Join us at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery this Saturday, July 12 for the lively Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack. This is a good opportunity to view our spectacular new exhibition "Now Serving Cheesecake: The Classic Art of Cartoon Pin-Up." A real crowd pleaser. Lots going on in Georgetown at what has become one of our region's most colorful cultural outings.

THE CLASSIC ART OF CARTOON PIN-UP OPENS SATURDAY, JUNE 28

[Read more...]

May 28, 2008
Media Release
Contact: Larry Reid
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Kathy Nyland
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

GEORGETOWN SECOND SATURDAY ART ATTACK ON JUNE 14!

Adventurous Seattle art enthusiasts are invited to celebrate the arrival of summer at the Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack on Saturday, June 14 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. In only its fifth installment, the Georgetown Art Attack has established itself as one of the region’'s most colorful cultural outings. The June 14 event features an impressive array of exceptional local, national and international artists in a variety of disciplines.

Among the many highlights:

The Seattle debut of photographs by Johanna Breiding of Zurich, Switzerland at Bella Vitale Studios. Her arresting images of abandoned European architectural environments can be previewed at: www.johannabreiding.ch/index.html.

A multimedia presentation, “Accidents Will Happen,” at Belle & Wissell. This exhibition is organized by Gabe Kean of Born Magazine and Georgetown Records'’ Marq Dean, with EMP curator Jacob MacMurray and photographer Curt Doughty. The show examines the evolution of music photography in the Northwest through film, photographs and digital media. Featured artists include Seattle'’s legendary seminal rock photographer Jini Dellaccio, as well as current masters on the genre Charles Peterson, Lance Mercer, David Belisle, Morgan Keuler, and others.

“Carnaval de Monstruos,” Bruce Christian Andersen’'s show of recent figurative ceramics and banner paintings by at Georgetown Tile Works —– a three-dimensional retrospective of some of the most unusual and fascinating midway performers of the early 1900's.

A show of drawings and prints by sensational Southern California artist Josh Agle (aka SHAG) at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery. “SHAG: A to Z” celebrates the pleasures of a hedonistic lifestyle and the virtues of overindulgence in his seductive and singular rendering style.

A display of power tool racers by Georgetown’'s provocative collective Hazard Factory and a performance by musician Anna Coogan at Full Throttle Bottles; Rebecca Bolte’'s work in music photography and album art at Bolte Creative; boisterous drinking, delicious dining, and exotic shopping experiences at over 30 locations throughout Seattle’'s historic Georgetown business district.

The June 14 Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack coincides with the annual Georgetown Music Festival. For more information on the music festival visit: www.georgetownmusicfest.com.

The Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack is a production of the Georgetown Merchants’ Association. A selection of images in a variety of formats is available for publication. For additional information contact GMA chair Kathy Nyland, or Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery curator Larry Reid at numbers above. Website:
www.georgetownartattack.com.

Left to right: Shannon Anderson of Georgetown Tile Works, Georgetown Merchants' association chair Kathy Nyland, Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery curator Larry Reid accept a big check from City of Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels to support the fabulous monthly Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack.

Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack” Spring Offensive Continues with a Blast on Saturday, May10 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM

Seattle'’s liveliest cultural adventure continues with the May 10 installment of the Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack. This monthly event, a production of the Georgetown Merchants’ Association, is intended to draw attention to the creative industrial arts district of Georgetown in an effort to foment public sentiment in favor of preserving this historic civic asset. More than 50 galleries, nightclubs, boutiques, studios, and individual artists participate in this colorful celebration of aesthetic diversity.

Coinciding with the Art Attack is the first exhibition of Georgetown Independent Artists in the Engine Room of the enchanting old brewery building. Organized by painter John Ohannesian, the show features recent work by Augie Pagan, Doug Parry, Diana Pharoah, Angielena Chamberlain, Dave Mazak, Steve Wright, Mike Poetzel, Dave McGranaghan, Lance Mercer and many others. While these artists frequently exhibit throughout the region, this exhibition acknowledges the fierce independence of Georgetown’'s working artists, who largely reject the stifling restrictions imposed by traditional gallery representation. Other highlights include: “We Make Our Own Luck,” mixed media encaustic paintings by Joseph Wackerman at Georgetown Tile Works; an exhibition of illustrations and prints by Los Angeles artist Jordan Crane at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery; Georgetown artist Sherri Scott at George; musician Anna Coogan performing at Full Throttle Bottles; free musical performances at neighborhood nightclubs; exotic dining, drinking and shopping experiences in the charming Bohemian enclave of Georgetown.

For additional information contact GMA chair Kathy Nyland or Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery curator Larry Reid. Website: www.georgetownartattack.com

Listing Information

Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack
Saturday, May 10, 6:00 – 9:00 PM.

All City Coffee, Artcore Tattoo, Art at the Top of the Stairs. Backstage, Bella Vitale, Belle & Wissell, Black Market Studios, Bolte Creative, Calamity Jane's, Catherine Gill Studios, A Dog's Dream Natural Pet Supply, Equinox Studios, Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery, Fruit Cocktail Collectibles, Full Throttle Bottles, George, Georgetown Art Center, Georgetown Liquor Company*, Georgetown Records, Georgetown Tile Works, Great Stuff, Hangar Café, Jules Maes Saloon*, MIX, 9 Lb. Hammer*, Smarty Pants Restaurant*, Squid and Ink, The Stables, Stellar Pizza & Ale, Two Tartes Bakery, 24 Karat, and more. * Indicates 21 + with valid ID

THREE BRILLIANT ART STARS SHINE ON CONSECUTIVE SATURDAYS IN MAY AT FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKSTORE & GALLERY!

Jordan Crane on May 10, Peter Bagge on May 17, and SHAG on May 24

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery springs into action in May with a succession of events featuring three of the country’s most celebrated cartoonists and remarkable illustrators. The public of all ages is invited to join us in an exciting series of exhibitions featuring Jordan Crane on May 10, Peter Bagge on May 17, and SHAG on May 24.

Los Angles artist Jordan Crane’s evocative and bittersweet meditations on the human condition in comics and illustration have gained him an enthusiastic following among art aficionados of all ages. His economical narrative observations have been published by Seattle-based Fantagraphics Books, including two issues of the comic book series Uptight, and graphic novels The Last Lonely Saturday and The Clouds Above, recently issued in trade paperback. His exhibition opening Saturday, May 10 includes exquisite limited edition prints and original artwork from his comics. The reception, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, serves as the after-party for exhibitors and guests of the Emerald City Comicon, where Crane is among the featured artists. The opening also coincides with the lively Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack, featuring art, music and more at over 30 locations throughout the enchanting Georgetown neighborhood.

Seattle’s Peter Bagge is one of the most accomplished and admired cartoonists in the world. On Saturday, May 17 from 6:00 – 9:00 PM, Fantagraphics Bookstore will host the launch party for a line of skateboards and related product produced by Seattle-based Manik Skateboards. On display will be the debut of skateboard decks drawn from the pages of his landmark comic HATE. Bagge’s grunge-era imagery is ideally suited to the skateboarding subculture. At once hilarious and poignant, Bagge’s work of this era went beyond satire, and helped fashion both the attitudes and aesthetics of Seattle’s only significant indigenous youth movement. In the opinion of Fantagraphics Books’ resident curator Larry Reid, “Peter Bagge’s HATE is the most fully conceived and executed comic book series ever published.” These delightful boards remain as funny and compelling as his comics of the 1990s.

SHAG (Josh Agle), of Santa Ana, CA, is the Andy Warhol of the new millennium. His distinctive artwork is characterized by a deceptively simple fluid line quality and contemporary interpretations of mid-century Americana. His work is simultaneously fresh and familiar, drawing on oddities of American popular culture both past and present. SHAG’s imagery resonates with audiences worldwide, and over the course of the last decade he has become a cottage industry – certainly one of the most prolific and successful artists working today. For good reason. The exhibition opening and book signing on Saturday, May 24 from 6:00 – 9:00 PM will feature work from his new book, SHAG: A to Z, published by Fantagraphics Books, natch. The book is comprised of 26 original paintings corresponding to the letters of the alphabet. Each piece is accompanied by a short verse extolling the pleasures of a hedonistic lifestyle and the virtues of overindulgence. Join us in welcoming this extraordinary artist.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale Street in Seattle’s Georgetown district. Open daily, 11:30 – 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM. Phone: 206.658.0110. A selection of imagery in a variety of formats is available for publication. For additional information, please contact Larry Reid.

LISTING INFORMATION

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery

Jordan Crane
Book signing and art show
Saturday, May 10, 6:00 – 9:00 PM
(Emerald City Comicon after-party)
Exhibition continues through May 21

Peter Bagge
Manik Skateboard launch party
Saturday, May 17, 6:00 – 9:00 PM

SHAG: A to Z
Book signing and art show
Saturday, May 24, 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Exhibition continues through June 25

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S. Vale Street. (at Airport Way S.)
Seattle, WA 98108
206.658.0110
Open daily 11:30 – 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM

Please join us this Thursday, April 17 in welcoming David Hajdu to Seattle. A longtime friend of Fantagraphics, Hajdu is the author of The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic Book Scare and How it Changed America, which examines the hysteria surrounding the popularity of comics in the Cold War era. Hajdu is music critic for the New Republic and author of Positively 4th Street. He’ll be speaking on the subject of “Outsiders in the Panels” at 7:30 at Town Hall, 1119 Eight Avenue in Seattle. Tickets are $8 ($6 students), available at www.nextbook.org.

Also this Thursday evening at 7:00 PM, Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery’s resident curator Larry Reid will speak at the Frye Art Museum, 704 Terry Avenue in Seattle. Reid will present a slide lecture on the topic “WEIRDOS: Seattle’s Alternative Comics Culture in the Context of R. Crumb’s Underground.” If you have yet to see the phenomenal Crumb exhibition at the Frye, this represents one of the last opportunities to view this comprehensive collection and explore Crumb’s considerable influence on comics in the Northwest. Admission is free. Reid assures us that you’ll get your money’s worth. More info at 206.622.9250.

And don’t miss Drew Friedman’s amazing exhibition “The Fun Never Stops!” continuing through May 6 at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery, 1201 S. Vale St. in Seattle.

Hope to see you all soon.

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKSTORE & GALLERY HOSTS “MARTIN BLAND’S RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIALS” ON SATURDAY, APRIL 12

Fantagraphics Books’ resident genius will present his recent experimental sound project, “Martin Bland’s Randomized Control Trials,” on Saturday, April 12 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery. This event coincides with the colorful “Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack.” The bookstore will also offer a huge “Spring Cleaning Sale” with hundreds of graphic novels marked at 50% off from April 11 though April 13.

Fantagraphics Bookstore employee Martin Bland has an impressive musical pedigree. He was the drummer for Australia’s legendary psyche-garage band Lubricated Goat prior to relocating to Seattle 1992. He performed with Bloodloss and Monroe’s Fur and later joined Fantagraphics alums Mark Arm (Mudhoney, Mr. Epp) and Tom Price (U-Men, Gas Huffer) in the grunge supergroup Monkeywrench, which also featured Tim Kerr (Big Boys) and Steve Turner (Mudhoney). Monkeywrench recently released a posthumous collection, “Gabriel’s Horn,” on the Birdman label.

Martin Bland’s Randomized Control Trials represents a departure from his previous work. “The premise involved using the ‘shuffle’ program on a group of compact disc players running simultaneously to produce unique arrangements of original music,” Bland explains. “All of the pieces followed a few guidelines: the musicians should be recorded separately from one another with little or no idea what the other musicians had played. They would be given a loose theme to improvise on and a rigid tempo to follow. These recordings were transferred on to a computer and cut into short phrases and fragments. Once all of the music for a piece had been recorded, each instrument was then assigned a CD player. The CD players were then played simultaneously with the ‘shuffle’ program activated, thus producing a unique arrangement of the piece each time. Some of the voices were of a ‘found’ nature but none of the music was sampled from other sources.”

The resulting recordings are often stunning and always entertaining. The presentation on April 12 will reflect the random nature of the concept. Featured musicians include Bland, Price, and Arm, as well as violinists Janis Wildy and Tom Swafford, pianist John Wright, and a host of contributors from various musical genres. Examples can be heard by clicking headlines at: http://martinblandsrct.blogspot.com.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery will also be the site of the publisher’s “Spring Cleaning Sale” on April 11 though April 13. Hundreds of slightly marred or damaged graphic novels will be offered at half price. Titles by Fantagraphics superstars including Peter Bagge, Charles Burns, Daniel Clowes, R. Crumb, Ellen Forney, Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez, Charles M. Schulz, Joe Sacco, Jim Woodring and dozens more will be featured. And Drew Friedman’s exquisite exhibition of original art “The Fun Never Stops!” remains on display through May 6. The space is located at 1201 S. Vale St. (at Airport Way S.) in the heart of Georgetown. Open daily 11:30 – 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM. Phone: 206.658.0110 As always, patrons of all ages are welcome, and admission is free.

Listing Information

Martin Bland’s Randomized Control Trials
Saturday, April 12, 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S. Vale Street, Seattle
206.658.0110
Hours: Monday – Saturday 11:30 – 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM
www.fantagraphics.com

Seattle's lively industrial arts district continues its monthly celebration of creative diversity with the April installment of the Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack. This colorful community event includes more than 30 galleries, studios, boutiques, cafes and nightclubs featuring dozens of local, regional and international artists working in a variety of disciplines. The public of all ages is welcome and admission is free. Festivities commence at 6:00 PM on Saturday, April 12.

Among the many highlights: An exhibition of mixed media works by Georgetown artist Sherri Scott at George; "Internal Guidance Systems," an installation of visionary art from the collection of internationally-acclaimed artist Anne Grgich at Georgetown Tile Works; "Hello Cruel World," a show of recent works on paper by Steve Roumas and Roger Shurtleff at Calamity Jane's; "Hanging," a show of new work by Georgetown painter Mark LaFalce at the Hangar; Martin Bland's "Randomized Control Trials," an experimental sound installation, together with a display of New York cartoonist Drew Friedman's stunning illustrations at Georgetown Records/Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery; "The Worst of the Trading Musician," an acoustic musical revue organized by Georgetown resident and Trading Musician proprietor Mike Smith at Jules Maes Saloon; an exhibit of bronze, clay and multimedia sculptures by students of Matt Buckner at Georgetown Art Center; paintings and woodblock prints by Georgetown artist Angielena Chamberlain at Bella Vitale Studio Gallery; adventurous shopping, exotic dining, and boisterous mingling in one of our region's most enchanting urban environments.

The Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack is a production of the Georgetown Merchants' Association. A detailed map and other information can be found at: www.georgetownartattack.com. For additional information contact GMA chair Kathy Nyland, or Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery curator Larry Reid.

Listing Information

Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack
Saturday, March 8, 6:00 - 9:00 PM.

All City Coffee, Artcore Tattoo, Art at the Top of the Stairs. Backstage, Bella Vitale, Belle & Wissell, Bolte Creative, Calamity Jane's, Catherine Gill Studios, A Dog's Dream Natural Pet Supply, Equinox Studios, Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery, Fruit Cocktail Collectibles, Full Throttle Bottles, George, Georgetown Art Center, Georgetown Liquor Company*, Georgetown Records, Georgetown Tile Works, Great Stuff, Hangar Café, Jules Maes Saloon*, MIX, 9 Lb. Hammer*, Smarty Pants Restaurant*, Squid and Ink, The Stables, Stellar Pizza & Ale, Two Tartes Bakery, 24 Karat, and more.
* Indicates 21 + with valid ID.

Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack Continues with Spring Surge on March 8!

The inaugural “Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack” in February attracted countless throngs of art enthusiasts to Seattle’s colorful and creative Georgetown community. This lively event continues on Second Saturday, March 8, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. The list of participants has expanded to more than 30 galleries, studios, nightclubs, boutiques, and cafes. The public of all ages is invited to explore the singular appeal of this diverse industrial arts district.

Among the many highlights of Art Attack festivities: Mike the One Man Band performing his vaudevillian act at Jules Mae's Saloon; an exhibition of expressive portraits by photographer Rebecca Bolte at Bolte Creative; an interactive “Comics Jam” with Jim Woodring’'s “Friends of the Nib,” featuring a guest appearance by underground comix legend Kim Deitch screening his rarely seen film short “Dial M for Monster” at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery; a show of recent work by Georgetown painter Mark LaFalce at Two Tarts Bakery, open house salons at Bella Vitale, Equinox, and Catherine Gill Studios; Jenna Colby'’s "The Hunted Verses the Hunters" exhibit at Georgetown Tile Works; and much more.

Come dine, drink, shop and socialize in one of our region’s most entertaining and engaging cultural environments. Most participating businesses cater to all ages clientele and admission is free. The “Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack” is a production of the Georgetown Merchants’ Association. Website: www.georgetownartattack.com

Listing Information:

“Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack”
Saturday, March 8, 6:00 – 9:00 PM.

All City Coffee, Artcore Tattoo, Art at the Top of the Stairs. Backstage, Bella Vitale, Belle & Wissell, Bolte Creative, Calamity Jane's, Catherine Gill Studios, A Dog's Dream Natural Pet Supply, Equinox Studios, Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery, Fruit Cocktail Collectibles, Full Throttle Bottles, George, Georgetown Art Center, Georgetown Liquor Company*, Georgetown Records, Georgetown Tile Works, Great Stuff, Hangar Café, Jules Maes Saloon*, MIX, 9 Lb. Hammer*, Smarty Pants Restaurant*, Squid and Ink, Stellar Pizza & Ale, Two Tarts Bakery, and more.
* Indicates 21 + with valid ID.