As part of their Third Thursday program, we’re having a special Third Thursday jam this month at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts next Thursday, November 17th (note that this is instead of the regular third Thursday St. Paul jam, which is cancelled for this month). It starts at 6PM and goes until 9PM. The cartooning activity will happen in Studios 111-113 on the first floor. Here is a pdf promoting the event.

The theme of the jam will be Warriors and Vixens, which is the name of the Third Thursday event. We won’t be doing the usual numbered pages, we’ll be doing isolated pages. The MIA will be providing paper and materials (although you’ll of course want to bring your preferred tools).

As always, it is open to anyone who wishes to draw. The more the merrier… so please tell your friends.

You’re encouraged to bring some of your print work along to populate a few reading lounges they will have set up, which should be a very good opportunity to get your work seen. The publications you bring are not intended to be a donation… you should take your books with you at the end of the event. The guards will be informed that it is cool for us to carry our publications out with us.

This is a part of a cross-promotion with other stuff going on at the MIA relating to their Edo Pop show of Japanese prints, relating them to our modern culture.

Here are a couple of other related events happening. The first one was forwarded to me by our own Jamison Penny, and is happening November 15th in Hopkins:

A Cross talk about Comic Books, Helmet Girls, and Heros with Camilla d’Errico and Joshua Dysart (moderated by Katherine Milton, Director of Learning and Innovation at the MIA) Tuesday, Nov 15th 6:00-8:00 at the Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins, MN 55343

Come and enjoy a lively dialogue between two highly sought after graphic novel artists, as they discuss their creative process, collaboration in the digital age, the graphic novel business and more. There will also be a question and answer period. The event is free and no reservation is required.

Joshua Dysart is a New York Times bestselling author of 16 graphic novels, most widely known for his monthly comic, Unknown Soldier, which deals with the war in Uganda and the exploitation of child soldiers. Other collaborations include Greendale with musician Neil Young, and Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment with Deepak Chopra. Award-winning graphic novelist and collaborator Dysart integrates world mythologies, art history, social studies, and contemporary politics into his accompanying stories.

Camilla D’Errico is a Canadian comic-book illustrator, painter, and visual artist. Her clients include Dark Horse Comics, Image Comics, Random House, Tokyopop, Hasbro, Disney, Sanrio, Neil Gaiman, and video game companies. Her own characters and properties include the popular Tanpopo and Helmetgirls. Borrowing from Japanese manga, D’Errico illustrates stories with an ethereal lyricism that references Japanese prints, such as those on view in “Edo Pop: The Graphic Impact of Japanese Prints” in the Target Galleries at the MIA.
Special thanks to the MIA for making this presentation possible. Joshua Dysart and Camilla d’Errico are in the Twin Cities to support of the exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Edo Pop: The Graphic Impact of Japanese Prints. Their work with the MIA will largely be in demonstrating the ways in which contemporary pop culture as seen in graphic novels and comic books have deep roots in a Japanese aesthetic and form.

re: Joshua’s work:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8221128.stm

http://joshuadysart.com/unknownsoldier/?p=454

Camilla d’Errico’s work:
http://http://www.camilladerrico.com/

http://geek-news.mtv.com/2011/05/09/video-interview-artist-camilla-derrico-helmetgirls-origins/

And, forwarded by Katie Wildfong at the MIA, and is happening November 16th at the MIA:

Free Upcoming Event at the MIA: Joshua Dysart Discusses “Unknown Soldier”

I am writing to let you know about a free event hosted by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts from 3 – 4 p.m. on Wednesday, November 16.

Acclaimed graphic novelist Joshua Dysart will discuss his experience researching and writing the comic book series “Unknown Soldier,” set in war-torn Northern Uganda. The story’s protagonist is a Ugandan-American doctor who returns home to aid victims of the brutal Lord’s Resistance Army and its leader Joseph Kony. “Unknown Soldier” highlights the ongoing civil unrest in central Africa. This talk is particularly timely in light of the US military deployment to Uganda announced last month.

Joshua Dysart has received numerous accolades for his work, including a Glyph Comics Award in 2011 for best writer of a comic made by, for, or about people of color, and a nomination for a Will Eisner Comic Industry Award, also in 2011. His work on “Unknown Soldier” has been covered by The New York Times, the BBC, and other international media:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/12/books/12unknown.html and http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8221128.stm.

This talk will take place on Wednesday, November 16, at 3 p.m. and will be held in the Pillsbury Auditorium. It is open to everyone; no reservations are necessary.

We hope you can come, and please feel free to invite others!