TCJ'S ONLINE EPHEMERA
The Comics Journal's website has been updated to preview the Journal's Winter 2003 Special Edition, including lengthy excised segments from the cover-featured interview with artist William Stout. As in previous editions, the Special includes original strips on a solicited theme, this time "Cartoonists on Patriotism." Selected strips will be posted weekly until the Special's impending release, beginning this week with Phoebe Gloeckner's one-page treatment. The Journal's Audio Archive has also been updated, now offering over an hour of excerpts from Gary Groth's 1983 interview with C. C. Beck. The audio files are available for download until February 14.
INFO: The Comics Journal
INFO: The Comics Journal: Audio Archives
posted by Egon on Friday, January 17, 2003

FEIFFER AND FRIENDS
The New-York Historical Society has released finalized dates and information for two exhibits of work by Jules Feiffer and other cartoonists, both opening in February. Beginning February 4, "Feiffer's Family Tree" showcases work by artists influential to Feiffer and his work. The exhibit will include "19th-century political and social cartoons, such as those of Thomas Nast, and many items related to the character of the 'Yellow Kid'; early 20th-century sheet music featuring popular cartoon characters such as Popeye, Barney Google and Little Orphan Annie; and original comic strip drawings 1935-36, donated to N-YHS by King Features, including such well-known figures as Barney Google, Popeye, Krazy Kat and Flash Gordon." This exhibit is held in conjunction with "Julz Rulz: Inside the Mind of Jules Feiffer," opening February 18 and surveying Feiffer's development over the course of his career to date. "Unrestricted access to Feiffer's private collection of art and papers ensure a comprehensive survey of a broad-ranging body of work." "Julz Rulz" will show through May 18; "Feiffer's Family Tree" runs through June 1.
INFO: New-York Historical Society
posted by Egon on Thursday, January 16, 2003

HUMAN INTEREST: TEACHING COMICS
A handful of recent newspaper articles examine various links between comics and pedagogy. The Chronicle of Higher Learning's January 14 "Information Technology" section spotlights James Sturm's National Association of Comic Arts Educators, detailing the extensive resources found on the fledgling organization's website. The San Diego Union-Tribune profiles in its January 12 issue cartoonist and educator Eric Teitelbaum's seminar for teachers, "Blackboard Cartooning," which imparts cartooning fundamentals as basic educational methodology. "In the two-day seminar, Teitelbaum will teach educators how to draw quick, simple and accurate figures. Teachers will learn to draw humans, animals and inanimate objects, as well as ways to use pictures to illustrate concepts and ideas." The January 13 Washington Times features educational options available to students interested in cartooning careers. The piece surveys various dedicated academic programs and includes commentary from practitioners and educators, including Joe Kubert, Matt Madden and Sturm.
INFO: Chronicle of Higher Education
INFO: San Diego Union-Tribune
INFO: Washington Times
posted by Egon on Wednesday, January 15, 2003

CLOWES, ZWIGOFF RE-TEAM
Empire Online reports that Terry Zwigoff will direct the film adaptation of Dan Clowes' "Art School Confidential." Kim Thompson has previously reported Clowes' development of the screenplay which, according to the article, introduces as its central character an undercover police officer posing as an art student.
INFO: Empire Online
posted by Egon on Wednesday, January 15, 2003

DE SMET, FRANZ, VEGTER MOURNED
The deaths of Dutch cartoonists Peter de Smet and Jaap Vegter and Belgian cartoonist Franz Drappier are noted in separate posts to the Comics Journal's message board. Biographical entries in Lambiek's Comiclopedia reproduce sample artwork by all three cartoonists.
INFO: Lambiek: Peter de Smet
INFO: Lambiek: Franz (Franz Drappier)
INFO: Lambiek: Jaap Vegter
INFO: The Comics Journal
posted by Egon on Tuesday, January 14, 2003

IVAN BRUNETTI'S OPUS
Ivan Brunetti will teach a spring semester "Cartooning" course for Columbia College Chicago's Continuing Education department, as reported to the Comics Journal's messageboard by Andrei Molotiu. Brunetti's class "will focus as much on storytelling, using the iconic language of cartoons, as on developing ability in drawing," according to the College's course catalog. The seven-session class meets weekly, beginning February 12. Enrollment costs $300 and is limited to twelve students.
INFO: Columbia College Chicago
posted by Egon on Tuesday, January 14, 2003

BRYAN, NICK AND ALICE
As previously reported, Bryan Talbot illustrates a full-color one page "Real Life Rock Tales" strip for Spin Magazine's February 2003 issue, featuring a "a weird childhood story by Nick Cave;" the issue hits stands tomorrow, according to the Official Bryan Talbot fanpage. The site also reveals that Talbot's next graphic novel will be a "'Dream Documentary' about Lewis Carroll" titled "Alice in Sunderland." "Publisher and approximate print date to be confirmed soon."
INFO: The Official Bryan Talbot fanpage
posted by Egon on Monday, January 13, 2003

CLOWES ART TO SHOW, MARKET
Selected pieces by Dan Clowes are currently on exhibit and for sale at the Richard Heller Gallery in Santa Monica, CA. The exhibit opened with a January 11 reception and runs through February 8; sample artwork and price listings can be seen on the Gallery's website. The Gallery will host an exhibit of artwork by Dame Darcy in the fall, dates for which have yet to be determined.
INFO: Richard Heller Gallery
posted by Egon on Monday, January 13, 2003

CARNEGIE MELLON'S COMIC RELEASE
The Regina Miller Gallery of the Purnell Center of the Arts at Carnegie Mellon University hosts "Comic Release: Negotiating Identity for a New Generation," a "comprehensive exhibition about comic language" including work by 47 cartoonists, 70 gallery artists and over 100 zine-publishers. The show opens with a reception on January 17 and runs through March 21 before travelling to other parts of the country. Comics scholar Ana Merino, one of four exhibit curators, was responsible for the show's comics content. In a lengthy post to the Comics Journal message board, Merino lists an impressive roster of cartoonists whose original artwork will display in the show. A catalogue including work by the artists and supplementary essays will be published in the spring, according to a University press release.
INFO: Regina Miller Gallery, Purnell Center of the Arts
INFO: Carnegie Mellon University
INFO: The Comics Journal
posted by Egon on Monday, January 13, 2003

SWARTE, KOCHALKA: MOMA MOVIES
The January 17 MoMA film event, "R. O. Blechman and The Ink Tank: A Celebration," includes James Kochalka's "Hockey Monkey" music video, promotional shorts by Mark Marek and MTV station identifications by Joost Swarte as part of a program honoring Blechman and his Ink Tank animation studio. The retrospective at the Gramercy Theater will include a screening of Blechman's "The Soldier's Tale," "accompanied live by the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra."
INFO: MoMA
posted by Egon on Monday, January 13, 2003

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF COMIX
Hans Rickheit is organizing the Cambridge Comix Festival, a one day event to be held Saturday, May 17 at the YWCA's Hannum Hall in Cambridge, MA. Four local Cambridge venues will exhibit cartoon art throughout the month of May in conjunction with the Festival. "The Cambridge Comix Festival is open to submissions from cartoonists throughout New England," says Rickheit. Table reservations and exhibition artwork are currently being accepted.
INFO: Cambridge Comix Festival
posted by Egon on Monday, January 13, 2003

WALDO RADIO
The January 2 episode of the Leonard Lopate Show on WNYC radio included a lively conversation with Kim Deitch on subjects including comics, film and animation. The seventeen minute segment is available online via the public radio station's website.
INFO: WNYC
posted by Egon on Monday, January 13, 2003