All posts by amt

Abby Denson’s Dolltopia wins 4th International Manga Award!

Parsons Illustration Alumna Abby Denson’s graphic novel Dolltopia has received a Bronze International Manga Award!

The International Manga Award  – the “Nobel Prize of manga” was created by  Former Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso to encourage non-Japanese manga artists the world over. The Committee comprises the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the President of the Japan Foundation, and the members of the special committee for pop culture of the Council on the Movement of People Across Borders.

This honor, coming closely after Dolltopia’s win of the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award, drives home the universality of Dolltopia’s themes. Abby’s comics explore issues of identity, individuality and making a mark within a society that seeks to sterilize and monopolize.

Dolltopia is the story of Kitty, a ballerina doll forced into a not-so-happily-ever-after living arrangement with a male jock toy. Filled with discontent, Kitty takes it upon herself to escape her human-imposed domesticity and create a new life and a new image for herself away from the persecution of the human world. On this mission, she finds not only a host of like-minded individuals, but a safe haven for the unique doll: Dolltopia.

The 4th International MANGA Award Winners

Gold Award winner:
Si loin et si proche…(Belgium) Xiao Bai

Silver Awards winners:
Face cachée(France) Olivier Martin , Sylvain Runberg
La Isla sin Sonrisa(Spain) Enrique Fernández
“The story begins with …”(Thailand) Verachai  Duangpla

Bronze Awards winners:
Dolltopia(America) Abby Denson
Kylooe  (Belgium) Little Thunder
Pandora Book(Thailand) Akekarat Milintapas
The Little Polar bear(Taiwan) Chang Fung-Chih
The Passionate Sword(Taiwan) Yeh Yu Tung and Syu Shu Hao
Samurai(Belgium) Frédéric Genet and France’s Jean-François Di Giorgio

Congratulations, Abby!

Fashion Illustration: Visual Poetry at gallery hanahou

Fashion Illustration: Visual Poetry
gallery hanahou
Through February 25, 2011

Curated by renowned artist, fashion illustrator, and educator Bil Donovan, “Fashion Illustration: Visual Poetry” brings together 14 of the most talented and innovative artists working in fashion illustration today for an exhibition that showcases the possibilities of the genre to complement, respond to, and sometimes transcend fashion.

The pieces in the exhibition represent artists from a number of different countries and a broad spectrum of styles. Taken together, their client lists cover every perspective of fashion, from small labels to large retailers and all manner of media.

Statement from the curator

Fashion Illustration is Unique. The ideas, practice and concepts that drive this genre of work are not easily defined. Fashion Illustration documents a window in time, presenting trends and fashion through a historical perspective. It revolves around a fascination with the figure, its form, gesture, movement and grace, filtered through the lens of fashion. Traditionally, stylization has been the guiding force behind this fascination, grounded in a foundation of figure drawing and anatomy, revealing the spirit and essence of the figure.

Today, the fascination with the figure and fashion continues, but is now played against a backdrop of new techniques, technologies, and concepts resulting in work that is graphic, dynamic and blurs the boundaries between high and low art. Themes such as abstraction, mythology, and fantasy, whether representational, expressive or minimal are projected through the personal vision of the artist.

It is an exciting period for Fashion Illustration as this genre of art continues to evolve with captivating images that nurture the imagination, grace the page and charm the viewer. In essence, Fashion  Illustration is visual poetry.

Bil Donovan

Artists

Bil Donovan
Carlos Aponte
Cecilia Carlstedt
Daniel Egneus
David Downton
Eveline Tarunadjaja
Jeffrey Fulvimari
John Jay Cabuay
Laura Laine
Samantha Hahn
Sara Singh
Stina Persson
Tina Berning
Tobie Giddio

gallery hanahou
611 Broadway, Suite 730, NYC
7th Floor of the Cable Building, NW corner of Broadway + Houston

Mon-Fri noon-6 pm, Sat by appt only
646-486-6586
press@galleryhanahou.com
info@galleryhanahou.com
www.galleryhanahou.com

Artists Against the War Panel tonight

Artists Against the War
A panel discussion and book signing with Steve Brodner, Frances Jetter, Victor Juhasz, Peter Kuper and Wendy Popp
February 10, 2011 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Based on the 2008 Society of Illustrators’ exhibit, “Artists Against the War”, Artists Against the War draws from the history of graphic protest and demonstrates the many ways that illustrators — in comics, editorial cartoons, illustrations for magazine articles, and so on — have reflected on the representations and misrepresentations of war, specifically the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The history of commercial illustration in the United States encompasses the images of artists like Charles Dana Gibson, Maxfield Parish, N.C. Wyeth, James Montgomery Flagg, Frederic Remington, and Norman Rockwell. These and many other artists helped to shape and define the American experience. After the Second World War, a divide grew between the worlds of illustration and fine art. Commercial publishers bankrolled illustrators to produce images on demand that were essential to marketing. Fine artists, meanwhile, generally struggled on their own to create unique and contemplative works of a decidedly non-mercantile nature.

Early on, some editorial illustrators, while still on paid assignments sponsored by commercial interests, managed to bridge this gap between illustration and high art—creating evocative works that told of real world events. Harper’s Weekly employed Winslow Homer as a war correspondent, sending him to the front lines of the American Civil War to sketch soldiers on the battlefield. Afterwards Homer evolved into one of America’s finest 19th-century painters. Business-related foundations aside, illustration commonly shared with fine art—up until the post WWII era—an exploration of the world through the traditions of objective realism. That relationship disappeared with the ascendancy of abstract art. The high art world is currently unable to provide thoughtful examinations that connect with the general public.

Surprisingly, the world of commercial illustration offers a model for the advancement of contemporary fine art. Endeavoring to communicate clearly, illustrators never abandoned realist aesthetics, which are the most direct way to deliver a thought or concept to a large audience. More importantly, illustration art does not wallow in the cynical disengagement and alienation that is so fashionable in today’s high art. Therein lies the potency and importance of Artists Against the Wars.

Steve Brodner will lead a panel discussion with Frances Jetter, Victor Juhasz, Peter Kuper and Wendy Popp. A book signing will follow.

Tickets
$15 non-members, $10 members, $7 students
rsvp@societyillustrators.org

Book trailer for Dan Yaccarino’s “All the Way to America”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVWBJG2l66o]

Parsons Illustration Alum Dan Yaccarino has a new children’s book coming out next month.  You can watch the book trailer for “All the Way to America” above and then go check out Dan’s website for more information about his books and projects.

Way to go, Dan!

Nora Krug illustrates a childen’s book!

Full-time faculty Nora Krug has illustrated a children’s book for Penguin/Putnam! The book, MY COLD WENT ON VACATION, written by Molly Rausch, tells the story of a germ who travels the world. Publisher’s Weekly says:

A cross between the work of Maira Kalman and Roz Chast, Krug’s quirky, electric-hued pictures combine folk art and cartoon sensibilities. The latter surfaces in her portrayal of the cold, a mucus-green, egg-shaped figure with a red Pinocchio-like nose and pinkeyes. Odd subject matter, but Krug’s artwork makes for a visually arresting journey.

The book is available here. Congrats to Nora!

Cutters/Cork opening Feb. 5

Charted Territory 3, James Gallagher (2010)

Cutters/Cork will be opening on Feb 5th at the West Cork Arts Centre in Skibbereen, Ireland. For this exhibition over 50 artist’s work will fill the walls and illustrate the range and depth of collage taking place today. This exhibition is the third in the Cutters series (Cinders Gallery, Brooklyn in 2009, and Pool Gallery, Berlin in 2010), and will continue to showcase the excitement of the newly invigorated art form of collage.

The full list of participating artists is as follows: Michael Bartalos, Melinda Beck, Brian Belott, Hisham Akira Bharoocha, Stephen Brandes, Paul Burgess, Dennis Busch, Hollie Chastain, Alejandro Chavetta, Cless, Barrett Cook, Liam Crockard, Valero Doval, Jesse Draxler, Tatiana Echeveri Fernandez, Erik Foss, James Gallagher, April Gertler, Jason Glasser, Eva Han, Sean Hillen, Ashkan Honarvar, Jordin Isip, Rubén B, Eva Lake, Greg Lamarche, Dani Leventhal, Leif Low-Beer, Max o Matic, Jeffrey Meyer, Vincent Pacheco, Melissa Paget, David Plunkert, Garrett Pruter, Kareem Rizk, Javier Rodriguez, Jenni Rope, Jason Rosenberg, Valerie Roybal, Joe Ryckebosch, Cay Schroder, Baby Smith, Kerstin Stephan, Katherine Streeter, Sergei Sviatchenko, Alejandra Villasmil, David Wallace, Jessica Williams, Oliver Wiegner, Lulu Wolf, Bill Zindel and Anthony Zinonos.

The exhibition will also link to a series of lens based events taking place in Cork and Cobh over the same period. So if you happen to be in Ireland, please stop by the West Cork Arts Centre in Skibbereen or visit the site: www.westcorkartscentre.com

Cutters/Cork: Contemporary Collage Exhibition
Curated by James Gallagher
7 February – 12 March 2011
Opening Saturday February 5th
West Cork Arts Centre
North Street, Skibbereen
County Cork, Ireland
353 28 22090
info@westcorkartscentre.com

Gallery Hours: Monday – Saturday 10.00am – 5.00pm

Cartoon Polymaths opening on Thursday

THE SHEILA C. JOHNSON DESIGN CENTER
At
PARSONS THE NEW SCHOOL FOR DESIGN

Invites you to
Cartoon Polymaths

Opening Reception
February 3, 2011
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Featuring the work of Mariscal, Winsor McCay, Richard McGuire,
Paper Rad, Tony Sarg, and Saul Steinberg

Curated by Illustration Faculty Member Bill Kartalopoulos

Sheila C. Johnson Design Center
Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Gallery
Parsons The New School for Design
Fifth Avenue at 13th Street

On view until April 15, 2011
www.newschool.edu/sjdc