Category Archives: News

Silent Pictures on Fifth Avenue

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Silent Pictures
Through October 11, 2009

“Silent Pictures” is inspired by artist Art Spiegelman’s collection of wordless books – mostly black and white artist books from the 1930s. The exhibition features these books, as well as more recent “abstract comics,” and a related film program, which investigates essential qualities and aesthetics of this hugely popular medium.

The abstract comics, compiled by Andrei Molotiu for Abstract Comics, Fantagraphics Books, 2009, call attention to formal mechanisms that underlie all comics. Where the earlier art collected by Spiegelman retains a narrative thrust, the comics gathered by Molotiu emphasize dynamic graphics that lead the eye and mind from panel to panel, suggesting that these structural elements are fundamental to the emotional register of the medium.

The exhibition includes a wall drawing by Renee French, an animation by Rachel Cattle and Steve Richards, and a project for the Fifth Avenue lobby windows by Gail Fitzgerald and Carl Ostendarp. “Comic-Film-Strips,” a related film program featuring mostly wordless, animated, historic films, is curated by Columbia University art historian Noam Elcott.

Book Signing

Thursday September 10, 56 PM
Jim Hanley’s Universe, 4 West 33rd Street, New York, NY
Editor Andrei Molotiu and some of the contributing artists will sign copies of Abstract Comics: The Anthology.

Curator Walk-through

Friday September 11, 6 PM
With Andrei Molotiu

Abstract Comics: A Panel Discussion

Saturday September 12, 4 PM
Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art
594 Broadway, Suite 401, New York

Comic-Film-Strips: Noam Elcott in Conversation

Friday September 25, 67:30 PM
The Graduate Center Skylight Lounge (9th Floor)
Art historian Noam Elcott will discuss the exhibition’s animated film program, which he curated as part of the “Silent Pictures” exhibition, in the context of twentieth-century avant-garde cinema.

R. Sikoryak at Strand Books tomorrow and SPX this weekend!

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The Strand and Drawn & Quarterly Present R. Sikoryak (Masterpiece Comics) and R.O. Blechman (Talking Lines).
Thursday, September 24, 2009 7:00 PM
Slide Shows, Q+A and Signing

NYC is abuzz with excitement over R.O. Blechman and R. Sikoryak joint presentation of their new D+Q books at the Strand this Thursday night at 7 PM. Both R. and R.O. will be presenting slide shows, taking questions and signing the night away. Don’t miss this event! The Village Voice recommends the event by the two “talented satirists” as does the New Yorker.

Need more convincing than that? Well, Steven Heller chose Blechman’s Talking Lines last week to talk about in his Daily Heller column at Print where he states: “All of [Blechman’s] books are a joy, but the bottom line: This one is exceptional.” And there are two interviews with Sikoryak, check them out! The NY Daily News and Publishers Weekly.

For more information visit: www.strandbooks.com

SPX2009

D+Q To Exhibit at the Small Press Expo in Bethesda, MD
Saturday and Sunday, September 26 & 27th, 2009

Signings by Kevin Huizenga, John Porcellino and R. Sikoryak!
Porcellino’s MAP OF MY HEART to debut!

Come say hello to Drawn & Quarterly’s Jessica Campbell and Alison Naturale, as well D+Q cartoonists Kevin Huizenga, John Porcellino and R. Sikoryak.

Sikoryak signing and event schedule:

Saturday, September 27th
1:00 pm- R. Sikoryak spotlight in White Flint Amphitheater
2:00-4:30pm- R. Sikoryak signing


Sunday, September 28th

12:00-1:00 pm- R Sikoryak signing
1:30 pm- Source Based Comic discussion w/ R. Sikoryak, Kate Beaton, Paul Karasik, Ed Piskor
3:00-5:00pm- R Sikoryak signing

For more information: http://www.spxpo.com/

Mark Your Calendars: Understanding Dutch & Flemish Comics event

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Understanding Dutch & Flemish Comics

A slideshow presentation by comic-strip promotor Gert Jan Pos from The Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture and Els Aerts, Grants Manager for Graphic Novels at the Flemish Literature Fund.

Followed by a discussion with Ben Katchor, Associate Professor, Illustration Program, Parsons The New School for Design.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 6 pm
Parsons The New School for Design
2 West 13th Street, NYC
in the Orientation Room (“the bark room”)
Lobby of the Sheila Johnson Design Center

Facebook Event page: http://tinyurl.com/dutchflemishcomics

Ciao My Shining Star, featuring Ben Katchor and a host of others!

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Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 7:30pm

Ciao My Shining Star –The Songs of Mark Mulcahy

Featuring Frank Black / David Berkeley / Chris Harford / Ray Neal / Butterflies of Love / The Autumn Defense / Vic Chesnutt / The Parkway Charlies and many more!… Plus a premiere screening of the Thom Yorke video “All For The Best” and readings by graphic novelist (and Parsons Illustration Full-time Faculty) Ben Katchor.

Music Hall of Williamsburg,
66 North 6th St., Brooklyn, NY 11211

$20.

For Tickets:

http://www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com/event/3502
http://www.ticketmaster.com/Ciao-My-Shining-Star-the-Songs-of-Mark-Mulcahy-Ft-Frank-Black-More-tickets/artist/1356151

From Adaptation To Mutation: Contemporary Narrative Artists Remix Popular Culture

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From Adaptation To Mutation: Contemporary Narrative Artists Remix Popular Culture
September 17, 2009 7PM
66 W 12th St./Room 404

A panel discussion with Nora Krug, Isabel Samaras, and R. Sikoryak, introduced and moderated by Bill Kartalopouluos. Presented by the Illustration Program at Parsons The New School for Design.

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Isabel Samaras’ most recent book is On Tender Hooks: The Art of Isabel Samaras (Chronicle Books).  She is a graduate of the Illustration Program at Parsons.

R. Sikoryak is the author of Masterpiece Comics (Drawn & Quarterly). He teaches in the Illustration Program at Parsons and is also a graduate of the Program.

Nora Krug is the author of Red Riding Hood Redux (Bries). She is an associate professor in the Illustration Program at Parsons.

Bill Kartalopoulos teaches classes on comics and illustration at Parsons.

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Admission

Free; no tickets or reservations required;
seating is first-come first-served.

Don’t miss this amazing event!

[top image created by Noel Claro; middle image by R. Sikoryak; bottom image by Isabel Samaras]

Illustration Alum Jill Bliss featured on 20×200

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Illustration Alum Jill Bliss is staying busy.  Two different prints of hers were recently featured on Jen Bekman’s 20×200 website. Here is Jill’s artist statement:

In all the work that I do, I’m interested in the boundaries between separate communities or ideas—the common ground where things intersect, cross-pollinate and co-habitate.

In ecology, an area that contains habitats common to two communities, as well as others unique to the transition zone itself, is called the ecotone. This area is typically characterized by greater species diversity and population density than occur in either of the individual communities.

In my mind, “people, plants and animals” or “art, craft and design” are not so different from one another. I believe that everything and everyone are interconnected and similar—it’s just a matter of each functioning with a different set of materials, and at varying speeds and scales. I hope to call attention to these ideas in my work, and to celebrate the small overlooked details that showcase these interconnections and samenesses.

Head over to 20×200’s site and there might still be some of Jill’s prints available.  And of course, check out Jill’s website for more goods and information.

Keep up the amazing work, Jill!

[seen above: Handmade Treehomes, #1A by Jill Bliss]

Quick Hit: Steven Guarnaccia’s reinterpretation of a classic

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As Steve Heller says:

It’s never too early to introduce children to design (or egotistical designers). My favorite Italian publisher, Corraini Editore, has published my favorite American illustrator (with an Italian surname), Steven Guarnaccia’s architectonic take on The Three Little Pigs (in English and Italian).

Couldn’t have said it any better!  Parsons Illustration Chair Steven Guarnaccia has a new children’s book out called “The Three Little Pigs” and it tells the classic story but infuses every aspect with architecture, casting the pigs as Frank Gehry, Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright.  You can grab your copy directly from the publisher Corraini.

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Congrats, Steven!

Don’t Forget: Parsons Intern Fair Today!

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Parsons Internship Fair

We hope you can join us at the Parsons Internship Fair! This event is a great opportunity for students to find fall and winter semester internships. In addition, we encourage students to network with these top companies. We are pleased that in this challenging economic climate, employer interest in Parsons students continues to grow. A recent New York Times article reporting on the difficulty college students seeking internships are experiencing, stated, “Internships available to college students have fallen 21 percent since last year, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.” But at Parsons, employer demand clearly remains strong.

Over forty top employers will be in attendance, including companies that are new to the event such as Stylecaster, Time Inc. Content Solutions, and Wieden+Kennedy.

The Date: Thursday, September 3, 2009

The Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

The Place: 55 West 13th St, Lang Hall, 2nd floor

Companies attending include:

Aéropostale, Inc.

Ann Taylor

Anthropologie

A|X Armani Exchange

Baron & Baron, Inc.

BCBG MAX AZRIA GROUP, INC.

Bloomingdale’s

The Brand Gallery

Brand New School East

Calvin Klein

CBS

Colette Malouf

Click 3X

Club Monaco

DKNY

Eileen Fisher, Inc.

Gucci Group

GyroHSR, Inc.

Hyperakt Design Group, Inc.

John Varvatos

JWT

Kenneth Cole

Large Animal Games

Li & Fung USA

Limitedbrands, Inc.

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L’Oreal Paris

Loyale

Marvel

Movado Group, Inc.

MTV Networks

NBC Local Integrated Media

Nielsen Business Media

Ogilvy

Payless Shoe Source

Penguin Group (USA)

Polo Ralph Lauren

Saatchi & Saatchi NY

Stark Design

Stylecaster

Time Inc. Content Solutions

Tommy USA

Victorinox Swiss Army, Inc.

Wieden+Kennedy

To participate, students must be currently enrolled in a Parsons degree program (Associates, Bachelors, or Masters program). Students must bring a student id to the event and also several resumes and a portfolio or reel, if applicable.

Event sponsored by Parsons Career Services, 2 West 13 Street, room 511, parsonscareers@newschool.edu, 212-229-8940.