I can’t believe this almost snuck by us…

Saturday, October 23, 11 AM
Heights Theater, 3951 Central Ave NE, Columbia Heights
Hosted by Anoka County Library and co-sponsored by Heights Theater and the Columbia Heights Library

Known for his offbeat style and sense of humor, Mike Reiss was the head writer and producer for The Simpsons for over 20 years. Winner of four Emmys, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Animation Writers Caucus, and a Peabody Award for his work, Reiss is also an award-winning novelist, children’s author, and screenplay writer. He has published fourteen children’s books, including the popular How Murray Saved Christmas and Late for School. In addition, his caveman detective short story, “Cro-Magnon P.I.,” won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America. Co-writer of The Simpsons Movie and Ice Age 3, his other credits include work on It’s Garry Shandling’s Show, ALF, and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Reiss’s newest book, Just Too Cute! And Other Tales of Adorable Animals for Horrible Children, will be released in September 2010. For the Club Book events, Reiss will show clips from his animated work and discuss the difference in writing for print, screen, and television.

Hey Everybody–

   BRITT AAMODT would like to collect more art for the late October comic art show in Elk River–there is still room for about 20 more works.  Britt will be stopping by THIS WEEKS ST PAUL CONSPIRACY JAM AT CAHOOTS around 8pm.  So if you want to participate PLEASE bring a framed work or two with your contact info and a sale price (if applicable).  The show will hang for only one week at the ELK RIVER ARTS ALLIANCE(716 Main St NW, Elk River, MN 55330) from Oct 25th-30th.  There will be a Closing Party on Oct 30th from 2-5pm.  All art will be returned at the November Mpls Conspiracy meeting.  Hope you can join in!!!

   Know whats AWESOME about the TWIN CITIES BOOK FEST going on this weekend?  Well, YES, it is a FREE EVENT and that is pretty rad.  But what’s even greater is that  BRITT AAMODT’s “SUPERHEROES, STRIP ARTISTS, and TALKING ANIMALS: ESSAYS ON CONTEMPORARY MN CARTOONISTS” will be debuting nigh-on a month ahead of it’s release date at BOOK FEST this Saturday!!!  The book features both interviews and the art of many of your favorite MN cartoonists including several Conspirators.  The official run-down of artists looks like this:  Kirk Anderson, Ken Avidor, Terry Beatty, Big Time Attic: Zander & Kevin Cannon, Will Dinski, Patrick Gleason, Peter Gross, Christopher Jones & Melissa Kaercher, Dan Jurgens, Ryan Kelly, Reynold Kissling, Danno Klonowski/Dank!, Bob Lipski & Brian Bastian, Roger Lootine, Doug Mahnke, Gordon Purcell, Brittney Sabo, Zak Sally, Barbara Schulz, Tim Sievert, Andy Singer, King Mini/Vincent Stall, and Steven Stwalley.   So come pick a copy this weekend.  Dare I suggest–the perfect stocking stuffer for those you love who love comics?!

  Hey Twin Cities fans o’ comics–you have 2 big options this weekend on how to spend your hard-earned dollar-dollar bills, yo!

  First off, the autumnal classic FALLCON!  Traditionally this celebration of superheroes, toys, and costumes was a 2-day event, but it and SPRINGCON have swapped places and now FALLCON is the one-day wonder!  But don’t despair fans o’ indie comics, many of your favorite indie creators will be sitting side by side with big  mainstream names like legend HERB TRIMPE!!!  So look for Conspirators ZANDER CANNON, DAVID STEINLICHT, RYAN DOW, SCOTT GALLATIN, VAS LITTLECROW, SEAN LYNCH, JON SLOAN, BRIAN BASTIAN, LATHAM LUEPKE, and DANIEL J OLSON, as well as our many local indie comics friends.  

   But if you’re looking for what is shaping up to be almost an indie comic show within a show, look no further than THE TWIN CITIES BOOK FEST!   In addition to a bevy of authors and exhibitors you will find KEVIN CANNON, LUPI McGINTY(and her husband/author MARK McGINTY), MIKE TOFT, BILL PRENDERGAST, DANNO KLONOWSKI, LARS MARTINSON, WILL DINSKI, BOB LIPSKI, KEN AVIDOR, 2D CLOUD, TIM SIEVERT, and TOM K.  Also, venturing from Duluth will be CHRIS MONROE.  Additionally, ‘Vertigo’ darling and recent MN transplant BILL WILLINGHAM will be making his MN premiere (and be on a panel about comics in MN moderated by BRITT AAMODT, author of the upcoming book on MN cartoonists “SUPERHEROES, STRIP ARTISTS, and TALKING ANIMALS“).  If you were a fan of MIX, ‘Book Fest’ is the place to be!

Elk River Comic Art Show now has an official Opening/Closing Party–SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30th  2-5pm.

If you want to participate please bring ONE FRAMED work (with your contact info and any sale price written on the back) to DIAMONDS COFFEE SHOP on MONDAY, OCTOBER 18th at 8pm.  Britt will collect all art then and be responsible fot it’s transport to Elk River.  The ERAA will handle the rest.

BRITT AAMODT, author of the up-coming ‘SUPERHEROES, STRIP ARTISTS, and TALKING ANIMALS’ book about MN cartoonists sends along the following last-minuteish opportunity for a comic art show:

   “The Elk River Area Arts Alliance wants to put on a short comic art show from OCTOBER 25th-31st to introduce the local public and artist members to MN cartoonists and comic art.  They’re looking for 42 pieces (or less). Whatever you can put together that’s framed–this includes re-using your LUTEFISK SUSHI D art submission, if necessary.
   (Also–The ERAA will be accepting comic art–for the first time this year–in their national juried art show, Arts In Harmony. Nick Post is putting up the $500 Best Sequential Art Award.)”

   If you cannot make the OCTOBER 18th meet-up still but want to participate, please contact DANNO KLONOWSKI–staplegenius at yahoo daht cahm–to arrange getting the art in his hands ahead of time.

Let’s show the northern suburbs we mean business!

This month in Minneapolis in addition to the jam (albeit a shorter than usual one) you have a chance to help out our dear friends at ALTERED ESTHETICS.  They will be having a fundraiser shortly which will involve a ROCK BAND tournament, and AE Poo-bah JAMIE SCHUMACHER has asked we cartoonists help set the mood for the evening by doing lots of “ROCK”-themed art this month.  Jamie will provide LARGE PAPER(18″x24″) and DRAWING SUPPLIES, so what you need to bring is either a picture (or mobile picture-getting device) of your favorite BAND, ROCK STAR, ALBUM COVER, or GEOLOGIC FORMATION that you can turn around and make into some large-scale art.  Sounds like fun!  LET’S ROCK, CONSPIRACY!!!

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.