Jack Me Up!

On August 1st I will be in St. Simons Island, GA taking part in the opening of a retrospective of the work of the incomparable Jack Davis via a panel discussion about Jack, his work, and his influence on virtually all cartoonists and humorous illustrators that came after him. See press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ella Cart, 912-230-3807
ellamcart@yahoo.com

GLYNN ART ASSOCIATION PROUDLY PRESENTS JACK DAVIS: FROM THE BEGINNING

St. Simons Island, GA, May 30, 2013…On August 1-30, Glynn Art Association (GAA) will be hosting Jack Davis: From the Beginning, an exhibit that will include highlighted works from Jack Davis’ art career. Davis, whose art is instantly recognizable, lived in New York for much of his professional career and enjoyed a life as one of the world’s leading humorous illustrators from 1949 until his semi-retirement.

A University of Georgia graduate, Davis is well known within the state of Georgia for his infamous Georgia Bulldawg illustrations and Georgia/Florida posters. On a national leel, he’s known as one of the original artists of the legendary EC Comics (Tales from the Crypt, etc.), Mad Magazine, film posters and ads (It’s a MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD World, etc.), and record covers. Of course, Davis’ TV Raid commercials (RAAAIDDD!) were often more enjoyed than the programs they appeared with! Postage stamp collectors and aficianados will remember the 25 cent stamp he designed in 1989 for the U.S. Postal Service. Davis also created Time and TV Guide covers during his varied career. His list of accomplishments is second to none, having originated artwork that eventually would become so well known that his talent has evolved into the Jack Davis brand.

In the late 19th century, a fresh, new art style evolved with the French Impressionists; followed by cubism with Picasso. In the early 20th century, Norman Rockwell had his symbolic style of capturing Americana. Today, we have Jack Davis, a man whose storytelling art within each panel includes his hallmark style.

Davis has won every conceivable top honor in the cartoon field. The National Cartoonist Society awarded him the Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement award (1996), National Cartoonist Society Advertising Award (1980), and the National Cartoonist Society Reuben award (2000). He has been inducted into the Comic Book Hall of Fame (2003), and the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame (2005).

There are expenses with this exhibit that do not accompany other shows at Glynn Art so GAA is trying a new method of fundraising which has proven successful for many people/groups. Beginning in June, Glynn Art will put its Kickstarter campaign online. Kickstarter.com is a grassroots crowd funding wherein people are given prizes in exchange for their donations. Glynn Art has a lot of great things to offer its donors so check the website and do a search for Jack Davis or St. Simons and it will come up on the screen. It’s scheduled to go live online on the first of June.

Join Glynn Art in celebrating Davis and his talent on Thursday, August 1, 2013 at the Opening Reception/Panel Discussion. Nick Meglin, former Mad editor and longtime friend of Davis’, will moderate a panel discussion with Tom Richmond, President of the National Cartoonist Society and Mad illustrator, and Mark Schultz, a leading Pen and Ink illustrator from Philadelphia. Nick will discuss his days with Jack while Tom and Mark will share their thoughts on how Davis’ art influenced them to become artists. Over the years, Davis has had a profound influence on legions of artists. Space is limited for this reception ($35), so it is highly suggested to RSVP early to glynnartassociation@gmail.com or glynnart2@bellsouth.net.

On Friday, August 2 (10-11 am) Alex Murawski (Professor of Art at Lamar Dodd School of Art, University of Georgia and President of the Jack Davis Foundation) will give a slide presentation of Davis’ career. This event is free and open to the public but reserve a spot early as space is limited.

The three-day opening festivities concludes on Saturday, August 3 (10-11am) with a special inking demonstration by Mark Schultz. This event is also free and open to the public.

The exhibit will be up throughout the month and will close August 30, 2013.

Jack is a longtime resident of St. Simons Island, and the community there is honoring him and his incredible (and still ongoing) career with this one month show. How can it not be spectaculr, since it will be nothing but Jack’s work? The Kickstarter to help raise money to cover the show’s expenses starts tomorrow, so I will post a link to that when it’s up and running. One of the rewards is one of my original pages from MAD.

If you live anywhere nearby, or have the urge to travel to coastal Georgia in the late summer, this will be a great show. BTW I did the above drawing for a book of original art put together as a gift to jack on the occasion of his being honored by CAPs with the first inaugural “Sergio” award in 2006.