Parsons Illustration senior Zachary Zezima passed along the word that his t-shirt design (seen above) is in the running to be printed by the fine folks over at Threadless. Go help him out by voting for his design right now! –> Vote.
Great going and best of luck to you, Mr. Zezima!
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Check out this great video of Parsons Illustration faculty Tara McPherson talking about her artwork, specifically her work with vinyl toys. This featurette will be part of a larger documentary called The Vinyl Frontier, by Daniel Zana. In addition to Tara, the documentary will feature work and interviews with a ton of other amazing artists like Attaboy, Tim Biskup, Dalek, Tristan Eaton, Ron English, Frank Kozik, and Gary Baseman. Here’s an excerpt from an interview with the film’s creator, Daniel Zana, which was featured on ToyCyte last year:
TC: For those who haven’t seen the trailer, describe your movie in a nutshell.
DZ: When I tell people I’m making a movie on vinyl toys, some ask, “Are you making a movie on vinyl records or sex toys?” You’d be surprised at how many people don’t know these toys exist. I think it would be neat to show the history of why you have this piece of plastic in your hands. The history of the toy isn’t necessary but you have more appreciate once you understand its history.
I want to talk about where they came from – to intellectualize the discussion about vinyl toys. Are these toys or pieces of art? Why should people take a look at it one way or the other? I want to re-shape the discussion about toys.
There’s so much history behind the pieces. The movie is for members who visit toy forums and are really into particular artists. I’m also making the movie for people who like counter-culture, who are into art. I want vinyl toys to be legitimized as an art form, and I want toy artists to be known for their work. How often do you see on-camera interviews with these artists? Every artist deserves a time to shine.
You can read the whole interview here.
Keep your eye out for the film, which should be released sometime this year!
Fellowship for Research in the Humorous Arts of Caricature and Cartoon
Library of Congress/Swann Foundation
Deadline: 02/13/09
The Swann Foundation seeks to award 1 fellowship annually (with a stipend of up to $15,000) to assist the fellow in his/her ongoing scholarly research and writing projects in the field of caricature and cartoon. In lieu of 1 fellowship, the board has made smaller awards to several recipients in recent years due to the number, nature, and quality of fellowship applications. To be eligible, one must be a candidate for an MA or PhD degree in an accredited graduate program in a university in the US, Canada, or Mexico and working toward the completion of a dissertation or thesis for that degree, or be engaged in postgraduate research within 3 years of receiving an MA or PhD. Although research must be in the field of caricature and cartoon, there is no limitation regarding the place or time period covered. For full application details, please visit http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/swann-fellow.html.
Click here for a direct link to the application!
Expires on 02/13/09 at midnight.
Parsons Illustration Adjunct Faculty Viktor Koen‘s TOYPHABET prints have been exhibited extensively as part of the series Dark Peculiar Toys, around the world, including Berlin, Athens and Beijing. This illustrated typeface is included in numerous books about typography, digital art and fantasy and has been featured in a full length article by Steven Heller in the prestigious Baseline magazine.
This is the first time the letters have been available in book form, featuring texts by author and long time collaborator Jeffrey Lee Simons.
TOYPHABET is a limited edition book made specially for the 2OO9 New York Comic Con and is carried exclusively by Baby Tattoo Books at booth#1622 this weekend at NY Comic-con.
Keep up the great work, Viktor!
***Reduced Admission of $10 AT THE DOOR ONLY for the JULES FEIFFER interview at the YIVO Institute THIS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, AT 7:00 PM*** For reduced admission just say the secret word: “Explainers”
Royal Flush & YIVO’s “Comics and the Jewish American Dream” interview series (moderated by DANNY FINGEROTH) continues TUES. FEB. 3 at 7:00 pm with:
“JULES FEIFFER: MAN OF MANY MUSES”
An intimate evening with the multitalented writer and artist.
Learn how an angst-ridden, impoverished Jewish guy from the Bronx became an acclaimed cartoonist, playwright, animator, screenwriter, novelist, and author of children’s books, earning himself a Pulitzer Prize, an Obie, and an Oscar along the way. With pop culture critic and historian Danny Fingeroth. Q&A to follow.
About JULES FEIFFER:
In 1956, FEIFFER, who began his career working as an assistant to the legendary Will Eisner, creator of The Spirit and father of the modern Graphic Novel, created the eponymous, satirical cartoon strip that would run in the Village Voice for 42 years. A multitalented man who’s also enjoyed success as a novelist (HARRY THE RAT WITH WOMEN), playwright (LITTLE MURDERS), and screenwriter (CARNAL KNOWLEDGE), he has in recent years turned to writing and illustrating children’s books, including THE MAN IN THE CEILING. The first volume of the “Feiffer” strip compilation EXPLAINERS: THE COMPLETE VILLAGE VOICE STRIPS (1956-1966) was published by Fantagraphics in 2008.
“His versatility may be accidental, but he has become masterly in each of his various roles, as artist, playwright and author.” – The New York Times
“Samuel Johnson said he hoped God would think he had made good of his God-given talents. Jules Feiffer need have no dread of such an audit… What has made his services so welcome for so many years now is his possession, in addition to high intelligence, of something no hypocrite or egomaniac could claim, which is a human sense of humor.” – Kurt Vonnegut
About DANNY FINGEROTH:
Series curator and moderator DANNY FINGEROTH, a longtime writer and editor at Marvel Comics, has spoken about comics at the Smithsonian Institution and The Metropolitan Museum. He’s the author of DISGUISED AS CLARK KENT: JEWS COMICS, AND THE CREATION OF THE SUPERHERO (Continuum) and THE ROUGH GUIDE TO GRAPHIC NOVELS (Penguin).
An Evening with Jules Feiffer
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
7:00pm – 9:00pm
The YIVO INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH RESEARCH
15 West 16th Street,
New York, NY
212.868.4444
The official description of the event:
Kraus, Suares and Holland will discuss the beginnings, the development and the current state of The New York Times Op-Ed Page, whose illustrations started to revolutionize journalism in the 1970s. The lecture will focus on the Op-Ed’s use of illustration over the years, how illustration is commissioned and why, the artists that helped create its image and the importance of message-driven illustration.
The lecture will be followed by book signings by all three paticipants.
Moderated by Fernanda Cohen
Limited to 120 people $15 non-members $10 members $7 students
RSVP kevin@societyillustrators.org or call 212 838 2560
The Society of Illustrators
128 East 63rd Street (between Park and Lexington Avenues)
New York, NY 10065
Tel: (212) 838-2560
Earlier that the same day–February 4th–Jerelle Kraus will be appearing at the 92nd Street Y in Tribeca. There are half-price tickets available for art students! Here’s the lowdown:
In her 30 years as The New York Times art director, Jerelle Kraus observed many battles between editors and artists over the parameters of respectable journalism. Here she reveals some of the censored treasures that editors deemed too blasphemous to publish and explains how op-ed art has changed the course and purpose of illustration, and why it is more relevant and indispensable than ever. Kraus is the author of All the Art That’s Fit to Print (And Some That Wasn’t): Inside The New York Times Op-Ed Page.
You can grab your copy of Jerelle’s book here!
Parsons Illustration alums David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim (co-creators of Ugly Dolls) will be have new works in a show along with Yukinori Dehara at Giant Robot New York. Here’s the official scoop:
Giant Robot is proud to host Deharavath 2, a group art show featuring the work of Yukinori Dehara, David Horvath, and Sun-Min Kim.
Dehara’s hand-painted clay depictions of debauched salarymen, brutalized gangsters, happy monsters, and other unique figures stand about 5-inches tall. Although the pieces are detailed and glossy, the subtle and intentional flaws of the Japanese artist’s self-described “crummy” style project more humanity than horror, and are oddly sympathetic. His work has garnered a cult of collectors around the world, and is celebrated in books, stickers, and other merchandise. For this show, his subject will be “otaku.”
David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim are best known for creating UglyDolls, the indie plush dolls that have gained a rabid worldwide following and sparked a movement of cool handmade toys. For this show, Sun-Min is preparing otaku-themed paintings and David is drawing a one-of-a-kind storybook–each page sold separately! (Parents and guardians should note that this is not an UglyDolls event, and will contain works intended for a somewhat more mature audience.)
A reception for the artists will be on Saturday, February 7th from 6:30-10:00 p.m. and the show will be up through March 4th, 2009. Don’t miss it!
Move 18 – curated by Rich Jacobs
(part of the New Image Art 15th Anniversary Show)
7910 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood CA
Featuring the work of Parsons Illustration faculty Jordin Isip and James Gallagher, along with works by Barry McGee, Jason Polan, Melinda Beck, and a host of others. And next door, the official 15th Anniversary Exhibition for New Image Art is in full swing:
New Image Art 15 Year Anniversary Show
With Move Exhibition
7910 Santa Monica Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA
So if you’re going to be out on the West Coast, drop by!
OPENING RECEPTION: 7-9PM TUESDAY 10th FEBRUARY 2009
Fresh from New York City, Jonathan Jay Lee has returned to Hong Kong to breathe new life into the local illustration scene, holding his first solo Hong Kong exhibition from February 10 to February 27 at the Fringe Gallery having worked in the U.S. for esteemed clients such as Marvel Comics.
“The illustration scene in Hong Kong is weak”, says Jonathan, “not because there aren’t a lot of creative people, but because clients aren’t willing to take risks with good ideas.” He believes that his exhibition will inspire and motivate viewers to venture into the illustrative unknown. Others agree; Singer Kary Ng, for whom Jonathan conceptualized and illustrated the Lady K comic book for, comments “Jonathan Jay Lee transformed and brought Lady K to life – one of the best artists I’ve worked with.”
Partnering with artist network Alive Not Dead, Hong Kong events organizer HK Clubbing, ultra-chrome printing specialists Giclee HK and monthly House event Opium Soul, artist Jonathan Jay Lee brings a new visual pleasure of aesthetic, with themes varying from Romance, Science Fiction, True Crime, Lonely Hearts to Zen Buddhism. “Hong Kong needs an illustrative kick in the ass,” Jonathan observes, “Let’s hope this event does just that.”
Congratulations, Jonathan!