Event: Small Print Expo 2008

This weekend is the Small Print Expo at the Marriott Bethesda North Hotel & Conference Center in Maryland.

From the website:

In its thirteenth year SPX now serves as the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comic books and the discovery of new creative talent. SPX will bring together over 400 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers, distributors, and each other.

I'm excited to say that I will be attending the expo for my first time, though I'll only be able to be there on Saturday. But look at the list of scheduled panels at the show! There should be some excellent opportunities to hear good discussions about what comics are and what they can become, the artistic potential they can reach. I'll be sure to report what is discussed next week.

The Ignatz Awards ceremony, recognizing outstanding experiments in comics art, will take place that evening, but due to prior commitments I am unable to attend. I do recommend the event, however, as an opportunity to see what non-commercialized comics are doing to be expressive literature.

Event: MoCCA Art Festival 2008

It's only a two day event, but this weekend (Saturday, 6/7 and Sunday, 6/8) will bring the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art Art Festival in New York City! An annual fundraiser held by the museum, panels discussing the art in comics will be hosted by major players in the comics industry, including Art Spiegelman of Maus fame.

From the website:

Sponsored by the New York Institute for the Humanities and MoCCA, “Post-Bang: Comics Ten Minutes After the Big Bang!” features roundtables and presentations on “key trends and debates facing comics in this new, ‘post-bang’ environment.” The day opens with a roundtable on “Comics and Canon Formation” (11:15-12:30) and moves onto “Comics and Kid’s Lit” (1:30-2:45), “Comics and the Literary Establishment” (3:00-4:15) and “Comics and the Internet” (5:30-6:45). The day closes with Art Spiegelman and Gary Panter in conversation (7:00-8:00), and Hillary Chute interviewing Lynda Barry (8:15-9:30).

Click on the above link to check out more information on the event, schedules, and the address. And, of course, if you happen to go, let me know what you think!

Exhibit: Comic Art Indigène

As noted in the sidebar, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe, NM has a new exhibit running from May 11, 2008 through January 4, 2009 called Comic Art Indigène.

The exhibit explores the artistic approaches made by a recent generation of Native Americans who have embraced comics as a form of expression and reflection of their culture. From the museum's website:

It is only natural that this marginal art appeals to oftmarginalized indigenous people, for both have been regarded as a primitive and malignant presence on the American landscape.

I find it extremely interesting that a minority with a history of being overlooked and mistreated is utilizing an art form that is respected as such by very few. This exhibit should prove to be fascinating.

If any readers happen to see this exhibit, please let me know your thoughts!




Lest Tyranny Triumph ca. 2004
Diego Romero (Cochiti Pueblo)
Pencil, ink on board
(used without permission)