happen. C. Spike Trotman of Iron Circus Comics, Raighne Hogan of 2dcloud, Kevin Czap of Czap Books and Annie Koyama of Koyama Press are making the comics that they want to see and that indie/alt fans want to read. Moderated by Rob Clough of High-Low.

    SPX 2016 Panel - Spotlight on Lisa Hanawalt

    Oct 11, 2016
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_qe4RW64ME

    From her days as a member of Pizza Island to her latest graphic novel, Hot Dog Taste Test, Lisa has always brought a uniquely comedic turn to her beautifully rendered illustrations and comics. The outrageously funny Lisa Hanawalt talks with NPR contributor Glen Weldon about her career as a comics creator, illustrator, and the production designer and producer of Bojack Horseman.

    SPX 2016 Panel - To Tell the Truth: Comics Storytelling

    Sophia Foster-Dimino, Gina Wynbrandt, Kris Mukai, and Anna Sellheim all create comics that take their everyday life experiences and transmute them into stories that tell you the truth. Whether it's an autobio comic, a journal comic, or even a fantastical work of fiction, each story encompasses its creator's version of narrative truth. Moderated by Rob Clough of High-Low.

    SPX 2016 Panel - All Ages Graphic Noveling

    Oct 14, 2016
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnjPIU-dbXc

    These graphic novelists are writing and illustrating comics that appeal to kids, teens, and adults alike. Rebecca Mock (Compass South), Jeffrey Brown (Star Wars Jedi Academy), and Faith Erin Hicks (The Nameless City) tell us the secret to engaging readers of all ages! Moderated by Heidi MacDonald of The Beat.

    SPX 2016 Panel - Comics Carousel

    Oct 18, 2016

    R. Sikoryak brings the Comics Carousel (a wild ride of live performances and readings from comics greats) to amaze and excite everyone's senses! This long-running performance series brings together a once in a lifetime, all star lineup of Sophie Goldstein, Pascal Girard, Jeffrey Brown, Roger Langridge, and Andrea Tsurumi to make comics magic happen on stage and in person!

    SPX 2016 Panel - 40 Years of Fantagraphics

     Oct 13, 2016
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWG3VBB5Kuk

    2016 marks 40 years since a group of renegade comics fans came up with the idea that comics could be "art" and planted the seeds of what was to become Fantagraphics Books. This SPX Panel looks back at four decades of groundbreaking work by Fantagraphics and talks to some of the people who were there as it helped transform an artistic medium and change the way comics are viewed by the general public. The panel has Fantagraphics Founder/Publisher Gary Groth and Associate Publisher Eric Reynolds, along with long-time Fanta creators Daniel Clowes, Joe Sacco, Jaime & Gilbert Hernandez, Carol Tyler, Jim Woodring, Drew Friedman and Trina Robbins. The moderator for this once-in-a-lifetime panel is John Kelly, long-time contributor to The Comics Journal and Vice President of the Toonseum.

    SPX 2016 Panel - Fantagraphics Next Wave

     Oct 19, 2016
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzxjYShp8Sk

    As 40 amazing years of work by Fantagraphics artists is celebrated it's also a time to examine who its new voices are. This panel, with a line up of some of the hardest working cartoonists in the world—Anya Davidson, Benjamin Marra, Noah Van Sciver, Simon Hanselmann, Julia Gfrorer—looks at where Fantagraphics is today and where it's going tomorrow. Moderated by Bill Boichel.

    SPX 2016 Panel - You Can't Not Make Comics

    Oct 20, 2016
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf6LAEhhyDU

    What is it about comics that makes us fall in love with them? Whatever elusive quality it is, these artists have made room in their incredibly creative and diverse lives for making comics that make us feel things. Aimee de Jongh, Cathy G. Johnson and Eleanor Davis speak to building lives and careers while answering the call of comics creation. Moderated by Ron Wimberly.

    SPX 2016 Panel - American Magical Girls

     Oct 20, 2016
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIDuuaS2nts

    Magical girls are some of the most enduring and beloved characters from Japanese Manga. For everyone who knows they're secretly Magic, creators Wendy Xu, Veronica Agarwal, Shauna Grant, and Carey Pietsch talk about the new American magical girls they've created in their comics. Wands and tiaras optional! Moderated by Jade F. Lee.

    SPX 2016 Panel - Spotlight on Trina Robbins

    Oct 15, 2016
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCa7cdjkuQQ

    One of the very few female artists involved in the early days of Underground Comics, Trina Robbins has been a key member of the small press and alternative comics worlds for generations. A writer, artist, editor and historian, Trina's latest work is The Complete Wimmen's Comix, a two-volume collection of her groundbreaking anthology of the same name. She is joined by The Beat's Heidi MacDonald for this in-depth discussion of her long career.

    SPX 2016 Panel - Music & Comics

     Oct 16, 2016
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZH98KBhwkA

    The worlds of Punk and Hip-Hop, the music that cartoonists Jaime Hernandez (Punk) and Ed Piskor (Hip Hop) grew up listening to as kids, has arguably made as big an impact on the aesthetics of their work as did the comics they grew up reading. The artists discuss how their love for the (at times) marginalized musical cultures helped inform their art. Moderated by The ToonSeum's John Kelly.

    20th Annual IGNATZ AWARDS Ceremony at SPX 2016

     Oct 5, 2016
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20v7Uq0y0RA

    Festival prize of the Small Press Expo the Ignatz Awards recognize outstanding achievements in comics and cartooning by small press creators or creator owned projects published by larger publishers and named in honor of George Herriman and his cartoon strip Krazy Kat which featured Ignatz the mouse.