The Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack returns on November 14 with a diverse array of art exhibitions and cultural activities. Join us in this historic industrial arts district between 6:00 and 9:00 PM for another entertaining evening of creative fun.

Highlights of the November 14 Art Attack include: The grand opening of the Georgetown Atelier hosted by founder Tenaya Sims; new work by Kyle Abernethy with shrines and collages by folk artist Luann Baroh at KrabJab Studio; "Junkture," original assemblages by Wendy James at Calamity Jane's; The Brite Collective presents "Eat My Story" at All City Coffee; "I Paint What I Want," new work by Rebekah Slavin at The Stables with music by DJ Blake Whitaker; scary works by M. S. Corley at Full Throttle Bottles; "Deer in the Headlights," paintings by Catherine Cross Uehara with recent work by Georgetown designer Kimberlee Iblings at Georgetown Tile Works/Frida; "Pim & Francie," exhibition by visionary cartoonist and illustrator Al Columbia at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery; along with the usual disorderly drinking, dining and raucous socializing that gives Georgetown its unique outlaw character.

The November 14 Georgetown Art Attack coincides with "Art on Airport" studio tours. Our artist neighbors to the immediate north at the Sunny Arms Artists Cooperative and the 4810 Building will open their studios to the public from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

The Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack is a monthly promotion of the Georgetown Merchants' Association. For additional information and a participants map visit: www.georgetownartattack.com.

Jonas Seaman, whom you may remember from his amazing photos of our Johnny Ryan event last month, is back with a new set of photos from this past weekend's Al Columbia art opening/book signing.

Al:

Jim Woodring:

Al signing an issue of Mome:

L to R: Jason Leivian from Floating World Comics in Portland, Al, and comics artists Mike Allred & Matthew Southworth:

Many more photos can be seen here; thanks again to Jonas!

See a slideshow of the entire exhibit (and more photos) here (or just browse here). Mike Allred was there but I missed him; hopefully more photos will turn up and we'll share those when we get them. Much fun was had by all; thanks to everybody who came out, and to Al for making the trip (and for kicking off volume 3 of my Yoda sketchbook). The show's up through December 9, so even if you missed the opening, come on down and check it out. Good pieces remain at very reasonable prices!

Come down to Georgetown this Saturday, November 7 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM and welcome visionary cartoonist and visual artist Al Columbia back to Seattle. He’ll be in town to celebrate the debut of his first book, PIM & FRANCIE, with a reception, book signing and exhibition of original works .

Al Columbia is widely regarded among his peers as one of the most accomplished and influential artists working in comics today. PIM & FRANCIE represents a breathtaking vision of contemporary American art. Collecting over a decade’s worth of artifacts, excavations, comic strips, storybook covers, and much more, this book tells the story of title characters Pim and Francie, a pair of childlike imps whose irresponsible antics get them into horrific, fantastic trouble... sort of. You just gotta see it for yourself.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale Street at the corner of Airport Way S. in the heart of Seattle’s historic Georgetown arts community. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00. Phone 206.658.0110. Hope to see you all Saturday.

To promote their blockbuster show "Michelangelo Public & Private" the Seattle Art Museum dug up this miniature Michelangelo and dropped it off at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery last week. We took him on a little tour of Georgetown on Halloween day, where he enjoyed a spooky threesome with GHOST WORLD beauties Enid and Rebecca. Check out his continuing adventures at "Little David's Travelogue."

Kristy Valenti recently purged duplicate copies of coveted back issues from The Comics Journal archive, now available in limited quantities at Fantagraphics Bookstore. Among the many gems on sale at cover price: The endearingly fannish #37 from December 1977 featuring the breathless headline Star Wars: The Movie! The Comic! The Photos! Issue #53's infamous interview with sci-fi writer Harlan Ellison, and a revealing interview with mid-career Daniel Clowes in issue #235.

This treasure trove of news, reviews, and essential interviews includes everything from Lynda Barry, Berke Breathed, Carl Barks, and the Bros to Crumb, Kirby, Kurtzman, Miller, Moore and more! Look for these and other new offerings at Al Columbia's PIM & FRANCIE book signing this Saturday.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale St. only minutes south of downtown Seattle. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sunday until 5:00 PM. Phone 206.658.0110. See you all soon.

October 27, 2009 - SEATTLE, WA. Al Columbia is widely regarded among his peers as one of the most accomplished and influential artists working in comics today. On the occasion of the publication of PIM & FRANCIE, his most ambitious work to date, Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is hosting a rare public appearance by the cartoonist on Saturday, November 7 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

PIM & FRANCIE represents a breathtaking vision of contemporary American art. Collecting over a decade's worth of artifacts, excavations, comic strips, animation stills, storybook covers, and much more, this broken jigsaw puzzle of a book tells the story of title characters Pim and Francie, a pair of childlike imps whose irresponsible antics get them into horrific, fantastic trouble. Their loosely defined relationship only contributes to the existential fear that lingers underneath the various perils they are subjected to. Columbia's brilliant, fairytale-like backdrops hint at further layers of reality lurking under every gingerbread house or behind every sunny afternoon. Never have such colorful, imaginative vistas instilled such an atmosphere of dread, and with such a wicked sense of humor.

Columbia's work has been previously published by Fantagraphics Books in two issues of Biologic Show, as well as anthologies Zero Zero, Blab!, and most recently MOME. He currently resides in Connecticut.

The reception will feature an exhibition of recent work by Al Columbia from the collection of Scott Eder. Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale Street at the corner of Airport Way S. in the heart of Seattle's historic Georgetown arts community. Please join us on Saturday, November 7 to welcome this exceptional artist to Seattle.

Listing Information

AL COLUMBIA: PIM & FRANCIE

Art exhibition and book signing

Saturday, November 7, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Exhibition continues through December 9, 2009
Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S. Vale Street (at Airport Way S.) Seattle, WA
206.658.0110 www.fantagraphics.com
Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM

Jonas Seaman was there at the Johnny Ryan Prison Pit opening/signing/performance and contacted us to share his large and impressive set of photos from the event. Amazing stuff, Jonas, thanks!

Left: Ajax Wood IS Ardent Vein IS Cannibal Fuckface. Right: man of the hour Johnny Ryan. Saturday night will definitely go down as one of the most memorable events in the history of Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery thanks to Ardent Vein's incredible performance/reading of Chapter 1 of Johnny's Prison Pit Book 1. If you weren't one of the lucky people who witnessed it in person, behold, we've put it on YouTube in two parts!

Lots more photos in our Flickr set here.

An action packed evening of comix craziness with Johnny Ryan is in store this Saturday, October 10 at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery. A show of original art from Ryan’s wild new graphic novel Prison Pit will be on display, along with colorful silkscreen prints and figurines.

The event will feature a Ryan-inspired performance piece by Fantagraphics’ own Ardent Vein in full Prison Pit character. (Yeah, we can’t wait to see this either.) So join us this Saturday from 6:00 and 9:00 PM for beverages and meet the extraordinary artist behind Angry Youth Comix, Blecky Yuckerella and other unforgettable comics. This promises to be great fun, and coincides with the Georgetown Art Attack featuring festive arts events throughout the historic cultural community.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale St. (at Airport Way S.) only minutes south of downtown. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM. Phone (206) 658-0110. See you soon.