[Steven Stwalley]

PLEASE ONLY VOTE IN THIS POLL IF YOU ARE A MINNESOTA CARTOONIST AND YOU INTEND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LUTEFISK SUSHI VOLUME D PROJECT!

We are in the very early planning stages for the Minnesota Conspiracy's Lutefisk Sushi Volume D project, which will be opening next Summer at Altered Esthetics gallery.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with our three previous Lutefisk Sushi shows (A B C), they have featured the work of any Minnesota cartoonists who choose to participate (we had 50 last time). The shows are focused around a limited-edition, hand-silkscreened box stuffed full of mini-comics by Minnesota artists.

Each Sushi show has also had a featured artist. We want to figure out who this will be for next year pretty quick so we can feature their work on next year’s Altered Esthetics calendar.

This poll will determine next year's featured artist. All nominees have been suggested by people intending to participate in the Lutefisk D show ... and all have been contacted & expressed willingness to participate (note: if you don't see your suggested nominee on here, they declined).

Check out the websites of our nominees:

Jesse Gillespie
Danno Klonowski
Bob Lipski
Britt Sabo
Tim Sievert
Mike Toft

PLEASE ONLY VOTE IN THIS POLL IF YOU ARE A MINNESOTA CARTOONIST AND YOU INTEND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LUTEFISK SUSHI VOLUME D PROJECT!

THIS POLL EXPIRES SOME TIME ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER FIRST.

[Mike-T]

Hello,
I voted for a featured artist and I plan to do a book for LSD, yet, I have comments and mixed feelings...
I think the conspiracy is a bit over exposed right now. (I wasn't the only one to notice a decline in attendance at Big Funny compared to the last Sushi opening.)
Where is it written we have to do a show every year? If someone had asked me, I would've voted for taking a year off. (How can they miss us if we won't go away?)
And LSD is planned for August? Is that right? Why are our openings always when AE is a sauna? How about say, October or November? Also, having the show in the cooler months opens up the event to the student population, in addition to the local, jaded, losing-interest-in-us hipsters.
Later,
Mike-T

[Steven Stwalley]

Mike, I don't understand why, if you aren't in favor of a show next year, would you agree to be the featured artist if you were selected?

We invited comments on the blog for what to do for a show next year the other week... the comments I believe were 100% in favor of Lutefisk Sushi Volume D. No one suggested not doing a show, and there is a lot of enthusiasm for doing one as far as I can tell.

AE invites us when they want to, so the time of year isn't up to us... nice of them to invite us whenever they do, I think. I'm extremely grateful that they think that cartoonists are worth featuring annually... we couldn't have a better gallery to be involved with, in my opinion.

Personally, I don't care too much about how a show is received (although people liking a show is awfully nice)... I'm more interested in creating and collaborating on something cool for the joy of creating and collaborating on something cool. That said, everything about every show we have done has been pretty well received as far as my perceptions go. I fail to see how having a show once a year is being over-exposed.

[Shad]

Hey Steve,

Is there an option that is not selected that allows us to change our vote? If you can set it up so that we can change our vote, that'd be swell.

[Steven Stwalley]

Unfortunately, I don't know any way to add that, Shad... the voting is just built into PHPBB. I wish it had that functionality.

[kevincannon]

Mike, I wish we could have heard your concerns during the (albeit brief) period when we were seeking input on what the next show should be. I'm very curious as to what you mean by "overexposure," because what I'm seeing is people around the country recognizing Minneapolis as an up-and-coming hot spot for local comics. At conventions this summer, I heard from several cartoonists who bemoaned the fact that their metropolitan cities had no sense of a cartooning community at all.

If we were having a show every month at the same location, maybe that would get a bit tedious. But how great is it that we've had the MMAA show, Lutefisk Sushi, Big Funny, The City Pages Comix Issue, and Comicopolis, all in about the span of a year and a half, all organized and run by different people and groups who are excited about the local comics scene. And not to mention all the events that MCAD and Nick Post organize.

As for the sauna-like atmosphere of Altered Esthetics in August, you're right, it will be hot. But instead of not doing a show because it'll be uncomfortable for three hours, let's start brainstorming some creative ideas on how to beat the heat. We've got eleven months to come up with something.

[Steven Stwalley]

Probably worth noting that AE bought an air conditioner right before the show because they figured it would be hot... so most of the heat at the show (in the gallery space, not the hall gallery) was presumably due to body heat from the crowd. That can happen even in the winter (I used to work at a movie theater, and full houses were hot regardless of the time of year).

[purenoumena]

Hi Mike,

I just wanted to address a few of your concerns.

First, the Big Funny opening was one of the most successful we've had in terms of people. There was at least 350 people there throughout the evening, likely closer to 400. (We gave out over 300 brochures.) About the decline in attendance - do keep in mind that the Lutefisk Sushi show last year was held in conjunction with our spring fundraiser, which drew an entirely separate crowd. Also - in regards to improvement, you can't beat the press that was received!

Second, I think "overexposed" is a matter of opinion. Some members have expressed a desire to do more shows and generate more interest. (Some people want us to do Big Funny quarterly!) At Ae we're happy to support the ICC by hosting an annual comic art show and posting the jams monthly as they are delivered, as long as the ICC wants to.

I would also concur with Steven about the sauna. Granted, the heat isn't great - but when you look on the bright side, a hot opening really just means we had a successful one! We've had big openings in December that have made the gallery uncomfortably warm, and it has almost more to do with the amount of bodies in our 100 year old building than it does with the month. The gallery temperature was 65 degrees earlier in the day before we started. I'm not sure my crock pot with spaghetti helped the temperature though, so I'm sorry about that. :)

For scheduling, we plan our shows far (at least a year) in advance for a number of reasons. Funding, planning, grant-writing, making sure we do adequate promotions - all of which requires an extensive amount of work in advance. Doing these things serves to benefit not just Ae but also and more importantly the artists that are in the shows. That we aren't a fly-by-night operations means we have to be a bit less flexible about scheduling, but it also means we do things responsibly and professionally. (and transparently, I might add.) That being said, we do have a pretty small budget. We were able to purchase an AC due to a generous donation from a supporter of the gallery... but we do have a vent for one more, and are going to get one as soon as we have the funds. (If anybody is interested - hint, hint.)

And one last thing - if you are on the committee to help this year, you're going to have yet another venue to voice opinions/concerns for planning the following year. If you don't want to do an annual show, that's something you can definitely express.

Best,
Jamie

[Mike-T]

Hello,

I wasn't expecting this much response. I just wanted to toss my thoughts out there. Not claiming to have the "gospel" truth about any of it.

Steve, I agreed to be nominated because I knew I wouldn't win. Logical? Okay, no. Maybe I was just morbidly curious about how many/any votes I'd get. One so far. And it wasn't me.

Kevin, maybe I could have said these thing earlier. But, I figured I was a community of one, so why bother? So, why did I bother at this late date? Don't know...

I'm fine with being out-voted / -commented. Democracy at work. No big whoop. Take my comments with however many pounds of salt you want.

[Steven Stwalley]

No big deal, Mike... hope you choose to participate in Lutefisk D!

[sarah morean]

Since it seems that Lutefisk Sushi is becoming an annual comics show, and since Lutefisk Sushi is clearly bonded to the Ae gallery and ICC as a group, I wonder if anybody has thought about hosting the event in the fall, instead of the summer? I think adjusting the timing of the show just a bit would lure more MCAD students to the group for jams, establish ICC and Ae as clear (and friendly) emissaries of the Minneapolis comics scene, and get more students to both attend and participate in Lutefisk Sushi.

And if you had it near the end of September, you could use the event to promote the upcoming jams in Minneapolis and St Paul, future shows at Ae, as well as Fallcon. And "Ice Con" in January, whenever that comes to pass. ;)

I think the issue is primarily "not enough new blood" rather than too much exposure. Give the local, upcoming talent a reason to stick around, make friends, and have something to shoot for right away - like a feature spot on the Lutefisk Sushi box. Maybe if this had been in place long ago, we wouldn't have lost Edmund Moorman to Chicago. Sniff. It's still a sore spot for me. He will be missed.
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[staplegenius]

It seems like there is always NEW BLOOD at the jams every month or two. Some people--Ed for instance--never came to those or got very involved in the group. Others, like Ed's friend Sean Lynch, are now very active post-MCAD.

I agree a Fall show--if not for just weather reasons alone--would be nice to attract "the kids".
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"good old nostradamus, he knew the whole damn time there'd always be an east from west and someone in a fight"

[vonschlosser]

congratulations Danno!

is Lutefisk Sushi permanently bonded to Ae gallery?
not that I have any problem with Ae but having a show in the same place every time, and it's basically the same show, featuring the original art from the new lutefisk sushi. I think that could get kind of boring to the non comics making community.
people seem to only go to a comics show mostly for the social aspect because it's awkward to read comics on a wall, and depending on how many people are walking around everywhere it can be kind of hard to do. then factor in the fact that the work is actually available for sale at the show in book form. it makes it seem like the only people taking a close look at the originals are us looking to see how much white out is used. I don't know what the answer is, but there has to be a way to make comic art gallery shows more exciting and engaging.

as for heat, it's kind of a problem. I am tired of comics based events turning into a sauna. we all hate it when it happens at fall con, it's annoying when it happens in a gallery too. Ae seems kind of prone to the oven effect because the main gallery is just a big room with 1 small door and no ventilation. at the big funny opening I noticed the main room was always packed but there was not many people in the first room. maybe there is a way to keep that from happening? like not having the band and the food and drinks, and the chairs/hang out area all be in that room same room?

[staplegenius]

I do agree you pretty much have to see a comic art show twice to 1) socialize at opening, and 2) go back later and actually LOOK at the art.

I think AE is a good homebase for these projects, just as CREATIVE ELECTRIC was before it went away. There seems to be several different places always holding other comic shows too, so I don't see a problem with AE becoming the ONLY comic gallery in town.

I also like the idea of spreading out the show from the "main gallery" to the outside area--but then we almost need to get artists pre-approval to NOT be in gallery, lest they feel snubbed.

As to spruce it up--live drawing events? Drawing on overhead projectors? All stuff to figure out before next year. And you are more than welcome to join the gaggle of people already signed-on to organize LSD.
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"good old nostradamus, he knew the whole damn time there'd always be an east from west and someone in a fight"

[Steven Stwalley]

And the winnah is... Danno, by a nose! Congratulations, Danno! Thanks to all the participating artists for agreeing to participate... any of you would have been great. I'm excited we had so many people vote... should be a full box! Everyone, start drawing your minis... now!