Category Archives: Festivals

Autopic Festival in Twin Cities Announced… Mark Your Calendars for August 18th

Noted by the Comics Reporter:

So they’ve announced Autoptic, which manages a bunch of things roaring out of the gate: 1) the obvious involvement on some level of local art-comics anchor personalities Zak Sally, Tom Kaczynski and Anders Nilsen; 2) putting a show in the Twin Cities, which is a great part of the country and a great comics region; 3) finding a slightly different model for a show, which allows it a unique identity and doesn’t obliterate the chances that previous Minneapolis shows could return if they wanted; 4) picking a great time of the year that is both open in terms of small press stuff (particularly with fewer of those folks doing San Diego) and a great time of the year to head up to that region. If they execute the rest of this thing this well, watch out.

Twin Cities Book Festival is This Weekend! (October 13th)

October 13th: (10AM-5PM) Twin Cities Book Festival, organized by Rain Taxi. Held this year at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Progress Center (1265 Snelling Ave, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108). One of the featured guests is the great Chris Ware. Since there is no conflict with Fallcon this year, I’m guessing there will be a whole lot of cartoonists showing up for this. Free Admission, Free Parking. More info.

October is one busy-ass month for cartoonists in the Twin Cities

October is looking like a crazy month for cartooning events in the Twin Cities. Get out your planner, here’s the calendar for your convenience.

October 4th: (6:30PM-10PM or so) The monthly first Thursday Cartoonist Conspiracy Jam at Diamond’s Coffee Shop in Minneapolis. Watch this blog for further information.

October 6th: (10AM-5PM) Fallcon at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Education Building (1265 Snelling Ave, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108). The Midwest Comic Book Association‘s wonderful local conventions are always a great time, full of a huge variety of cartoonists… all generously given free table space. Admission $8.00 per adult. Children 9 & Under Free. Get $1.00 off with a canned food shelf donation. (Unfortunate note: Fallcon central online, The Midwest Comic Book Association website, is currently down)

October 13th:
(10AM-5PM) Twin Cities Book Festival, organized by Rain Taxi. Held this year at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Progress Center (1265 Snelling Ave, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108). One of the featured guests is the great Chris Ware. Since there is no conflict with Fallcon this year, I’m guessing there will be a whole lot of cartoonists showing up for this. Free Admission, Free Parking.

October 18th: (6:30PM-10PM or so) The monthly third Thursday Cartoonist Conspiracy jam at Cahoot’s Coffee in St. Paul. Watch this blog for further information.

October 20-21: (10AM-10AM) 24 Hour Comic Day at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts! Watch this blog for further information. We haven’t registered on the international site yet, but that can be found here.

And finally, not in October, but very early in November:

November 2nd: (7PM-10PM) Lutefisk Sushi Volume E opening/release party. This edition’s featured artist is Zander Cannon. At some point in October, there will also be a collating party to put the bento boxes together.

Springcon is in less than two weeks! (May 19&20) Help promote it!

Springcon is coming up fast! The friendly folks at the Midwest Comic Book Association put on a heck of a fun show, do yourself a favor and check it out. This year they have over 225 guest creators… all of which are generously given free table space to join the fun.

I whipped up some graphics below using images from old comic books for folks to use to help promote Springcon… put them on your blog, social network or what have you to help get the word out… and link them here. See you at Springcon!

MIX Links

This morning I was sent a link to an huge quantity of interviews with exhibitors at last month’s delightful MIX convention by Fancy Pants Gangsters. You can check them out here.

That made me realize I don’t believe I have yet posted a link to Tom Spurgeon’s amazing and enormous MIX link roundup at the Comics Reporter. You can check that out here.

Get your mini-comics ready… only 23 months until the next MIX!

MIX is Happening!!! (November 5-6)

Holy Cow! MIX, the Minneapolis Indy Expo, is happening!

There are going to be a zillion great cartoonists there, and the programming looks wonderful. You won’t want to miss the parties (and gallery shows) either!

Hard to believe an event like this could be free to the public, but it is, you lucky dog. Enormous kudos and gratitude to the brilliant and fashionable Sarah Morean on putting this amazing event together. If you miss it, I assure you that you will regret it until your dying day.