scary art-related events for 10/31-11/1 and news

- Gallery Hop is Saturday night in the Short North.

- Junctionville Studios is hosting Por Vida!, a Day of the Dead celebration, Saturday night at 10PM.

- The OSU Department of Design celebrates its 40th anniversary this Saturday.

Plus:
- The Highball Halloween parade is tomorrow night beginning at 6pm on High St.

- Not an event but it's an interesting story: there are billboards around town featuring the work of a New York photographer that are causing a stir.

- And while it's not exactly on-topic, it is definitely noteworthy: the Grandview movie theater is coming back!

Scarlet Veronica signings this week

I just came from the Ogre and there was a signing there today by the creators of a book called Scarlet Veronica, a horror comedy from Ape Entertainment. I haven't read it yet, but it looks like it'll appeal to Buffy fans.

Tomorrow, they'll appear at Hobby Central in Delaware and back at the Ogre on Saturday. Unfortunately, their website doesn't list times, so you'll have to call ahead.

Laughing Ogre: (614) A-MR-OGRE
Hobby Central: (740) 363-0381‎

report on Milai lecture @ CRL

The Lantern has a piece on the recent lecture at the Cartoon Research Library on Sam Milai, whose work is currently on display.

Cartooning the Campaign

NPR conducted an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution cartoonist Mike Luckovich and Mike Peters of The Dayton Daily News about the presidential campaign so far. Of note: Mike celebrates his 40th anniversary at The Dayton Daily News this year!

The above cartoon is discussed in the interview.

Want more political cartoons all year long? Check out The Cagle Post for hundreds of comics from all around the world (and you can sign up to get delivery every day)!

Too Much Photography exhibit taking submissions

Opening: November 29th, 5-7pm
Submission Deadline: November 12th at midnight
Show Dates: November 28th-December 20th

Is there really such a thing as Too Much Photography? We don't think
so and we'd like to show Columbus all of the talented artists working
in photography by showing as many photographic works as we can fit in
our gallery. If you are an artist working in color or
black and white, digital, or every possible other form of photography,
we would love to see your work!

Please send digital images of your work to madlabgallery@madlab.net .
You can obtain the jury card at
www.madlab.net/gallery.htm and send it
with your images so we know who you are and how to contact you.

The deadline for your digital submissions is Saturday, 11/12 at
Midnight. The show will run from 11/28 through 12/20. The gallery
opening is Saturday, 11/29 from 5 pm to 7 pm! All participating
artists will receive one complimentary ticket to the theater show so
you can make a night of it! This season it?s MadLab?s presentation of
Split.

So, hurry and submit your work NOW!

Thank You!

Madlab.Gallery.

Mr. Smith goes to California (for the CBLDF)

Jeff Smith's only bookstore appearance for this year and next year will be this December 6 in Concord, CA at Flying Colors, as the result of an auction that benefited the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

Harvey visiting Heroes

I just came across some photos of Cleveland's hometown hero Harvey Pekar (along with the phenomenally talented Alison Bechdel) from a few weeks ago where he made an appearance at Heroes Aren't Hard Find for a book signing and then to the ImaginOn library, where they delivered a dual lecture on comics and graphic novels.

I got the chance to meet Harvey earlier this year and contrary to what you might think (after reading or watching American Splendor), Harvey is a very nice, sweet guy. Also, I got a chance to visit Heroes, and look forward to going down there again next year.

report on comics conference @ Bowling Green

Scott McCloud and Jamal Igle were among the lecturers at a conference celebrating Superman's 70th anniversary (and comics in general) in Bowling Green. In addition, there's a comics exhibit on display with work by an all-star lineup of creators.

Over the past few years, I have found so many great comics/graphic novels (at such reasonable prices!) at Columbus' Half Price Books, that I just had to share this...

art-related events for 10/24-29

- The multimedia art studio Wild Goose Creative will have an opening night party to celebrate their new studio space in Clintonville tomorrow night at 7PM.

- The Columbus Film Festival continues Tuesday the 28th with Murder, Spies, and Voting Lies: The Clint Curtis Story, playing at the Drexel in Bexley at 7:30 PM; followed on Wednesday the 29th by Who Does She Think She Is?, playing at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Rd, at 7PM.

October's guttergeek Online

I just received an email announcing that the newest guttergeek review e-journal is available online.

What's guttergeek?

I'll let Jared Gardner, editor of guttergeek, explain:

"We are standing on the brink of a creative renaissance no less vital and exciting than those which overtook New England in the 1840s or Harlem in the 1920s. But before we can fully begin to measure the dimensions of that renaissance in the graphic narrative, we must first clear a space in which we can talk about these works free from superlatives, hero-worship and defensive over-exuberance. guttergeek seeks to open one such space where graphic narratives can be discussed honestly—independent of the culture of celebrity or the cult of hagiography that tends to gather around the most middling comics creator.”

Check out the below reviews found in the latest issue of guttergeek and see what's being discussed there.

Abandoned Cars	Anthology of Graphic Fiction Vol 2	Baobab	Bluesman
Bourbon Island & Gus	Low Moon	Marvel Illustrated	Mr. Spic Goes to Washington
Motion Comics	Particular Panels: Superwest	Shake Girl	Too Cool to be Forgotten

24 Hour Comics Day around the world

Tom Spurgeon has compiled a list of links to 24 Hour Comics Day reports from all over the Net.

Sam Milai @ CRL; lecture 10/27

Currently playing at the Cartoon Research Library is the work of Sam Milai, an editorial cartoonist for the Pittsburgh Courier, a prominent black newspaper. Most of the work covers events during the civil rights movement of the 60s. There are also profiles of prominent blacks throughout history. Next Monday at 4:30, there'll be a discussion of Milai's work led by Dr. Rebecca Wanzo. The exhibit continues through December 31.

Comics for Canned Food

Want to do some good this Halloween and get some comics?

COMICS FOR CANNED GOODS

October 25 from 10AM-7PM

3872 Lattimer Street, Hilliard , Ohio 43026

(614) 527-8450 www.packratcomics.com

Comics for Canned Goods, get free comics & buy select comics for canned goods

Costume Contest (0-12 from 12pm-1pm, 13 & up 2pm-3pm) prizes awarded
Entry fee = Canned Good Item

Free food, candy & hot apple cider!

All non-perishable food items to be donated to the Mid-Ohio Food Bank.

Discussing the Discourse of Comics

The Rhetoric of Comics -::- November 10, 2008, 7PM
A talk by Karin Kukkonen, PhD candidate at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz and the University of Tampere, Finland.

Being a medium of visual narration, the images of comics are not limited to merely showing events. On the contrary, much of their storytelling relies on what the image sequences tell readers. Yet are images even capable of telling like language? Can they reproduce the stylistic effects of metaphor and metonymy? And will Superman escape the clutches of anaphora or is he doomed to live through the same story time and again?

Addressing these and other questions, Karin Kukkonen's talk explores the visual rhetoric of comics narration on the level of individual images, image sequences and larger narrative structure. If the rhetoric of comics emerges from the same thought patterns as classical rhetoric, she argues, this longstanding critical tradition can help us to understand how comics tell their story.

Co-sponsored by Project Narrative and the Cartoon Research Library.

Location:
Seminar Room next to the library
Cartoon Research Library
27 W. 17th Avenue Mall
Columbus, OH 43210

Obama Arts Ohio blog

The following was received via Facebook:

I am coordinating a project called Obama Arts Ohio, a component of Arts and Creative Industries for Obama (www.obamaarts.blogspot.com). It is a viral campaign and a state-by-state, grassroots movement to encourage artists and creative people to use their talents loudly and clearly in these last days of the most important presidential race of our time.

Here’s how it works. If you want to be a part of Obama Arts Ohio, send an email to obamaartsohio@gmail.com with your preferred email address. You will then receive up-to-the-minute information on artist created events for Obama happening all across Ohio.

Next, please forward this email to all artists and creative people you know! The bigger the list, the stronger the community will be.

If you are involved in any artistic event supporting Barack Obama, send the information to obamaartsohio@gmail.com, and it will be forwarded to everyone on the list. Even if we can’t attend all the events, we can be inspired by the work of our fellow artists to not only get out the vote for Barack, but to create our own events in our communities.

I know some of you are not physically in Ohio at the moment, but that’s the beauty of the internet, isn’t it? Send this to all your friends who are.

Also, I realize this may reach someone who is planning on voting for McCain. If so, no offense meant, and if you have any questions or concerns about Obama as a candidate, please, please, please email me and I will be very happy to engage with you in a thoughtful conversation and exchange of ideas about the candidates and the issues.

So, paint a picture. Sing a song. Produce a play. Mold a sculpture. Make a film. Create a happening. Throw a party. Do it for Obama, let us know, and we will spread the word!

Peace,

Kelly Swinehart Wehrer

art-related events for 10/17-19

The 24 Hour Comics Day event at the Ogre is on tap this weekend, but there's other art stuff going on as well:

- The Couchfire Collective presents Agora V, a semi-annual art exhibit. Friday night is the preview, Saturday night is the show proper.

- Two new gallery hops begin this Friday evening: one in Clintonville and one in Newark.

- The Columbus Film Festival offers an encore screening of How Ohio Pulled It Off, Sunday at 5:30 PM at Studio 35.

Akron Ohio in the Comics News again

Ohio native Derf (John Backderf), author of My Friend Dahmer (yes, that Dahmer) and the alt comic strip The City, has recently been getting a fair amount of attention from both the comics press and mainstream news for his latest book, Punk Rock and Trailer Parks. If you're up in the Akron area visit Square Records (824 W. Market St.) on Friday from 6-8p and maybe you can get Derf to sign your Winnebago.

Video Underground: Behind the Counter at MOC

I just got an email from Richard Katterjohn of Video Underground/ Behind the Counter and they want to feature Sunday Comix in some of their upcoming video podcasts about comics. They have six videos from their time at last weekend's Mid-Ohio Con (you can go to their home page or their ComicSpace gallery page or their YouTube page and see what what it's all about). It looks like they've been doing this since 2003 with 133+ podcasts and counting (2003, incidentally, is when this little group began).

If you read this blog regularly, you'll find out how things develop as they happen (more or less).

Worthington Arts Council calling for artists

The Worthington Arts Council invites all arts organizations and artists to submit an application to have their artwork on display at one of three exhibition venues for their 2009 visual arts exhibition series. The WAC currently holds exhibits at the Worthington Community Center, the Worthington Municipal Building, and Park National Bank.

All content must be suitable for public viewing. All works submitted for consideration must be current (within the last 3 years). Due to space restrictions, the Worthington Arts Council requests that only 2D art or art that can be hung flat on a wall be submitted for review.

To apply, please download an artist information form and return it to:

Worthington Arts Council
C/o Linda Swingle, Administrative Assistant
777 High Street, 2nd Floor
Worthington, OH 43085

Electronic submissions are also accepted, but must include the artist information form, all requested materials, and digital files of art work. Email submissions with only links to the artist websites will not be considered. Send to: lswingle@worthingtonarts.org.

For more information or questions, please contact the Worthington Arts Council at 614-431-0329 or email lswingle@worthingtonarts.org.

Related Recap Round-Up

Chuck Moore over at Comic Related has put together a phenomenal amount of coverage on last weekend's Mid Ohio Con, both in print (so to speak) and audio. A couple of the Related Recap Podcasts feature Sunday Comix members (Sean Forney, Bob Corby and Max Ink) and many other episodes feature various Ohio comic book creators (Thom Zahler, Sean McKeever, Jay Fife, Wes Molebash, Eric Adams, Johanna Estep to name a few). There are seven RR MOC podcasts in all with over seven hours worth of interviews! You can listen to them online or download them via iTunes.

Akron, OH Editorial Cartoonist Buyout

Just got this update from Tom Surgeon's Comics Reporter feed. It's a link to The Daily Cartoonist's news blurb about Akron Beacon Journal's editorial cartoonist, Chip Bok, retiring. Tom's going to write a more detailed post on his blog tomorrow. So do yourself a favor and check that out, in fact subscribe to his feed, okay?**

In other Ohio editorial cartoonist news (thanks to a little searching on the Daily Cartoonist site): There's good news & sad news about Mike Peters... I was fortunate enough to see Mike last year at the OSU Cartoon Research Library Festival of Cartoon Art and he's a total goof. Seriously.

One more from The Daily Cartoonist: although Sam Milai wasn't an Ohio editorial cartoonist, his work is being exhibited through the end of the year at the OSU Cartoon Research Library.

**Update 10/13/2008: Chip Bok will continue on with the paper until November 7 - election day.

current and upcoming art events this weekend

This weekend is Columbus Day Weekend, and once again Experience Columbus is celebrating the occasion with "Experience Columbus Days," in which a number of attractions and restaurants provide special discounts. The Columbus Museum of Art and the Wexner Center are among the parties involved; just print out this flyer and present it at one of the places on the list and you're good to go!

- The latest exhibit at the Columbus Museum of Art is "Objects of Wonder," a collection of odd, esoteric and unusual objects from OSU's archives, including material from the Cartoon Research Library. Runs through January 11.

- The Franklin Park Conservatory currently has a show called "Bending Nature," a multi-media exhibit that draws its inspiration from the beauty of nature. Through March 29.

- The Ohio Art League hosts "One Night: High" this Friday, a party with a silent auction included.

- The Grant Avenue branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library hosts the Ohio Online Visual Artists Registry exhibition, beginning today and running through November 29.

- CCAD has their Faculty Biennial up and running, now through December 6. Also, on Tuesday the 14th, there will be a fashion show and fundraiser called "Proper Attire," benefitting Planned Parenthood of Central Ohio.

In addition:
- The Columbus Italian Festival is this weekend.

Happy Birthday Chevy Chase

Today is Chevy Chase's 65th birthday.
So, what the heck does that have to do with comics, you are probably asking yourself. (If you're in public, best not to do it aloud.)
And it's not the Marvel Team-Up issue from the late 70's that teamed Spider-Man with Saturday Night Live's original Not Ready For Primetime Players. Chase had already left the show by that time.
Well, it turns out, as revealed in a Comics Journal interview with one of my favorite comics writers, Bob Haney, writer of the Batman team-ups in The Brave and The Bold and creator of the Teen Titans, Metamorpho, Eclipso and a host of other off-beat characters from the height of the Silver Age, that Chase's father, Ned, was Haney's brother-in-law. (I suppose this means Haney's sister is Chevy's mother, though that isn't explicitly stated.)
Do you remember the SNL 25th anniversary special where Bill Murray, in his lounge singer persona, goes up to Michael Douglas in the audience and says "I am a huge fan....of your father." If I ever met Chevy Chase, I don't know if I could resist the urge to say, "I am a huge fan...of your uncle Bob."
For more about Bob Haney and The Brave and The Bold, check out this five part series that I posted on my blog The Word From On High a couple of years ago.

MOC Report LinkRound-Up (part 2)

Here are some more links from MOC exibitors (starting off with Sunday Comix's very own M.A.D.):

http://symphonyoftheuniverse.blogspot.com/2008/10/mid-ohio-con-report.html

http://caitlyn1701.blogspot.com/2008/10/post-mid-ohio-con-report.html

http://americaawry.blogspot.com/2008/10/mid-ohio-con-2008.html

http://www.lurid.com/blog/archives/448

That last one is by Wayne Alan Harold and features some photos of P. Craig Russell.

Oh! And how can I forget the official MOC Blog? Oy. I'm tired.

MOC Report LinkRound-Up

In addition to Comic Related's great comprehensive coverage of the show, here are a few links from blogs I've found on the internets with people's personal experiences about this year's Mid-Ohio-Con:

http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2008_10_05.html#015965

http://booksteveslibrary.blogspot.com/2008/10/mid-ohio-con-report.html

http://www.scottstoryillustrator.com/johnnysaturn/?p=898

http://matttauber.blogspot.com/2008/10/mid-ohio-con-report.html

http://www.ferretpress.com/weblog/2008/10/bankies-2008-mid-ohio-con-awards.htm

(I'm busy trying to work on my Blink comic strip, but feel it's important to disseminate this info.)

A little MADness...

Sunday Comix mainstay Molly Durst (M.A.D.) was one of many comic book creators who were mentioned (and photographed) in Bill Gladman's "Life In Four Colors" online journal at the Comic Related website.

24 Hour Comic Day begins October 18

Columbus' Laughing Ogre comics shop (located at 4258 North High Street) is the official Central Ohio host site for this year's 24 Hour Comic Day (24HCD). (There are dozens of host sites around the world!) The event will kick off at 12 noon on Saturday, October 18 and go until 12 noon on Sunday, October 19. The store will be open for the entire 24 Hour period.

Anyone who wants to come and participate may do so. (And if you're just curious about what goes into making a comic book, here's a prime opportunity to see artists in action!) If you're interested in spending 24 hours writing and drawing a 24 page comic book, email Norah Curry (norah@laughingogrecomics.com) ahead of time so that she can make sure the store has enough of everything. The Ogre will be providing some art supplies (thought not enough for everyone to do an entire 24 page comic), a place to work, refreshments, a place to rest and the glorious entertainment provided by their dedicated staff.

(While the Ogre is not one to stifle anyone's creativity or freedom of expression, they'd like to remind everyone that they're a family friendly store. So, if you think your mom would freak out about what you are producing you might want to rethink it.)

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, ideas, please feel free to send Norah an email. Let her know you're in Columbus (since they also have another participating Laughing Ogre shop in Fairfax, VA).

*If this is your first time participating (or if you just want to get to know more about 24HCD), check out Scott McCloud's wonderful (and in-depth) "24-Hour Clock." There, you can read the official Dare, see Scott's first 24 Hour comic, "A Day's Work," which he wrote and drew on August 31, 1990, and see a huge list of 24 Hour Comics.

Getting back into the swing of things

Over the summer, this blog was left fallow and that's entirely my fault. But recent events and circumstances have rejuvenated me and I will (along with some of my fellow Sunday Comixers) be updating this site with the sort of information you readers have come to expect. Such as this one (be warned, this event is probably not for the kiddies nor for the faint of heart!):

Nicole Hollander Tales of Graceful Aging from the Planet Denial: A Reading

Tue, Oct 21, 2008 - 7:00 PM
Wexner Film/Video Theater

Nicole Hollander is the creator of the comic strip Sylvia, which appears in over 80 newspapers across the country. On October 21, she will read from Tales of Graceful Aging from the Planet Denial, her humorous and very personal reflection on the realities of aging. Famed cartoonist Jules Feiffer calls the book, “infectious, smart, wacky, laugh-out-loud funny and gorgeously written.” Ms Hollander is alos the author/illustrator of Cats with Attitude and Psycho Kitties. A book signing at the Wexner Center Store follows.

This event is co-sponsored by the Cartoon Research Library, Wexner Center for the Arts, Project Narrative, Department of Women's Studies, and Geriatrics and Gerentology Center.

Way, Wood @ Laughing Ogre in October

Wednesday, October 8: Daniel Way signing from 4pm-8pm
Writer of Wolverine: Origins and Deadpool

Daniel Way is an American comic book writer. He received the Xeric Foundation's Xeric Grant in 2000 for his first publication, Violent Lifestyle #1. Through Violent Lifestyle, Way was introduced to Marvel Comics editor Axel Alonso. Way's first published work for Marvel was the "Heartbreaker" storyline in Spider-Man's Tangled Web #16-17. This was followed by Gun Theory, a mini-series with artist Jon Proctor under the revived Epic Comics imprint. Way's subsequent work for Marvel includes Agent X #12, Bullseye: Greatest Hits, Ghost Rider, the "Prelude to Planet Hulk" storyline in The Incredible Hulk, Sabretooth: Open Season, Supreme Power: Nighthawk, Venom, What If: Enemy of the State, Wolverine, and Wolverine: Origins. Currently he is writing the new Deadpool series.

Saturday, October 11: Brian Wood signing from 3pm-7pm
Writer of DMZ and Northlanders

Brian Wood is a writer, illustrator and graphic designer living in Brooklyn, New York. Wood both writes and illustrates graphic novels and serialized monthly comics for a variety of publishers. During his comics career, Wood held a day job for several years as a staff designer for Rockstar Games, designing for video game franchises such as Grand Theft Auto, Midnight Club, Max Payne, Smuggler's Run and Manhunt. He is also one of the most distinctive graphic designers in the comics industry, having created covers for Warren Ellis' Global Frequency, his own DMZ and many others. Wood's illustrations have appeared in Punk Planet, Bail Magazine, the SF Bay Guardian, and short films for Nike.

The Laughing Ogre
4258 North High St.
Columbus OH 43214
(614)A-MR-OGRE

Google map

Thanks for a great Mid-Ohio-Con

Just a quick note of thanks to everyone who showed up at the Con and helped to make it a wonderful show. I hope to get around to writing a more detailed post on my website and here about the whole weekend. Chuck Moore (of Comic Related) posted some photos of the show. If you don’t know Comic Related, get to know it.

Jeff Stahler at PM Gallery

Friday night, I was on my way to the pre-Mid-Ohio Con party at Barley's. (No offense meant to Panel, the party's sponsor, but it wasn't quite as good as the GOGs of old. GOG being the Great Ogre Gathering, the pre-con parties put on at the Laughing Ogre comic book shop by its former owners. At least one year, I skipped the con, but made sure to make the party.) Before I left home, I discovered an ad in Columbus Alive! touting an opportunity to meet Jeff Stahler. Jeff is the editorial cartoonist for the Columbus Dispatch and was at the PM Gallery that night signing copies of 21st Century Confusion: A Moderately Confused Collection, the latest collection of his syndicated panel daily comic Moderately Confused and kicking off an exhibition of several MC originals, which, if you've got $200 burning a hole in your pocket, you can purchase.

The exhibit consists mostly of cartoons that were part of a caption contest sponsored by the Dispatch and include the winning reader submitted punchline. A few panels with Stahler's punchlines are included as well, and those ones also appear in the book.

I picked up a copy of the book, complete with Stahler's autograph, and handed him in return a copy of my own Wasted Paper, collecting the first year of my web-comic Wasted Potential.

The Stahler exhibit at PM Gallery is slated to run through October 30.

Mid Ohio Con (Part One)

Just a quick few links to share with you what's gone on so far at this year's MOC. Comics Related has a load of coverage at their site with a podcast and page of photos and Max Ink wrote up a brief post about his own personal experiences on Saturday.

craft festival in Merion Village 10/4

"The Merion Village Association will hold its 16th Annual Crafters & Artisans Market this weekend.

'The event, the major fundraiser for the civic association, will take place 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 4 at Gates-Fourth United Methodist Church, 1234 S. Fourth St.

"'It's amazing to me that that is the 16th year,' said Bob Leighty, president of the Merion Village Civic Association. 'I don't know where the time goes.'

"Proceeds benefit the association's upkeep."

the full story

Gallery Hop and other events this weekend

Hello all. My name is Rich Watson and I'm the newest member of Sunday Comix, not to mention being a new resident of Columbus as of this summer. I'm originally from New York City, and I've been involved in small press in one form or another since 1993. I've been a writer, artist, self-publisher, editor, journalist and even retailer. I've recently started an autobiographical webcomic about my time here in C-bus called City Mouse Goes West, at Web Comics Nation. I also write a blog about black comics and creators called Glyphs, at Pop Culture Shock (hence my username - my blog used to be on Blogger).

In addition to posting about the goings on here at Sunday Comix Central, I'd like to also post about the cool arts-related stuff in Columbus. Its thriving cultural environment is perhaps the major reason I moved here. This place styles itself as the "Independent Art Capital of the World," and the moniker is a justifiable one. The visual and performing arts are almost as much a part of the town's identity as Buckeye football, and part of my intent here will be to highlight it as much as possible.

This weekend, obviously, is the Mid-Ohio Con (which, I regret to say, I'll be unable to attend), but it's also the weekend for Gallery Hop, the Short North tradition held on the first Saturday of every month. The galleries along this stretch of North High Street will stay open later than usual for everyone to check out their wares. It's a very festive occasion, something I look forward to every month. You can read more about it here.

In addition:
- The Wexner Center is currently running the "Andy Warhol: Other Voices, Other Rooms" exhibit. (I went to this recently with Jonathan, Ray, Mike L. and Fearless Leader Max and I found it an overwhelmingly vast experience. Worth seeing.) This Sunday marks the first of in a series of First Sundays Drag Day at the Wex - free admission! (Admission is also free Thursday evenings for the duration of the Warhol show.)

- The Columbus International Film Festival continues tonight at Studio 35 with How Ohio Pulled it Off, followed by the Vice-Presidential debate.

Plus:
- The North Market Harvest Festival is this Saturday.