* Other People's Publications ** Yeah, You Know Me.
This Saturday, May 4th, we're thrilled to present a signing with acclaimed artist Dash Shaw for his latest Fantagraphics titles 3 New Stories and his ambitious hardcover graphic novel New School.
We'll also have this new mini-comic available, New Jobs, published by Tom Kaczynski’s mighty imprint Uncivilized Books. This limited edition mini measures a mere 1/2 page, but packs in as much emotional resonance as the brick-sized Bottomless Belly Button.
A couple living in Bed-Stuy are going to have a child. To support the child, they need to get new jobs. It's a story any of us could relate to. My heart especially went out to the panel with a stack of stark bills piled on a table.
Dash will be signing with us from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, and will discuss his work and screen short animations, including Seraph, which premiered at the recent Sundance Film Festival. Hurry out here and get your copies of his new work while they last, especially this limited edition mini!
Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale Street in Seattle's Georgetown district. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM. Phone: (206) 658-0110.
• Seattle, WA: It's your last chance to see Jen Vaughn's exhibit (with her best friend Nomi Kane) at Chocolati Cafe [ 1716 N. 45th Street ]. Not only is she an amazing Marketing/PR/Outreach Fiend, but she's a kick-ass artist, too! (more info)
April 23, 2013 – Seattle, WA. One of America’s most provocative cartoonists and animators will appear at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery. Dash Shaw will discuss his work, screen animated shorts, and sign copies of new publications at a reception on Saturday, May 4 at 6:00 PM at Fantagraphics’ lively space at 1201 S. Vale St. in Georgetown.
Shaw is the creator of several highly regarded comix and graphic novels including Bottomless Belly Button in 2008. The artist followed that success with The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D., a collection of short stories combined with documentation of his dazzling animated shorts for IFC.com.
The artist will discuss his work and screen short animations including Seraph, which premiered at the recent Sundance Film Festival. He’ll sign copies of his new comic book 3 New Stories and his ambitious hardcover graphic novel New School.
This event coincides with Free Comic Book Day, a national promotion intended to expose new audiences to the joys of comix. Fantagraphics Bookstore will issue an exclusive 16-page Freak Comic Book mini featuring a stellar cast of local alternative artists. Edited by Intruder contributor Marc Palm, the book includes new works by Max Clotfelter, Kelly Froh, Eroyn Franklin, Tom Van Deusen, Ben Horak, Darin Shuler, David Lasky, Aidan Fitzgerald, Pat Moriarity, John Ohannesian, Max Badger, and James Stanton. As May 4 is also widely recognized as “Star Wars Day” – (ahem, “May the Fourth Be With You”) – the mini concludes with touching tributes to Yoda by Peter Bagge, Ellen Forney, Jim Woodring, and Kazimir Stzrepek. Freak Comic Book is limited to 100 copies. Many of the contributing artists will be in attendance to sign their work. “This is the comic you’re looking for.”
Listing Information:
Saturday, May 4, 6:00 - 8:00 PM Dash Shaw screening animated shorts and book signing May 4 is Free Comic Book Day. Drop by for an exclusive minicomic by local cartoonists
Our artists will be partaking in programming throughout the weekend, so check out their panels!
Saturday, April 27th
12:00-12:45 pm // Meathaus Reunion: Becky Cloonan, Brandon Graham, Farel Dalrymple and Dash Shaw: A reflective spotlight on Meathaus luminaries, Becky Cloonan, Brandon Graham, Farel Dalrymple and Dash Shaw whose work has appeared in various Meathaus anthologies since 2002. These artists have each maintained their own strong modern stylistic identity receiving both critical and commercial acclaim. Marc Arsenault (Alternative Comics) will introduce the panel with a look at the SVA art groups and graduates that led to the creation of the Meathaus comics collective. (Room B114)
1:00-1:45 pm // Angels and Demons: The Mythology of S. Clay Wilson: Mythology may be the key to understanding the work of highly influential underground cartoonist S. Clay Wilson, from the self-mythology that Wilson invented and polished over the years as a dashing and dangerous figure, to his personal inner landscape where his archetypal characters dwell when they arena gracing the pages of Zap Comix, Thrilling Murder, or Insect Fear, to the body of language and lore passed down from his hillbilly ancestors. With Patrick Rosenkranz. (Room B117)
2:00-2:45 pm // Two-Faced Artist Lives Double Life in Single Body!: The joys and perils of straddling the worlds of fine art and comics with cartoonists Jon McNaught, Julia Gfrörer, and Daniel Duford, moderated by Chloe Eudaly. Join us for a conversation with our panel of artists, each of whom are experienced in the realms of fine art and comics. We'll explore how they came to work in two seemingly disparate mediums, how their work in each converges with, diverges from, and influences the other, and the the sometimes arbitrary or artificial distinction between the two. (Room B117)
5:00-5:45 pm // Dylan Williams Tribute Panel: Share some time with the friends and colleagues of comics' best friend as we all recount our favorite stories about the late Sparkplug publisher's life and celebrate his philosophy and work as an artist, scholar and publisher. Time permitting, we will also attempt to make sense of his passion for unsettling any and everyone who dared point a camera at him at festivals like this one. Panelists include: T Edward Bak, Julia Gfrörer, Tim Goodyear, David Lasky, Tom Neely; moderated by Milo George. (Room B114)
Sunday, April 28th
1:00-1:45 pm // Submissions Do's and Don'ts: Jen Vaughn (Fantagraphics), Jamie Rich (formerly Oni Press), Bob Schreck (Legendary Comics), Allison Baker (Monkeybrains Comics), and Sina Grace (Image/Skybound) will share their experiences slogging through the submissions pile, everything from finding a diamond in the rough to bartering with the mailman to stop delivering submissions. Your questions? Answered! Your comics published? We'll see. (Room B114)
2:00-2:45 pm // Dash Shaw's New School: Dash Shaw is a cartoonist and animator whose graphic novel New School debuts at Stumptown from Fantagraphics Books. In this spotlight presentation, he will screen and discuss his animations, including his Sigur Ros video and Sundance short Seraph, and show slides of the process behind creating New School as well as some of his other comics. Moderated by Fantagraphics' Jen Vaughn. (Room B111)
4:00-4:45 pm // DIY Publishing: For many micropublishers, making good books is easy; it's the marketing and the selling that's hard. Panelists Tom Kaczynski (Uncivilized Books), Zack Soto (Study Group), Chloe Eudaly (Reading Frenzy), Jason Leivian (Floating World Comics), Keenan Keller (Drippy Bone), and moderator Milo George will look at different printing processes and their costs and compare notes on production/distribution issues including pricing and sustainability. (Room B111)
5:00-5:45 pm // Spain Tribute Panel: Spain Rodriguez, legendary underground cartoonist, tore his way into hearts of readers like the beloved motorcycles that grace the pages of his comics. Patrick Rosenkranz, Jen Vaughn, Eric Reynolds, and Charles Brownstein take you though the wild days of Spain's work from his groundbreaking ZAP anthology contributions to adapting the life of Che Guevara. Get acquainted with this revolutionary cartoonist and his award-winning work. (Room B117)
So, stop by the Fantagraphics Booth this weekend at Stumptown, Booth Q1 right down the aisle when you first walk in!
The Oregon Convention Center is located at 777 NE ML King Blvd, several blocks away from the Lloyd Center Shopping Mall, and conveniently located next to a Portland Tri-Met MAX Line stop for accessibility.
If you live in Seattle, you should definitely drop by and see his original artwork in person. I'm especially in love with the piece drawn on polka-dot fabric! If you live too far away, you can also check out photos on the Fantagraphics Flickr.
And don't forget: Dash Shaw will appear in person on Saturday, May 4 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. He’ll be discussing his work with a screening of his animated shorts, followed by a book signing featuring the debut of his latest graphic novel New School. May 4th also marks Free Comic Book Day, so drop by the store for a free mini-comic created by local cartoonists exclusively for us!
Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale Street in the heart of Seattle’s historic Georgetown arts community, only minutes south of downtown. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM. Phone 206.658.0110.
MoCCA was a BLAST, as usual. PR Director, Jacq Cohen, and I showed up early on Friday to set up the table. People couldn't wait for Saturday, clumping around the new books. Our two newest EC Comics Library releases featuring Al Williamson and Jack Davis' work are creating a heartbreakingly beautiful rainbow.
One side of the set-up table!
Friday night was Dash Shaw's opening for his New School art exhibition and 30th birthday at Desert Island. His fianceé (sorry, ladies and germs) made a cake that was uber-delicious. Below, Dash talks about his new comics.
Party hardy, Gabrielle Bell is talking to Ariel Shrag (!) in the left-hand corner.
A gentleman was purchasing Julio's Day by Gilbert Hernandez at Desert Island so we had to compliment him on his exquisite taste. Lo and behold, Tony (or so he says) showed up at MoCCA the next day ready to buy more quality comics, this time Castle Waiting Vol. 1 by Linda Medley. My mom would be so proud that I'm still somewhat polite!
I ran into a familiar face, cartoonist and animation intern Andrew Greenstone, who was more than willing to hang out and shot the shit---I mean, talk business.
If I ever become a comic book store owner, I hope I'm as cool as Gabe Fowler. The red print was a Desert Island exclusive!
The next day MoCCA started out with the great Bill Griffith signing new copies of Zippy: The Dingburg Diaries.
Cartoonist Charles Burns showed up to hang out with friends and look at comics. I never ever tire of that man's company, but he did mention some people are reticent to eat with him because of what he draws in his comics. FOOLS, I say! Also, Evan Dorkin makes Chris Duffy guffaw in the background. Doesn't "Griffith, Dorkin, Duffy and Burns" sound like an amazing lawfirm? Like possibly corrupt but they probably have a pastry chef on staff to appease their clients?
Also signing at MoCCA was Kim Deitch, whose new book The Amazing, Enlightening and Absolutely True Adventures of Katherine Whaley is coming out soon and is haunting, to put it mildly. Deitch brought his original pages which fans poured over. James Romberger and Marguerite Van Cook made their Fantagraphics signing debut for 7 Miles a Second, the moving comic written by David Wojnarowicz. The book has one of those covers that is both oblique and arresting (Jacq adds up some quick math on the right). While I did not stop a child from picking up the book, I did tell a parent or two it had adult material in it. One of my favorite sells of the weekend was selling Prison Pit Book Two to a 14 year old kid whose mom seemed dubious until I brought up the philosophy behind the book. The teen gave me a giant wink as he left, he might not get it still.
Van Cook discussed innovative printing techniques from their travels and non-profit advice while James would sketch in signed copies of the book.
Recently, Alex Dueben talked to Romberger for Comic Book Resources and stopped to meet them in person.
Next up was Leslie and Dash! Local cartoonist Leslie Stein is also in a pretty crazy fun band, Prince Rupert's Drops. If you live in the New York area, check them out. The rest of us will just live via our headphones or listening to their tracks on the recent AudioFemme interview. Leslie signed my old copy of Eye of the Majestic Creatureand we talked about second book that's coming out this fall! I heard some comments from other cartoonists that they feel weird about asking fellow toonies to sign their books but I don't give a humdinkle about that. Make it FANCY for me.
Dash signed the spine of many a Bottomless Belly Button and cover of 3 New Stories for eager fans. Those gorgeous red prints (you can only see a quarter of it) are available from Desert Island if you are looking for something for the Shaw fan who 'has it all.'
One of the favorite books of the con was Today is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life by Ulli Lust. Mk Reed confessed to reading the original edition with an English translation, she was so eager. Here, Carl Antonowicz expresses something...yes, it's joy at the book!
Really loved that Bill Griffith whipped out some future Zippy strips (for May!) during a lull during his signings. No big deal.
Self Made Hero cartoonist JAKe (according to the internet) is a huge Drew Friedman fan, he just can't take great photos.
Given our close proximity to the stairs to the bathroom, there wasn't much chance for wondering down aisles or buying comics. I really wanted to read L. Nichols' Flocks and she was helpful enough to COME TO ME with her Square for my plastic purchase.
Tucker Stone, of TCJ and Bergen Street Comics, came by to get Gary's signature on a copy of The Comics Journal. Pretty cute, right?
Jacq and me with two of our debut books by Ulli Lust and Gilbert Hernandez! Photo by Dre Grigoropol.
Hung with bossman Gary Groth, Dash, Leslie and Jacq one night.
Charles Forsman was out and about with his Oily Comics micropublishing outfit. Chuck's comic, The End of the Fucking World, will be out this July from Fantagraphics in one single beautiful book. I'm so excited about that. We in no way support NCIS.
Chuck and I go way back, we used to work at the same graphic novel library together in Vermont. A photo from 2009:
Speaking of libraries, the next day Tom Spurgeon and I visited Columbia University's Butler Library and Rare Book room, led around by enthusiastic librarian Karen Green. It was so very cool to see our books with library binding but they've also perfected a myler binding so we don't lose those cool spine designs. Shaw's Bottomless Belly Button and Noah Van Sciver's The Hypo.
Kim, I didn't forget about you, the library has a lot of Jacques Tardi books. Some were checked out, which is even better than finding them at the library.
A grand place I hope to visit again. Thanks to Anelle Miller and her trusty band of volunteers for the enjoyable convention, Gary and Jacq for booth help plus a few of these photos. Lastly, another one of my favorite moments of the week was selling Dungeon Quest Book One to a gentleman on Saturday who came back Sunday to buy the other two after reading the first in one sitting. It was a cherry on top of an awesome convention.
• Auburn, WA: Our own Ellen Forney will be a guest speaker at the Holman Library [ 12401 SE 320th Street ] on the campus of the Green River Community College at noon, followed by a comics workshop from 1:00 to 3:30 PM! Larry Reid will be on site to sell you Ellen's books from the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery! (more info)
• Chicago, IL: The legendary Gilbert Hernandez will be signing at the infamous Quimby's! Join him at 7:00 PM for the slideshow “From Funnybooks to Graphic Novels” featuring the comics of his childhood, in addition to a Q+A and signing. It's a can't-miss evening, for sure! (more info)
Friday, April 19th
• Seattle, WA: New York cartoonist Lucy Knisley will be serving up fun at the book-signing party for Relish: My Life in the Kitchen at the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery! Lucy will give a slideshow presenation, and our own Larry Reid will be providing snacks made from recipes in the book! I got to sample a cookie yesterday --- delish!!! (more info)
Don’t miss the opening of our fabulous exhibition "Dash Shaw: Stories" with music by Lexi Lee at Fantagraphics Bookstore this Saturday, April 13 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. The show includes more than a dozen original drawings by the provocative contemporary cartoonist together with an array of his comix, graphic novels, and small press publications. Banjo player Lexi Lee will perform traditional folk melodies with a modern twist. This event coincides with the festive Georgetown Art Attack, featuring challenging art, music, and more at locations throughout the historic industrial arts corridor.
Mark your calendars for Friday, April 19 at 7:00 PM as Lucy Knisley presents Relish: My Life in the Kitchen with a slide talk, book signing and tasting of delicious recipes from the book.
Dash Shaw will appear in person on Saturday, May 4 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. He’ll be discussing his work with a screening of his animated shorts, followed by a book signing featuring the debut of his latest graphic novel New School. May 4 also marks Free Comic Book Day. Drop by the store for a free mini comic created by local cartoonists exclusively for Fantagraphics Bookstore.
Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale Street in the heart of Seattle’s historic Georgetown arts community, only minutes south of downtown. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM. Phone 206.658.0110.
• New York City, NY: Our own James Romberger will be part of the infamous CAROUSEL series hosted by R. Sikoryak! Join James and this all-star cast at Dixon Place [ 161A Chrystie Street (btwn Rivington & Delancey) ] starting at 7:30 PM! (more info)
Saturday, April 13th
• Seattle, WA: The Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery launches its brand new exhibit, Dash Shaw: Stories, featuring 14 original artworks! Come get a first look at the show, and then join us again on Saturday, May 4th when Dash Shaw joins us in person for a film screening, discussion, and book signing. (more info)
• Somerville, MA: And, oh hey, Dash Shaw will be at Hub Comics doing a film screening, discussion, and book signing for New School! Be one of the lucky first to get a signed copy of this beautiful new work from Dash, starting at 7:00 PM. (more info)
Provocative American Cartoonist and Animator Dash Shaw at Fantagraphics Bookstore
April 4, 2013 - Seattle, WA. The experimental work of accomplished contemporary cartoonist and animator Dash Shaw will be featured at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery with an exhibition opening Saturday, April 13 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, followed by a film screening, discussion, and book signing on Saturday, May 4 at 6:00 PM.
Shaw is the creator of several highly regarded comix and graphic novels including Bottomless Belly Button in 2008. Among the critical acclaim, New York Magazine observed "Bottomless Belly Button has become the graphic novel of the year, combining youthful exuberance, sage storytelling, and visual experimentation." The artist followed that success with The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D., a collection of short stories combined with documentation of his dazzling animated shorts for IFC.com.
"Dash Shaw: Stories" at Fantagraphics Bookstore includes 14 original artworks. The opening on April 13 will mark the debut of his recent comic book collection 3 New Stories from Fantagraphics Books. This event coincides with the lively Georgetown Art Attack featuring challenging visual and performing arts throughout the historic neighborhood.
The artist will appear on Saturday, May 4 at 6:00 PM to discuss his work and screen animated short films including Seraph, which premiered at the recent Sundance Film Festival. He'll sign copies of another new Fantagraphics title, New School, an ambitious hardcover graphic novel. May 4 also marks Free Comic Book Day, a national promotion intended to expose new audiences to the joys of comix. Fantagraphics Bookstore will issue an exclusive 16-page minicomic featuring local cartoonists including Max Clotfelter, Eroyn Franklin, Kelly Froh, Aidan Fitzgerald, Ben Horak, David Lasky, Tim Miller, Pat Moriarity, Marc Palm, Darren Schuler, James Stanton, Tom Van Deusen, Max Woodring and more. Free to the first one hundred patrons.
Listing information:
DASH SHAW: STORIES Opening Saturday, April 13, 6:00 to 9:00 PM Exhibition continues through May 8, 2013
Friday, April 19, 7:00 PM Lucy Knisley presents Relish: My Life in the Kitchen Reading, book signing, and tasting
Saturday, May 4, 6:00 - 8:00 PM Dash Shaw screening animated shorts and book signing May 4 is Free Comic Book Day. Drop by for an exclusive minicomic by local cartoonists