Mort Drucker- Photo by Ruby Washington for the New York Times

The Lovely Anna and I are headed to New York City on Thursday in part to attend the opening of the Long Island chapter (otherwise known as the Berndt Toast Gang) of the National Cartoonists Society‘s art show “Laugh Lines” at the Art-trium Gallery on Melville Park Road in Melville. The show is going to feature original art by the members of the Long Islad chapter including Mort Drucker, Ray Alma, John Reiner, Adrian Sinnott and my good buddy Ed Steckley. There are lots of other artists but those are the ones I am sure will be included, so my apologies to those left out of my limited list.

Here’s a New York Times article about the show, and a blog post by cartoonist Mike Lynch on the exhibit.

Should be a great show. Ed is a talented illustrator who well deserves this honor. Congrats Ed and all the artists who’s work is hanging in the exhibit.

You have to love all the shows of original cartoon work going on around the country right now. Sergio and I both have shows going, there is the one in Aitkin I was just at last week. The Cartoon Art Museum in San Fransisco and the Museum of Cartoon Art in New York have constant exhibits, and of course the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa is permanent celebration of the incomparable Peanuts. The Ohio State Cartoon Library and Museum will be moving into a new facility with space for a lot more exhibits as well. No doubt there are many I don’t know about going on or planned right now.

It just goes to show that cartooning is well accepted by the general public as a well respected art form, and one people are interested in seeing in galleries.

The morning after my little talk in Aitkin, MN I was able to visit the exhibit “What’s So Funny? A Celebration of Cartooning!” in the nearby Jaques Art Center. Located in a renovated Carnegie Library, the Jaques (pronounced “Jay-Kweez”) Art Center is a marvelous little museum featuring a permanent collection of work from well known local wildlife artist Francis Lee Jaques, rotating exhibits and regular educational classes and workshops.

A more accurate title for the show might be “What’s So Funny? A Celebration of MINNESOTA Cartoonists!” because that’s really the focus of the exhibit. Curator (and Minnesota cartoonist) Duane Barnhart did a lot of telephone, email and leg work to gather up cartooning samples from some of the many varied talents in the state and put together a really fantastic exhibit of original work on display in the charming town of Aitkin through October 3rd. There are some classic gems from past Minnesota native giants like Wally Wood and Charles Schulz as well as working stiffs from today.

Here are some pictures from the show:

Part of the main gallery

This TV prop was designed and built by local animator Joel Seibol

Comic Art by Dan Jurgens

An Original Sunday Peanuts!!

Some of my artwork

An original Wally Wood!

A bit more of the Gallery…

Some great work by Duane and others…

Work by an old friend of mine, Scott Rolfs

More terrific work…

Original Jerry Van Amerongen art showing his process

More Jerry…

Exhibit curator Duane Barnhart, me and the Center’s Executive Director Karen Raisanen

Great show. Congrats and thanks to Duane, Karen and the rest of the folks at the Jaques for their hospitality and hard work on the exhibit. What a great thing for the area.

As I have mentioned previously I’ll be doing a speaking presentation at 7:30 tonight at the 40 Club and Convention Center in Aitkin, MN in conjunction with the “What’s So Funny? A Celebration of Cartooning!” art show at the nearby Jaques Art Center.

My talk will feature a slideshow presentation of a bunch of samples of my work, a step-by-step of a typical MAD Magazine movie parody job and a few other surprises, as well as a Q&A at the end. The entry fee is a donation to the local food shelf or one to the Art Center. I’ll also be signing autographs after the talk, free if you bring something for me to sign otherwise they are selling copies of my black and white inkedself caricature for $2.00, proceeds also going to the Jaques Art Center.  I’ll try and get some pictures.

Of more interest is probably the art show itself, which runs through Oct. 3rd. It features a lot of Minnesota cartoonists:

• Duane Barnhart – Contributor to the AITKIN INDEPENDENT AGE, SATURDAY EVENING POST

• Jim Bertram – Contributor to the WALL STREET JOURNAL, award winning editorial cartoonist

• Ed Fischer – Award winning editorial cartoonist – author of many regional humor books

• Carl W. Gawboy – Cartoonist, book author, illustrator IN WITH THE FINN CROWD

• David Gillette – Emmy Award winning cartoonist for TWIN CITIES PUBLIC TELEVISION (TPT)

• Dan Jurgens – Award winning comic book artist and writer SUPERMAN COMICS, others

• Dave Kirwan – advertising cartoonist, creator of syndicated comic strip ALIENS

• Scott Klingelhofer – advertising illustrator, cartoonist, art director for MELLO SMELLO

• Chris Monroe – Award winning book illustrator MONKEY WITH A TOOL BELT, draws VIOLET DAYS cartoon

• Dave Phipps – Panel cartoonist, specializing in advertising and promotion

• Tom Richmond – Moi

• Scott Rolfs – Comic book artist, book illustrator, advertising cartoonist

• Joel Seibel – Emmy Award winning animator and storyboard artist. Draws SKEETER TALES

• Julia Suits – Contributor to NEW YORKER MAGAZINE, nationally syndicated caricaturist

• Jackie Urbanovic – NEW YORK TIMES best selling children’s book author, illustrator

• Jerry Van Amerongen – Award winning syndicated daily cartoonist. Draws BALLARD STREET

Check out their bios here. I am looking forward to seeing both the show and the small town beauty of Aitkin… and the fall colors are beginning to start this time of year.

Yesterday was the official opening of the previously mentioned cartoon art show in Aitkin, MN, and today is the opening reception gala:

August 28 – October 3, 2009

In the Main Gallery at the Jaques Art Center, 121 Second Street North West, Aitkin, MN

Artist reception: August 29, 1-4 pm public is welcome!

What’s So Funny? features an entire gallery of original cartoon art including comic strips, comic book art, panel cartoons, editorial cartoons, advertising art, book illustration, caricatures, animation art, cells, and storyboards and more created by many of the world’s foremost cartoonists including Charles Schulz (Peanuts) and Jim Davis (Garfield). If you are a cartoon fan or have ever read comic strips, comic books, or watched animated cartoons, you will want to make the trip to Aitkin and be amazed by the work of these cartooning professionals!

It is a great exhibit for ALL AGES!

FEATURED CARTOONISTS

• Duane Barnhart – Contributor to the AITKIN INDEPENDENT AGE, SATURDAY EVENING POST

• Jim Bertram – Contributor to the WALL STREET JOURNAL, award winning editorial cartoonist

• Ed Fischer – Award winning editorial cartoonist – author of many regional humor books

• Carl W. Gawboy – Cartoonist, book author, illustrator IN WITH THE FINN CROWD

• David Gillette – Emmy Award winning cartoonist for TWIN CITIES PUBLIC TELEVISION (TPT)

• Dan Jurgens – Award winning comic book artist and writer SUPERMAN COMICS, others

• Dave Kirwan – advertising cartoonist, creator of syndicated comic strip ALIENS

• Scott Klingelhofer – advertising illustrator, cartoonist, art director for MELLO SMELLO

• Chris Monroe – Award winning book illustrator MONKEY WITH A TOOL BELT, draws VIOLET DAYS cartoon

• Dave Phipps – Panel cartoonist, specializing in advertising and promotion

• Tom Richmond – Award winning MAD MAGAZINE cartoonist, advertising artist and caricaturist

• Scott Rolfs – Comic book artist, book illustrator, advertising cartoonist

• Joel Seibel – Emmy Award winning animator and storyboard artist. Draws SKEETER TALES

• Julia Suits – Contributor to NEW YORKER MAGAZINE, nationally syndicated caricaturist

• Jackie Urbanovic – NEW YORK TIMES best selling children’s book author, illustrator

• Jerry Van Amerongen – Award winning syndicated daily cartoonist. Draws BALLARD STREET

RELATED EVENTS:

• Friday, Sept. 4, MOONLIGHT MADNESS CARTOONING SCAVENGER HUNT– Find clues about Minnesota cartoonists scattered around the Aitkin businesses
• Thurs. Sept. 10, 7:30 pm THE MAD ART OF TOM RICHMOND (www.tomrichmond.com) at the 40 Club Convention Center, Aitkin (call or e-mail the Jaques Art Center for directions) The public is invited to look behind the scenes at MAD Magazine as cartoonist and caricaturist Tom Richmond shows how he creates his award winning cartoon art. If you like to draw, don’t miss this educational and entertaining evening. Autograph session follows presentation. Admission: Donation to Jaques Art Center and/or Food Shelf
• Saturday, Sept. 12 THE WHAT’S SO FUNNY CARTOONING WORKSHOP! – Tuition $10 Instructors: Duane & Angie Barnhart Class 1 – 9:00 am – Noon / Age 7 – 12 /Class 2 – 1:00 pm – 4:00 / Age 12 – Adult
• Thurs., Sept. 17 – noon – 1pm 100 YEARS OF MINNESOTA CARTOONING
  Brown Bag Lunch at the Jaques Art Center FREE! Presentation by Duane Barnhart
• Saturday, Sept. 19 – 10am – 3pm QUILL AND INK CARTOONS with Duane BarnhartFestival of Adventures Rendezvous Encampment, Aitkin City Park.

Contact the Jaques center at 218-927-2363 • www.jaquesart.com • e-mail info@jaquesart.com
Sponsored by Paulbecks Country Market, The Tuscany Room and Iron Range Resources

I will be there on Thursday night for a speaking presentation and will be signing autographs afterwords. No admissions or cost other than a donation to the Jaques Art Center or the local food shelf.

It’s almost time of the annual Walt Disney Hometown Toonfest in lovely Marcelene, MO. I wrote about the stellar speaker lineup here, but here it is again for those who hate following links:

• Mark Fiore- Editorial cartoonist 
• Wiley Miller- Creator of the comic strip Non Sequitor
• David Mowder- Hallmark Cards cartoonist 
• Sam Viviano- MAD Magazine art director

Every year they have a wonderful show of original cartoon art, and they are once again calling for professional cartoonists to submit work for the show. Here is the call for art by show curators Paul Fell and Mike Edholm:

Dear Fellow Cartoonist:

It’s time to start gearing up for the 11^th. Annual Walt Disney Hometown Toonfest in Marceline, MO, the little town where Walt spent part of his boyhood. Each year we celebrate Walt Disney’s life and work with this small-town festival that includes a parade, presentations by several nationally-know cartoonists, and a cartoon exhibit.

This year’s Disney Toonfest will be held Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19. As always, all events are free and open to the public.

If you have exhibited your work in previous Toonfest shows, we appreciate your participation and hope that you will be sending in two or three pieces of your work again this year. If you haven’t sent work to the Toonfest cartoon exhibit, we hope you’ll consider becoming part of our growing list of cartoonist exhibitors.

Here’s the details:

All work should either be matted or mounted on mat board or mounting board. We are no longer able to exhibit work that comes in unmated or unmounted.

While we will accept cartoon submissions right up until the day we hang the show (Thursday, Sept. 17) it will make our lives a lot easier if you can have it at the Toonfest Offices by Monday, September 14.

1. At the end of the Toonfest exhibit we will ship your work back to you at no charge.
2. Please be sure that your contact information is on the back of each piece.
3. Suggested number of cartoons: 2-3
4. The Disney Hometown Toonfest reserves the right to refuse to place work in the show that we consider inappropriate for inclusion in a family-oriented event.

Please send cartoons for the Toonfest exhibit to:

Walt Disney Hometown Toonfest

207 N. Main Street, USA

Marceline, MO 64658

Phone: 660-376-WALT (9258)

Email: toonfest@sbcglobal.net

Kaye Malins  email: kaye.malins@toonfest.net

Barb Boyd  email: barb.boyd@toonfest.net

We will look forward to seeing your work in this year’s Toonfest cartoon exhibit!

Paul Fell and Mike Edholm
Toonfest Exhibit Coordinators

So, there you have it. I have a few original MAD pages in the show from the parody of “Grey’s Anatomy”. Unfortunately I will be unable to attend this year, but if you have never been to Toonfest it is a charming small town celebration of cartooning that is well worth the time.

Some of the crazy South American cartoonists I hung out with for a week in Cali

Last night was the opening of my art exhibition at the Centro Columbo Americano in Cali, Colombia. The Colombo is an educational resource for Cali residents and visitors about Amercia’s culture, language and life. They teach English there, have exhibitions and shows featuring American arts and culture and organize events featuring the same in Cali. Last week they had a blues music festival featuring many international musicians including a few from the United States. They also act as a resource for Americans visiting Cali, and often are hosts to American guests in town for events. The Colombo Americano didn’t organize the CaliComix event but they are one of the sponsors, specifically sponsoring my involvement. They have provided translators for me for my presentations and when I attend the presentations of others, and have made sure I am well taken care of. They have been great.

The show itself was supposed to be all originals but the logistics of sending so much original art, getting it framed and set up and shipping it back later was just too complicated. So I sent they digital files of about 30 pieces of art I did for MAD and other clients, and they had them printed for the show. They enlarged several of them but most printed at the same size they were in the magazine. Other than having some of the enlargements looking “stretched” because their aspect ratios were not kept consistent when they were increased in size, the show looked pretty good. I did bring two originals with me that were included as well.

Here are a few more photos from the show opening party. I’ll be writing a full report next week about my experience in Colombia.

They made a gigantic mural print of the promo piece for the show

This spring and early summer the TOON-Ed organization will be hanging an exhibition of student cartooning artwork for consideration for the Annual TOON Award at the Pearson Lakes Art Center in Okoboji, IA. Toon-Ed is dedicated to educating the student of cartooning and provides a chance to showcase students cartoon art that are enrolled in post-secondary schools, colleges, art schools, and universities. Cartoon art students are invited to participate in the annual TOON Award.

College students 18 years of age or older are welcome to submit up to 3 pieces of their original works of cartoon art to the Pearson center by March 15th, 2009. There is a $10.00 entree fee. More details here.

The work will be judged by a panel of professional cartoonists on April 24th, 2009. The panel includes:

• Chris Browne of “Hagar the Horrible” website
• Tom Richmond of “Mad Magazine” (Hey… that’s me!)
• Oliver Christenson (Revilo) of Hallmark Cards website
• Buck Jones – Humorous Illustrator website
• Paul Fell- Editorial Cartoonist website
• Ed Baker -Emmy award winning storyboard animator

Categories include magazine cartoons, greeting cards, comic books, political cartoons, illustrations, manga and anime, comic strips and animation. You can download the registration form here.

On Saturday there will be several workshops on cartooning by professional cartoonists:

• Dave Carpenter, Magazine cartooning
• Jim Allen, Dissecting a Cartoon
• Ken Alvine, Cartoon Ingredients

Looks like fun and it will be great to see all the work done by young, aspiring cartoonists.