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Altered Esthetics 2013 Comic Art Project

Altered Esthetics, anthologies, gallery show, Minneapolis, Opportunities

Altered Esthetics gallery, our collaborators on numerous projects including the upcoming Lutefisk Sushi Volume E show, needs us to figure out what we want to do for the 2013 comic art show they will be hosting.

Here is a forum thread for discussing the possibilities.

A few possible options to get the discussion started:

1) Comic poster art show
2) Book anthology on a theme
3) “Mystery box” of mini-comics and other mysterious strangeness

Please only suggest ideas you are interested in actively helping make a reality. Thanks for participating!

Come Jam in Minneapolis Thursday July 5th!

event, Events, jam, Minneapolis, mn

The Minneapolis Cartoonist Conspiracy meets at 6:30 until 10:00 the first Thursday of every month at Diamond’s Coffee Shoppe in Northeast.

Generally, we draw collaborative “jam” comics, socialize and drink caffeinated beverages. Afterwords, we often have uncaffeinated beverages somewhere else.

The meetings are open to anyone who wants to draw with us, and the results are posted here sooner or later (and sometimes even printed).

Diamond’s Coffee Shoppe
1618 Central Avenue Northeast
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Bus info here.

Please spend some money at Diamond’s while you’re there, even if it is just a cuppa coffee… they are excellent hosts, and we wanna stay welcome there.

The Art of Writing Comics Class at The Loft

Classes, Learning, Minneapolis, mn, Opportunities

There is an upcoming Art of Writing Comics class at the Loft being taught by Tom Spence on Tuesdays from July 10th to August 14th. Here is the info:

Comics are, most often, a blend of words and images interwoven to produce a whole story. There is a certain alchemy to the process of comic making. And while there is no right or wrong kind of comic, the storytellers must know what it is they want to accomplish on their pages. That is why a well-structured script is essential. It not only establishes a strong foundation for the words, but also for the images, and is essential for a story’s success. Through exercise, discussion, and analysis of comic professionals like writers Alan Moore, Warren Ellis, and Garth Ennis and writer/ artists like Craig Thompson and Brian Lee O’Malley, students will find the advantages of scripting their stories and learn the fundamentals of a complete comic narrative.

Go here to register.

Submit to Creative Property Show at Altered Esthetics (Deadline July 15th)

Altered Esthetics, gallery show, Minneapolis, mn, Opportunities

Besides putting on the annual comic art show (like this year’s Lutefisk Sushi event, deadline September 15th), Altered Esthetics gallery somehow manages to put on a show every month… which is incredibly impressive for a non-profit, community-run gallery. You can keep up with all of their open calls for submissions here.

Another event many of you may want to consider submitting to is the Creative Property show (deadline July 15ht). The show features a look at the issues surrounding and the boundaries of intellectual property ownership, issues that are certainly often on the minds of cartoonists.

Can a person claim ownership of an intangible asset? Artists face the issues of copyright and trademark as they relate to originality and creativity.

Go here to submit.

Suit Up at Altered Esthetics Tonight! (Wednesday, June 20th)

Altered Esthetics, event, Events, Minneapolis, mn

Did you know they have live drawing sessions every month at Altered Esthetics (third Wednesdays)? Well, they do. In costumes! Another of the many reasons to love AE. Info below.

Time to suit up! Join us every third Wednesday of the month for an evening of figure drawing …in costume! Volunteer models will suit up in a costume that best fits the theme of the month. This months suit up is titled “Cleanin’ out the Closets”. Our models this month will be suiting up in some of their old threads that most likely should have been donated to goodwill long ago. If you want, you can model too, the help would be greatly appreciated! No previous experience is needed, just a laid back attitude.

We will draw a variety of poses, for what is sure to be a pleasurable evening of figure drawing with a twist. Bring your sketchbook & drawing implement of choice. Suggested Donation 3$.

If you’re interested in modeling for this event or any another Suit Up event in the future please contact Cassie at workshops(at)alteredesthetics.org

Thanks and hope to see you there!

Minneapolis Jam and Double Barrel Party at Big Time Attic Tonight! (Thursday, June 7th)

event, Events, jam, Local Hero Kevin Cannon, Minneapolis, mn, Nordeast Comics Summit

Party at Big Time Attic tonight to celebrate the release of their fantastic Double Barrel anthology, currently taking the world by storm! Click the image below for more info.

Also:

This month’s Nordeast Comics Summit topic: The History of Comics with Jon Sloan

TIME: 6 – 6:30 pm (right before the Cartoonist Conspiracy Jam)

LOCATION: 1618 Central Ave NE, Ste. 216, Nordeast MPLS

MORE INFO HERE.

And, of course:

Please join us to draw some jam comics, socialize and drink caffeinated beverages. Afterwards, we often have uncaffeinated beverages somewhere else.

The Minneapolis Cartoonist Conspiracy meets at 6:30 until 10:00 the first Thursday of every month at Diamond’s Coffee Shoppe in Northeast.

The meetings are open to anyone who wants to draw with us, and the results are posted here sooner or later (and sometimes even printed). Diamond’s Coffee Shoppe 1618 Central Avenue Northeast Minneapolis, Minnesota

Bus info here.

Please spend some money at Diamond’s while you’re there, even if it is just a cuppa coffee… they are excellent hosts, and we wanna stay welcome there.

Mini-Comics Day 2012 in Minneapolis

event, Events, Mini-Comics Day, Minneapolis, mn

Mini-Comics Day in Minneapolis was a whole lot of fun… of the numerous cartoonists who showed up, at least 15 comics were completed (pictured below… apologies if I didn’t get a photo of yours for some reason). Afterwards we went to Grumpy’s to drink, eat tater tots, and give out the 2012 Stapler Award for the Best Minnesota Mini-Comics Day Mini-Comic. Eric Lorberer (Editor of Rain Taxi Review of Books), Courtney Algeo (Editorial Director of Paper Darts and Marketing Coordinator at The Loft Literary Center) and Miles Johnson (of the Read My List blog and Altered Esthetics gallery) deliberated for quite a while to determine which mini was the best one by their subjective standards… and a winner was picked! The award went to Athena Currier for her very deserving entry “My Little Sister Phoebe Just Graduated from College,” which made me laugh out loud when I read it… I wish I had remembered to take a picture of her with the award. Additionally, last year’s winner of the Stapler, Dan Murphy, was given an honorable mention for his entry “The Spider Lady,” which was good, because if he had won we would have had to change the name of the award to the Dan Murphy award.

Here are some (bad) pictures from the event, and pictures of the completed minis.

The Stapler-Award-winning comic by Athena Currier

The runner up, by Dan Murphy

Dan’s comic with the cover opened:

A.Z. McGinty‘s untitled comic:

“The Bridge” by Carlos Merino:

“Darkly Swoops” by Chris Beck (unforutnately mangled by my bag):

“Danno and the Giant Apple” by Danno Klonowski

“The Fledgling” by Erika Finne

“Hazards” by Joe Combs

Untitled mini by Lars Kommienezuspadt

“Finger Football” by Matt Reints

“Stinky & Inky” by Michelle Silva

“The First-Ever Mini-Comic About Making a Mini-Comic” by Mike Toft

“Abra-Ka Deborah” by Thomas Boguszewski

“Shift” by Vivian Meger and her Dad

“Plotz #2” by Stwalley

#minicomicsday2012 is Today! (May 26th)

event, Events, mini-comics, Mini-Comics Day, News


Pictured above: The 2012 Stapler Award for the Best Minnesota Mini-Comics Day Mini-Comic

You’re encouraged to use the hash tag #minicomicsday2012 for whatever you may want to use a hashtag for.

Cartoonists around the world will be drawing and printing a mini-comic in a day. Any cartoonist anywhere can participate.

There are event sites this year in:
Sacramento, CA
San Francisco, CA
Baltimore, MD
Minneapolis, MN
Keene, NH
Albuquerque, NM
Norfolk, VA
and McCleary, WA
(and we had a site in Newcastle Upon Tyne in the UK participate last month)

If you live near one of those locations, go here for the details of your local event.

Mini-Comics Day Minneapolis 2012 (This Saturday, May 26th) Info… You Could Win the Stapler Award! Judges Announced.

awards, Contest, event, Events, mini-comics, Mini-Comics Day, Minneapolis, mn, Opportunities, St. Paul


Pictured above: 2011 Stapler Award Winner Dan Murphy holds his prize.

The self-descriptive “2012 Stapler Award for the Best Minnesota Mini-Comics Day Mini-Comic” will be given out around 8PM or so in the side room at Grumpy’s downtown after the event at Book Arts. You will need to submit three copies of your completed-that-day comic to enter.

This year’s judges for the “2012 Stapler Award for the Best Minnesota Mini-Comics Day Mini-Comic”

Eric Lorberer, Editor of Rain Taxi Review of Books
Courtney Algeo, Editorial Director of Paper Darts and Marketing Coordinator at The Loft Literary Center
Miles Johnson of the Read My List blog and Altered Esthetics gallery (hosts for the upcoming Lutefisk Sushi Volume E project)

UPDATE: Besides the award, there will be cool prizes for the winner… a $25 gift certificate to Big Brain Comics courtesy of Big Brain Comics, and a free pass to the Northeast Ride ($25 value), courtesy of the Northeast CDC.

Here is the previously posted event info:

Mini-Comics Day is this Saturday! On Mini-Comics Day, participating cartoonists draw and print a mini-comic in a day. Any cartoonist in the world can participate in the event… if you would like to host an event in your community, contact us and we’ll get you set up.

Here is the information for those of you participating in the Twin Cities:

The Minnesota Center For Book Arts
1011 Washington Ave S
Minneapolis, MN
May 26th, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
A copier will be available on site. Copies will cost $.02 each, but Big Brain Comics and Big Time Attic will generously be helping defray some of the expense.
Table space will be provided on a first come, first served basis.
Bring your own drawing materials.
Afterwards, we will move a block over to Grumpy’s to give out “The Stapler Award for the Best Minnesota Mini-Comics Day Mini-Comic 2012.” To enter we will need three copies of your mini-comic before 7:30PM.
Grumpy’s
1111 Washington Ave S
Minneapolis, MN
Contact: Steven Stwalley
webmaster(at)cartoonistconspiracy.com

This may be a good opportunity for you to get a mini-comic ready for the upcoming Lutefisk Sushi Volume E project happening at Altered Esthetics in November.

Help promote the event! Here are assets for the Minneapolis event by 2011 Stapler Award Winner Dan Murphy.

Here is a poster you can print and hang.

Here are flyers to leave around town.

Here are graphics for your website, social-networking site, etc.:

If you use facebook, you may want to sign up here.