CAKE (Chicago Alternative Comics Expo)

After years of trying to  get a rise out of Chicago by calling SPACE the Mid-West's Largest Exhibition of Small Press, Alternative and Creator Owned Comics, they finally got off their asses and put on Cake!  Kudoes!  We happily relinquish the title.  Break a leg on your first outting.

See SPACE Exhibitors John Porcellino, Nate Powell, Kevin Czapiewski, Marnie Gallowy, Elliot Junkyard, MariNaomi and Chad Sell at CAKE(Chicago Alternative Comics Expo) June 16-17, 2012.

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MIX 2012 UPdates

MIX 2012 has extened their call for proposals to July 6, 2012.  See all the info at
http://www.ccad.edu/events-2012/mix2012

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Tri-State Comic Con June 9, 2012

SPACE Exhibitors Max Ink, Broken Icon Comics, Bad Place Productions, Todd Beistel, Dustin Carson, Comic Book Connection Initiative, Drunken Cat Comics, Micheal Eshman, Terence Hanley, Stephen Hines, Doug Hufford, Kenn Minter, Nix Comics, Maryanne Rose Papke, Vantage:Inhouse Productions and Bob Corby will be at the Tri-State Comic Con in Huntington WV on June 9, 2012.  Go to http://www.tristatecon.net/ for more info.

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Mix 2012 Comics Symposium at CCAD

Mix 2012 Comics Symposium at CCAD on October 4-6, 2012 with key note speaker Chris Ware
http://comicsobserver.com/2012/05/18/college-seeking-participants-for-mix-2012-comics-symposium/


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My Friend Dahmer @ OSU Wexner

My Friend Dahmer

May 15, 2012
7:00 p.m.
Wexner Center for the Arts Film/Video Theater
1871 N. High Street

Ohio State grad and Cleveland-based cartoonist Derf Backderf visits to discuss his new graphic novel, My Friend Dahmer, an account of growing up in the same small Ohio town as notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.

Best known for his strip The City, Derf is a two-time Eisner Award nominee and received a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism award in 2006. Join us following the event for a book signing in the Wexner Center Store.

Cosponsored by the Wexner Center for the Arts and Ohio State's Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum.

http://cartoons.osu.edu/?q=events/my-friend-dahmer


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Oulipo Workshop with Matt Madden

Oulipo Workshop with Matt Madden

Sat, May 12, 2012 | 1:00–4:00PMWexner Center for the Arts
Cartoonist Matt Madden, creator of 99 Ways to Tell a Story: Exercises in Style, leads this workshop that shows you how to utilize the principles of Oulipo to create cartoons under artistic constraints.

The rules, or constraints, can be simple or complicated, silly or willfully perverse: Maybe each panel would show a close-up of a hand, or zoom in on a single object? Or maybe the comic would be readable in more than one direction? This practice of using constraints to spark creativity connects to a vanguard French literary group whose name, Oulipo, comes from a phrase, Ouvroir de Littérature Potentielle, that translates loosely to “workshop for potential literature.”

No prior experience is necessary, and materials will be provided. Advance registration is required and space is limited. Register here. Call (614) 292-6493 for more info.

Cosponsored by Ohio State’s Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum

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SPACE Programming is Up!!!

Thursday, April 19-Wild Goose Creative
Max Ink's Blink Wonka Wonka Kochalka Exhibit at Wild Goose Creative, 2491 Summit Street, Columbus, OH 43202
Friday, April 20 -Laughing Ogre Comic Shoppe7:00PM-11:00PM SPACE Pre-party the Laughing Ogre, 4258 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43214 - Meet and talk to many of the SPACE exhibitors before the show. Free SPACE passes to the first 20 people through the door. Watch while the annual Jam Panel is created.

All Weekend- Exhibitors Room Exhibition AreaNate Powell's Original Artwork Exhibit featuring pages form his two latest graphic novel projects-- Any Empire and Silence of Our Friends

Saturday, April 21- Panel Room (Unless noted otherwise) Noon: Elyria Comic Book Initiative: Learn how to make your own comic book. Join members of the ECBI as they guide you through general terminology, basic art, sketches and covers. Workshop will run for 50 minutes throughout the day. 1:00 PM 2011 SPACE Prize Presentations Hosted by Bob Corby. 2:00 PM Billy Ireland Library & Museum Presentation:Columbus is home to the world’s largest collection of comics and cartoon art! Visiting Curator of the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, Caitlin McGurk, will give a presentation on the history of the Cartoon Library, what they do, some of the incredible gems they have, and what the future holds for the museum. In 2013 the Cartoon Library will be expanding their physical space from a 6,800 sq-ft basement to a glorious 30,000 sq-ft home in Sullivant Hall at the gateway to OSU’s campus, solidifying it as a top destination in America for all things comics 3:00 PM Elyria Comic Book Initiative: Learn how to make your own comic book. (See above). 4:00 PM WebcomicsJoin webcomics creators Doug Hufford & Todd Beistel(Yuri Gypsy Hunter), Justin Heins & Ryan Tackett (Double Clicked Comics), Frank Cvetkovic (Punch-Up), Eric Adams( Lackluster World), Kevin Czapiewski (Spoilers) and Sara Lindo (Carl Finds Love) as they share their experiences. 5:00 PM Elyria Comic Book Initiative: Learn how to make your own comic book. (See above). 6:00 PM Exhibitor room closes 7:00 PM The Columbus Premiere of The Amazing Cynicalman Movie!!! with Matt Feazell(Writer,Dad), Jim Mackey (Cynicalman), Suzanne Baumann (Lizard Girl), Michael Marcus (Dr. Pweent), Sean Bieri (Lone Shark) and Aaron Trudgeon (Captain Videotape), Gary Freeman (co-writer, editor, and cameraman), John Pirog (lead zombie and film crew guy) and Terence Cover (Antisocialman) . 9:00PM to 12:00 Midnight - Live Art Event- at the hotel bar, Bowties, will be a meeting of all the artists exhibiting at the show where they'll jam on or do solo pieces all in the spirit of getting to know each other and just having fun making some art while enjoying a favorite beverage or two. It's a chance for them to hang out and just draw and paint live right there in the bar. Sunday, April 22 –Panel Room Noon -Elyria Comic Book Initiative: Learn how to make your own comic book. (See above). 1:00 PM Indie Ladies Comic Anthology with Crystal Ash, Canada Keck, Molly Durst and MariNaomi 2:00PM KickStarter 101: Find out how to fund your comics project. Moderated by Emily Journey (BestOfColumbus.org) with Max Ink ( Blink: Wonka Wonka Kochalka), Ken Eppstein (NIX Comics), Brian John Mitchell (Silber Mini-Comics Collection), Chris Monday (Drink More Water). 3:00PM Elyria Comic Book Initiative: Learn how to make your own comic book. (See above). 4:00PM Elyria Comic Book Initiative: Learn how to make your own comic book. (See above). 5:00PM SPACE 2012 Closes! _

Paul Hornschemeier Artist Talk & Interview @CMA

Artist’s Talk and Interview Columbus Museum of Art
Thursday, April 5, 7:00 pm
Paul Hornschemeier speaks about his creative process with interviewer, comics writer, and blogger Jared Gardner, a professor of English and Film Studies at OSU. In conjunction with his talk, CMA will display a selection of Hornschemeier’s scripts, storyboards, and sketches highlighting his creative process.
Free with museum admission.  
Columbus Museum of Art
480 E Broad St
Columbus, OH 43215

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Comics in the Air This Weekend!

There will be plenty of comic activity in the Columbus/ Dayton area this weekend.

First off is...
 Max Ink's BLINK: "Wonka Wonka Kochalka" Book Release Party! ***MARCH 30th

Friday @ 7pm

Finally! Readers will be able to purchase a copy of the Blink story which Max has attempted to write and draw over the past eight years with many false starts and abrupt stops along the way. Copies of the digest book "Behind the Sketchbook: The Making of Wonka Wonka Kochalka" will also be available. 

LIVE MUSIC begins at 9pm with JASON QUICKSALL, ELIJAH AARON, The SATURDAY GIANT, The PSYCHOTIC BLONDES, (Bree Frick & Molly Winters of The SALTY CARAMELS).
The evening's festivities will be MC'd by the ever-so-stylish
IAN HUMMEL.
There will be a CHARITY RAFFLE with plenty of comics & prizes awarded throughout the night!
All prizes are donated by the awesome comic shops of Columbus!

Then it's...
Big Picture Lecture @ the Columbus Museum of Art
Saturday, March 31, 2:00 pm
Otterbein professor of philosophy Andrew Mills will speak about Paul   Hornschemeier’s work in a philosophical context. Hornschemeier majored in philosophy at The Ohio State University and often addresses philosophical issues in his books, most notably in his 2007 work The Three Paradoxes. Presented in collaboration with The OSU Institute for Collaborative Research and Public Humanities.
Admission to the lecture is free. 

And last but not least it's ....

Gem City Comic Con

Saturday March 31st 10am - 5pm. Sunday April 1st 10am - 4pm. Early buyer doors at 9am BOTH DAYS!

Student Union at Wright State University in Dayton.

Tickets are $10 [per day] at the door! Kids under 12 free with a paid adult.

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Blink book "Wonka Wonka Kochalka," a Gallery Show

To celebrate the completion of Max Ink's newest Blink book "Wonka Wonka Kochalka," a Gallery Show of the comic is on display at Wild Goose Creative throughout March and April. "Wonka Wonka Kochalka" is the first chapter in the graphic novel, BLINK: SO IT GOES and the exhibit features all 33 pages (over 40 feet!) of the original comic book art.

There will be two events during the course of this exhibition:

**Gallery Night Reception**Thursday, March 15th 7p-9p This is going to be a relaxed evening of comics and conversation with complimentary food and drinks provided by CK Catering as well as free BLINK mini comics.

***BLINK: "Wonka Wonka Kochalka" Book Release Party! ***Friday, March 30th 7p-11p This is it! Max Ink's "Wonka Wonka Kochalka" book will finally be released to the world (8 years in the making!) and it's gonna be a PARTY with lots of food, drinks (provided again by CK Catering) and live music! Featuring JASON QUICKSALL, ELIJAH AARON, The SATURDAY GIANT, The PSYCHOTIC BLONDES (Bree Frick & Molly Winters of The SALTY CARAMELS) and the evening's festivities will be MC'd by IAN HUMMEL. There will be a CHARITY RAFFLE (to benefit the Wild Goose, which is non-profit) with plenty of comics & prizes awarded throughout the night.

Max Ink's BLINK comic book series is set in the neighborhoods of Columbus and features "slice-of-life" stories about three charming characters, Hank, Sam and Blink. Since its inception in 2003, BLINK has showcased numerous Columbus landmarks and hang outs such as Goodale Park, Stauf's Coffee House and the Park of Roses. "Wonka Wonka Kochalka" is no different: the 32-page story is set the Wild Goose Creative and the Rumba Cafe.

Ink's work has received much praise over the years, with many reviewers commenting on the beautiful art and real-life dialog. But the characters themselves are the focus in BLINK; to the point where they seem "less like characters and (more like) people you could easily know.” The style and tone of Ink's stories is "smooth and natural, and just happens. It's real life right on the printed page." One reviewer even likened reading BLINK to "a refreshing adult beverage — relaxing, comfortable, and yet eye-opening in noticing the world from a new perspective."

The exhibit features all the pages from the "Wonka Wonka Kochalka" chapter in sequence, so viewers can actually read the comic in its entirety on the gallery wall! Each piece of sequential art measures 14" X 17" and is drawn in pen and ink. The printed book will be available for sale on March 30th as well as copies of "Behind the Sketchbook: The Making of Wonka Wonka Kochalka."

Facebook Event page-- http://on.fb.me/wildwwk

(614) Magazine article about Max and the Blink Exhibit-- http://614columbus.com/article/outside-the-lines-4639/

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Nix Western Comics #1 Kickstarter / Columbus Indie Comix Fair

Last weekend's Indie Comix Fair was a roaring sucess mostly due to mastermind, Ken Eppstein, who got the media out in droves to promote it.  We had coverage in the Columbus Dispatch Weekender, Columbus Alive, and The Other Paper.  The small show which showcased about 10 local small press publisher drew a pretty health crowd.  I was talking most of the day and went home hoarse.  I also sold a record number of weekend SPACE passes at a single event.
Please support Ken and Nix comics by contributing to his current kickstarter program,
Nix Western Comics #1 Kickstarter
Nix Western Comics #1 is scheduled to premiere at SPACE.  Also premiering from Nix is
Nix Comics For Kids #1 Starring Boy Howdie which you can find out more about at the SPACE Premiere Comics Page.


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Indie Comics Fair March 3, 2012

The Small Press & Alternative Comics Expo (S.P.A.C.E.) and Nix Comics Quarterly are proud to co-sponsor the inaugural Columbus Indie Comics Fair!

Come check out some of the Columbus area's SUPERSTAR COMIC CREATORS! There will be all sorts of posters, original art and of course, comics for sale!

Exhibitors will include:

Molly Durst: Symphony of the Universe
Todd Beistel and Doug Hufford: Yuri The Comic
James Moore and Katie Valeska: 2Headed Monster
Dara Naraghi: Panel and Ferret Press
Max Ink: Blink
Michael Neno: The Signifiers, Quacky Pig and more!
Bob Ray Starker: Nix Comics, Pander Bear
Matt Wyatt: Aliastrations
Ken Eppstein: Nix Comics

Bob Corby: Back Porch Comics and S.P.A.C.E.

Check out the exhibitors interviews at http://www.nixcomics.com/pages/index.php?pageId=174#Todd Beistel  and the facebook event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/322653487778736/

It's all happening at Ace of Cups 2619 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43202
We will be selling discount tickets to SPACE. Single day for $3.00 ($5.00 at the door) and weekend passes for $5.00 ($8.00 at the door).


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CBCI Day @ Comic Town

One of the great events leading up to this year’s SPACE is 

CBCI Day @ Comic Town

Saturday February 25, 2012 1:00PM to 7:00 PM 

Come on out for CBCI fun! Face painting, giveaways, a bunch of comic book creators, raffles, and a lot of fun! Come on out, say "hi", & show your support. 

Comic Town, 1249 Morse Road, East Columbus, OH 43229

I will be there at least later in the day with some passes to SPACE.  We are proud to be part of this CBCI event.  See more about it at their facebook event page. https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/366599906689976/

Comic Book Connection Initiative Mission Statement:

We are out to help communities where we can. We have found that there is an opportunity to reach out to children and the underprivileged through promoting literacy and good values through the distribution of comics to the ones who need them most.

If you can’t make it to CBCI Day you can still give a donation through their website at

http://www.cbcicolumbus.com/index.html

And CBCI will be in attendance at SPACE on April 21 & 22, 2012 and accepting donations of money and comics.

Next: Columbus Indie Comix Fair 2012, March 3, 2012 at Ace of Cups

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Genghis Con November 26th, 2011 Beachland Ballroom Cleveland

The Small Press Comic Convention, Genghis Con, returns to Cleveland on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 26th, 2011, from noon to 6 pm at the Beachland Ballroom at 15711 Waterloo Road Cleveland, OH 44110. This is the third year for the convention, which will draw artists, writers, cartoonists, and many other independent comics champions from all over the Mid-West and beyond.

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Art Explorer Post 407 - Cans for Toons!

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PIX This Weekend

SPACE Exhibitors Ed Piskor, John Porcellino, Jim Rugg, Tom Scioli, M Young, Joel Jackson, James Moore, Todd Goodman, Marcel “M.L.” Walker, Andy Scott, Kevin Czapiewski, Bill Volk, Rafer Roberts, Nick Marino, Scott Hedlund, Dan and Kerry Tallarico & Bob Corby will be in attendence.

More info at http://homepage.mac.com/bem/PIX/index.html

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Matt Kish Book Release Event
Moby-Dick in Pictures: One Drawing for Every Page

Book signing and reception to follow

Tue, Oct 11, 2011 | 7:00PM
Wexner Center for the Arts

Columbus artist Matt Kish had an obsession: to create one drawing for every page of Herman Melville's Moby-Dick, which depicts perhaps the most obsessive character in American literature.

Working with 552-page Signet Classics paperback edition, Kish started drawing and began posting his images online as a personal blog in 2009. As the drawings accumulated, he realized he had the makings of a stunning book. A self-taught artist, Kish uses a variety of low-tech materials to create his work, often incorporating images and text from found papers to great effect.

Matt will discuss the origin and execution of his epic project, followed by a signing and reception in the Wexner Center Store.
More info at http://www.wexarts.org/ed/index.php?eventid=5869#


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24 Hour Comics Day at Packrat Comics

24 Hour Comics Day at Packrat Comics

Packrat Comics

3864 Lattimer Street

Hilliard, OH

Here's your challenge...create an entire comic in 24 hours. Do you accept?
If so, join them on October 1 at noon and they will provide you with the necessary sustenance for the event and maybe even a few pillows!
Since they'll be open for 24 hours, they'll also have open gaming and movie night.
 https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=199807103416826

Find out more about 24 Hour Comics Day at http://www.24hourcomicsday.com/

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Save the Signifiers!

Friday, June 3 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm

Wild Goose Creative
2491 Summit St.
Columbus, OH

Save the Signifiers! This Friday (June 3rd) at 7pm we need YOU to save the Signifiers.
What is the Signifiers? It's a critically acclaimed comic series by local hero Michael Neno. In order to get issue 2 printed, we need your pre-order before the end of the week! We're going to make it awesome for you by having Michael and an amazing assortment of local cartoonists gather at Wild Goose Creative bringing their wares to sell as well as items for a one of a kind silent auction. We'll top it all off with free food and music by DJ Geeky G!
So come on down, bring your friends, or pre-order online at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1317514173/the-signifiers-2


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Dick Tracy: Chester Gould's Blueprint Expressionism at Billy Ireland Library & Museum

Start Date:

May 2, 2011

Through:

August 19, 2011

Location:

Reading Room Gallery
27 West 17th Avenue Mall

This year marks the 80th anniversary of Chester Gould’s celebrated comic strip, Dick Tracy. From 1931 to 1977, Gould (1900-1985) wrote and drew the popular continuity strip about a tough, intelligent, and incorruptible police detective who battles a parade of increasingly strange and grotesque villains.
The items in the exhibition were chosen by artist and author Art Spiegelman, a Wexner Center Residency Award recipient, with Jenny Robb, curator of the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. According to Spiegelman, Dick Tracy “brought the front-page violence of the prohibition-era tabloids to the back of the newspaper. In today’s blood-soaked entertainment culture it’s hard to realize just how extravagantly brutal the original Dick Tracy must have seemed to its tens of millions of daily readers in the 1930s and 40s. It was The Sopranos of its day, but without the moral ambiguity.”
Spiegelman’s selections highlight Gould’s unique graphic style. He explains that “Gould coupled the precision of blueprints to the emotional intensity of the German Expressionist art taking place on the other side of the Atlantic... and he created a kind of Blueprint Expressionism.”
Dick Tracy: Chester Gould’s Blueprint Expressionism is on display from May 2 – August 19, 2011 and includes original comic strip art from the International Museum of Cartoon Art Collection and vintage newspaper pages and clippings from the San Francisco Academy of Comic Art Collection. Examples of knock-offs, spoofs, and homages to Dick Tracy will also be featured including Al Capp’s character Fearless Fosdick, who appeared in L’il Abner.

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