It was a lively scene down at the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery on Saturday evening for our special Friends of the Nib Comics Jam with special guest of honor Kim Deitch and emcee Jim Woodring. We've got lotsa more photos right here at this link.

A happenin' crowd: 

 Kim signs books:

 Presenting a world premiere preview slideshow of Deitch's Pictorama:

 "Dial M for Monster"!

You're all invited to join a stellar group of accomplished cartoonists in the "Friends of the Nib Comics Jam" at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery this Saturday, March 8 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Celebrated cartoonist and visual artist Jim Woodring will preside over the activities, which will include a guest appearance by New York underground comix legend Kim Deitch. Aspiring cartoonists of all ages are encouraged to participate in this lively session, which will include a rare screening of Deitch's 1960 short film "Dial M for Monster."

Friends of the Nib is an informal cartoonists' solon formed by Woodring that meets weekly at Café Racer in Seattle's Ravenna neighborhood. Acclaimed artists such as Ellen Forney, David Lasky and animator Bruce Bickford regularly attend to mentor emerging cartoonists and network with their peers. Kim Deitch is among America's most prominent and influential alternative cartoonists. The astonishingly sophisticated animated and live-action film short "Dial M for Monster" he created as a teenager with his friend Tony Eastman has become legendary among Deitch fans; it was never released, and has only been shown a handful of times in small venues. Prior to the 7:30 screening, he will introduce the film with a brief media presentation.

Admission is free to the public of all ages. Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale St. in Seattle's Georgetown industrial arts district. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM. Phone 206.658.0110. The "Comics Jam" coincides with the monthly "Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack." Over 30 galleries, studios, nightclubs, boutiques, and cafes participate in this colorful showcase of Georgetown's creative diversity.  See you then.

FRIENDS OF THE NIB COMICS JAM WITH SPECIAL GUEST KIM DEITCH AT FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKSTORE & GALLERY ON SATURDAY, MARCH 8.

The public is invited to join a stellar group of accomplished cartoonists in the "Friends of the Nib Comics Jam" at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery on Saturday, March 8 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Celebrated cartoonist and visual artist Jim Woodring will preside over the activities, which will include a guest appearance by New York underground comix legend Kim Deitch. Aspiring cartoonists of all ages are encouraged to participate in this lively session, which will include a rare screening of Deitch's 1960 short film "Dial M for Monster."

Friends of the Nib is an informal cartoonist's salon formed by Woodring that meets weekly at Café Racer in Seattle’s Ravenna neighborhood. Acclaimed artists such as Ellen Forney, David Lasky and animator Bruce Bickford regularly attend to mentor emerging cartoonists and network with their peers. The “Comics Jam” on March 8 will feature more than a dozen artists cartooning on-site while offering casual encouragement to public participants.

Kim Deitch is among America’s most prominent and influential alternative cartoonists. The (astonishingly sophisticated) animated and live-action film short "Dial M for Monster" he created as a teenager with his friend Tony Eastman has become legendary among Deitch fans; it was never released, and has only been shown a handful of times in small venues as part of Deitch's multimedia presentations; see below for a two-page comic strip by Deitch about the film. Prior to the 7:30 screening, he will introduce the film with a brief media presentation.

Deitch's work has been featured in Art Spiegelman's RAW and R. Crumb'sWeirdo anthologies. In a recent review of Deitch's Shadowland graphic novel, New York Times book critic John Hodgman observed, "Few underground cartoonists deserve that subterranean title so fully as Kim Deitch. He was there at the beginning of the movement, drawing for The East Village Other in 1967, and his work retains much of that psychedelic, R. Crumb-like earthiness." In addition to Shadowland, Fantagraphics Books has collected Deitch's work in Beyond the Pale and published comic book series including The Stuff of Dreams, Mishkin File, and Waldo World.

Admission is free to the public of all ages.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale St. in Seattle's Georgetown industrial arts district. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM. Phone 206.658.0110.

The "Comics Jam" coincides with the monthly "Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack." Over twenty-five galleries, studios, nightclubs, boutiques, and cafes participate in this lively showcase of Georgetown’s creative diversity.

LISTING INFORMATION

"Friends of the Nib" Comics Jam with special guest Kim Deitch
Saturday, March 8, 6:00 – 9:00 PM*
("Dial M for Monster" film screening at 7:30 PM)

Free admission

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S. Vale St. (at Airport Way S.)
Seattle, WA
206.658.0110

Open Daily 11:30 – 8:00 PM. Sundays until 5:00 PM

*It's the inaugural Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack!
Festive openings, performances and related events throughout the neighborhood

The Friends of the Nib present a Valentine-themed art show for an evening of canoodling, carousing and commerce at Seattle's Cafe Racer on Valentine's evening (hey, that's today) from 6 to 10 PM. Mr. Woodring provides the enticement and details.

Portlanders will have the chance to meet Jim Woodring and his Seattle cartooning compatriots of Friends of the Nib tomorrow night at the opening of a FOTN group show at Floating World Comics. Details and links to more info below:

Floating World Comics
20 NW 5th Ave
Portland, OR

Thursday, Feb. 7th, 6-10PM

Founded by visionary cartoonist Jim Woodring and Bob Rini, "Friends of the Nib" is a modern cartoonist salon. Cartoonists participating include: Jim Woodring, Bob Rini, Kinoko, Dalton Webb, Mark Campos, Matt Tamaru, Sara Spink, Angela Stork, Max Clotfelter, Scott Faulkner, and David Lasky. Schedules permitting, all artists plan to attend the event.

Jim also mentions that his recent works Jesus and the Bear and New Iron Age are included in the group exhibit "A Cabinet of Natural Curiosities" opening at Seattle's Roq La Rue gallery on Friday February 8 from 6 to 9 PM. Sez Jim: "So load that flask, fire up the jalopy and hie ye to Belltown for more animal congress than you can shake a well-gnawed femur at."

Visiting our office earlier today:

"Seeing that exhibit silenced a gong that's been ringing in my head for 45 years." 

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