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Jerry Dowling (right) chats with Chris Eckes, Assistant Director of the Reds Hall of Fame.
BORGBLOG
INKSLINGING
I STILL WANT MY EARL-TV
FRAZZ AND SPEED BUMP TOGETHER AGAIN
DON PEOPLES' LATEST
HAPPY BIRTHDAYS
JUST SAYIN'
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NEWSblurts
Member News
5/13/06 RON HILL GETS MORE RELIGION
5/13/06 MATT IN SPACE
5/13/06 REDS HALL OF FAME
4/23/06 JEF MALLETT RIDES AGAIN
4/21/06 MEET MATT FEAZELL
4/19/06 AGNES HOT TO TROT
4/07/06 GLC REUBEN NOMINEES
4/07/06 GLC ON THE MAGAZINE RACK
3/07/06 MMMM... CHOCOLATE...
3/06/06 NEW CLOWNS IN BIG TOP
2/17/06 CONGRATS AND MORE CONGRATS
2/17/06 STAHLER EARNS MERIT BADGE
2/05/06 BLORGMAN
12/12/05 BLACK INK MONDAY
12/ 6/05 EARL AND POLLY
12/ 6/05 DOWLING: HE'S EVERYWHERE
12/ 6/05 SPEED BUMP CALENDAR CUT UP
12/ 6/05 DON PEOPLES ON DISPLAY
12/ 6/05 BIRTHDAY WAFFLES
12/ 6/05 PROBABLY NOTHING
THOSE FUNNY THEOLOGIANS
Ron Hill tells us that there are two new additions to his "Armchair Theologians" line of books. These volumes, published by Westminster John Knox Press, are written by a number of authors and profusely illustrated (around 100 drawings in each) by Ron. The latest books are Wesley for Armchair Theologians, by Willam J. Abraham, and Barth for Armchair Theologians, by John R. Franke (available in late June 2006).
"The 'Armchair' series is doing well enough that there will be German and Japanese editions of the series soon;" says Ron. "I expect to start work on the next book in the series, Bonhoeffer for Armchair Theologians, in late 2006. In the future there are volumes planned for Thomas Merton, Pail Tillich and those wild and crazy Niebuhr brothers, Reinhold and H. Richard. So, to paraphrase Cabb Calloway in the Blues Brothers movie, I'll be 'gettin' some church' for awhile yet."
Ron's work on the Armchair books has gotten him invited to the Buckeye Book Fair which takes place in Wooster, Ohio on November 4. "The publisher thinks we can sell a few in the mini-Bible belt surrounding Wooster, especially the Protestant theologians like John Wesley and John Calvin."
All of Ron's books are available at the GLC Bookstore.
MATT IN S.P.A.C.E
Here's a glimpse of our man Matt Feazell in his natural habitat, meeting the public and selling his wares at the seventh annual S.P.A.C.E. (Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo), held at the Aladdin Shrine Complex in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, May 13. S.P.A.C.E. is the Mid-West's largest gathering of small press, alternative and creator-owned comic artists, writers and publishers.
Jerry Dowling (right) chats with Chris Eckes, Assistant Director of the Reds Hall of Fame.
Jerry Dowling and Daryll Collins recently paid a visit to the Reds Hall of Fame in Cincinnati.
"The Reds have a special display commemorating the 1990 World Champion team," said Jerry. "Part of the display is a gathering of cartoons drawn by Jeff Stahler and myself during that wire-to-wire season. They were never out of first place. They topped it off by whipping the Pirates in the NL playoffs and swept the heavily favored Oakland Athletics in the World Series.
"Hall of Fame director Greg Rhodes asked Jeff and me if we had any cartoons depicting the events of that season, and its characters. We sure did.
"On the wall are about thirty pieces.
"The display was intended to run through March, but it is now going to be up all season, maybe even permanently. More from other years may be added later."
Click HERE for additional photos from Jerry and Daryll's visit.
TWO CONTESTS
The Cincinnati Enquirer is celebrating Jim Borgman's 30th year (!) as the paper's editorial cartoonist with a contest. Readers are invited to draw their own best editorial cartoon and submit it to the paper at: Borgman Challenge, Life, 312 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202, by May 8. Jim will review the entries, redraw his favorite in his style and award the artwork to the winner.
While on the subject of Jim Borgman, it seems he's won another award -- this one from the Associated Press Society of Ohio in its annual newspaper competition. Jim won first place for best editorial cartoon.
Congratulations on this, as well as your 30-year mile marker, Jim!
Meanwhile, over at speedbump.com, Dave Coverly is conducting the second annual Speed Bump Caption Contest. Last year's contest generated well over 3,000 entries, but Dave hasn't learned his lesson, so he's giving it another go-round. This year's captionless Speed Bump panel is pictured right. Entrants should put "caption contest" in the subject line, and send their captions to: speedbumpcomic@comcast.net
REALITY CATCHES UP TO JEF MALLETT
Above: pictures of the types of things I don't even think about doing.
Jef Mallett, creator of Frazz, seems unclear on the concept of being a cartoonist. That is, he doesn't understand that we're just supposed to sit in our windowless hovels and draw, draw, draw until the melanin in our skin atrophies and our spines develop nice permanent arcs.
Instead, he's out there using all his limbs, even the ones that don't have drawing hands at the end. And where does it get him?
"I am representing our profession in a reality TV show of sorts," says Jef. "God only knows if I'm doing you all a favor. I guess we'll know once I'm done."
The show, titled Nevada Passage, revolves around teams of people competing in very un-cartoonist-like activities, pitting 10 two-person coed teams against each other in six off-beat events spanning six days, six cities, and 1,000 miles of terrain.
Good luck Jef! We'll be keeping the faith and betting the rent money.
The annual Nevada Passage event is produced as a one-hour feature show for U.S. syndication. The 2006 event will air August 2006 - February 2007.
Airdates will be posted here, so check back!
Nice words about our newest member:
"Matt Feazell has proven time and time again with his mini-comics that he is a genius." - Greg McElhatton
"I've found his work to be consistently funny, engaging and deeply rewarding." - William R. Terrell
"Matt was one of the first artists to draw a silverfish for us." - John Q. & Crazy Bob
"Every Wednesday evening, Matt Feazell, creator of the Cynicalman comic opens his Hamtramck (Michigan) home to a group of talented artists." - Green Brain
"Matt Feazell is the author of a totally amazing minicomic called Cynicalman, and he is like a god to me." - Cory Doctorow
"Matt Feazell's work is another perfect marriage of word and line." - Mark L. Irons
"Matt Feazell has been creating the adventures of Cynicalman since Kevin Smith was in junior high and has probably done more to promote mini-comics than any other cartoonist." - Alex Robinson
"Matt Feazell is a talented minimalist cartoonist. I dig the Amazing Cynicalman." - Ned Gulley
Welcome to the GLC, Matt!
Click HERE to download a large-size .pdf of Tony's Walk-A-Thon poster
Tony Cochran's comic strip character Agnes is this year's mascot for "Taking The Reins," an organization teaching life skills to underserved teenage girls through the care and riding of horses.
Taking the Reins is holding its second annual Walk-a-Thon on Sunday, May 21, at Lake Balboa Park (Anthony Beilenson Park) in Van Nuys, Calif. Registration is at 8:00 a.m. and the walk starts at 9:00 a.m. The public is invited.
Tony contributed a special "Agnes hoofs it for Taking the Reins" cartoon promoting the event. He sees similarities between Agnes, a young girl with big dreams despite having a rough row to hoe, and the young women Taking the Reins serves. "Agnes is a small bit of everything I find remarkable," Tony said. "She picks her battles, sometimes winning, sometimes losing. I think a lot of people will identify with her."
"We're thrilled to have Agnes as our mascot and we want to thank Tony Cochran for allowing Agnes to join us this year," said Judith Hopkins, Taking the Reins Founder and Executive Director. Hopkins adds, "Since the program started in 1998, Taking the Reins has inspired at least 490 girls to reach for their dreams and to realize their full potential."
For more information about the Walk-a-Thon, call Taking the Reins at 323-906-1560 or download registration and dedication forms at www.takingthereins.org.
OUR NOMINEES
Once again, the GLC is well-represented in the upcoming Reuben Awards, with five members listed as nominees in six categories for Reuben Division Awards. In addition, our own Dave Coverly is in the running for "Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year."
The 60th annual Reuben Awards banquet takes place in Chicago on May 27.
Our nominees:
ADVERTISING ILLUSTRATION: Roy Doty
EDITORIAL CARTOONS: Jim Borgman
GREETING CARDS: Dan Collins
MAGAZINE ILLUSTRATION: C.F. Payne
NEWSPAPER ILLUSTRATION: Jim Borgman & Jerry Scott for "Zits"
Congratulations and good luck to all of our nominees! The full list of nominees can be found at the NCS website.
THE GLC MAGAZINE RACK
Two GLC members star in magazine feature stories this month.
The March, 2006 issue of Ohio Magazine headlines Jeff Stahler in an article by Felix Winternitz titled "Who Makes Ohio Laugh?" Jeff, who produces editorial cartoons for the Columbus Dispatch, in addition to his daily Moderately Confused panel, is counted among other such Buckeye State humorists as radio hosts Gary Burbank; 'Big Chuck and Lil' John;' 'Lanigan and Malone'; newspaper columnist Jim Knippenberg, and others. The article can be read here, but get the magazine for the full-page photo/illustration of Jeff.
In the April/May Cincy Business Magazine, Chris Payne discusses his campaign to promote commissioned illustration (as opposed to stock illustration); his four-year contract to supply back covers for Reader's Digest; his children's book work, and the Rolling Stone assignment that represented his breakthrough into national attention. This article, titled "Off The Wall," is also by Felix Winternitz, and is available online here.
BOREMAN WORKS FOR PEANUTS
Our pal Steve Boreman, with Chute Gerdeman, has just completed a fun (and stressful) project -- decorating the interior of an M&M's World store in Orlando FL.
"Wish I could show you all the cartooning that went into the store," says Steve. "There was a lot actually. Went from concept to finish in about 8 months. By contrast, I spent 2 years on Bou-Tiki, the Disney World Polynesian Resort gift shop that opened in May, also in Orlando."
The M&Ms design job was the cover story for DDI magazine. For more, click HERE.
SHOW MUST GO ON:
CARTOONISTS FILL IN AT BIG TOP
Above: Big Top as interpreted by fill-in artist, Lucky Cow's Mark Pett.
Fans of Rob Harrell's Big Top are discovering that the strip has taken on a new look -- In fact, a series of new looks -- for three weeks starting March 6. A number of Universal Press Syndicate cartoonists are handling the creative chores on the circus strip through March 18, covering for Rob, who took time off for medical reasons.
The line-up of guest cartoonists is: Mark Pett; Glenn McCoy; Jan Elliot, Bill Hinds; Mike Baldwin; Phil Dunlap; Jim Davis; Mark Tatulli; Paul Gilligan; Gary McCoy; Karen Montague Reys; Chip Dunham; Ruben Bolling; Scott Stantis; Tom Wilson, Jr .
Details are in Universal's press release.
Read more in this AP story.
The GLC wishes Rob all the best for a speedy and complete bounceback!
Above: Big Top ala Glenn McCoy.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Look, a potential future GLC member:
Emilia (Mia) Paris Brewer, daughter of Mark and Delilah Brewer!
Born 1/25/06
8.9lbs, 20 inches long
AND MORE CONGRATULATIONS
This from Jim Allen in his note of January 20: "Bit of good news to share. I passed my doctoral dissertation defense at Northern Illinois University this week. Good to have it all completed and behind me. It's been pretty intense the last couple of months trying to get it all together."
Columbus Dispatch editorial cartoonist Jeff Stahler took a break from drawing funny pictures of political figures to spend a morning drawing funny pictures of Girl Scouts instead.
Jeff, with guest Craig Boldman, was tapped to conduct a workshop titled "Drawing and Cartooning" at the CSA (Cadet/Senior Association) Winter Conference of the Girl Scouts - Great Rivers Council on January 15 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The audience of about 40 girls, age 11-18, was treated to Jeff's chalk talk about the cartooning life, and given a chance to try their own hand at creating caricatures and comic strips during the 90-minute presentation.
BORGBLOG
Have you checked out Jim Borgman's blog yet? On January 1, the Cincinnati Enquirer launched a new corner of its website designed to give readers a glimpse into Jim's creative process. Of particular interest to cartoonists will be the rough sketches for Jim's Cincinnati Enquirer editorial cartoons that are posted regularly, along with Jim's words, and comments from Enquirer readers.
Previously in NewsBlurts we noted that the GLC's Chip Bok launched his own blog recently to focus on his editorial cartoon work at the Akron Beacon Journal. So now we have BorgBlog in addition to BokBluster. I defy anyone to repeat these names together quickly.
Speaking of Jim, look closely at the Hi and Lois strip for February 3 strip and you'll catch the strip's artist/writer Chance Browne paying homage to Jim's other job:
INKSLINGING
On December 12, dozens of editorial cartoonists unleashed their biting commentary on the current state of corporate downsizing in the newspaper business. The GLC's Rob Rogers and Jeff Stahler were among the nation's editorial cartoonists to participate in "Black Ink Monday."
Over the last 20 years, the number of cartoonists on the staff of daily newspapers nationwide has been cut in half. In the last month alone, the Tribune Company (owner of the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and a half-dozen other prominent papers), has forced out well-known and award-winning cartoonists at the LA Times and Baltimore Sun, eliminating their positions entirely.
"Black Ink Monday" cartoons are be posted on editorialcartoonists.com (home of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists) and in various papers across the country. The AAEC intends to use the protest to draw attention to, not just the loss of individual jobs, but the wholesale weakening of the daily newspaper.
I STILL WANT MY EARL-TV
Seems like every time we do a story about chapter founder and past GLC chairperson Earl Musick lately, it's because he's on television somewhere. This time Earl was joined by another past GLC chair, Polly Keener. Here's what Earl has to say about it:
I was requested to do a PBS special on Cartoon Art for WVIZ a station in Cleveland. The show was part of their Career Exploration Program. I asked Polly if she would join me. The show aired on Thursday 17 and was braodcast live to over 30 high schools in Ohio. It was also taped, to be used for career days in schools. Students from around Ohio were able to participate in the discussion buy asking us questions live. It was a lot of fun -- Polly was beautiful and did a wonderful job. My bald spot showed up great on TV.
I guess it went well, They invited us back. Well, they invited Polly back and they said I could carry her stuff.
Above: Earl's Shreck-like self-portrait from his Christmas card! Below: Polly, Earl, and some other guy on the set. On the pad, it's Hamster Alley!
DOWLING ABOUT TOWN
As mentioned in an earlier NewsBlurt, Jerry Dowling made a splash at the Society of Professional JournalistsNow we have the photos to prove it.
Nick Clooney, who introduced keynote speaker Edie Magnus (correspondent for Dateline NBC), Jerry, and Ben Kaufman, longtime Enquirer reporter and CityBeat columnist (the 2005 SPJ Cincinnati hall of Fame inductee).
Emil Dansker, a Hall of Famer himself, former Enquirer reporter and Bowling Green State University professor who taught journalism to our former GLC member and newsletter editor Don Lee, Edie Magnus, and Jerry.
CityBeat publisher John Fox, Jerry, and CityBeat art director and photographer Sean Hughes. And, also in another recent NewsBlurt, Tim Oliphant, from the NCS's Southeact chapter came to Cincinnati, and Jerry, along with wife Geraldine, were the welcoming committee. Here are Tim and Jerry at a fine local eatery. Jerry paid!!
FRAZZ AND SPEED BUMP TOGETHER AGAIN
Jef Mallett got in a plug for fellow GLC member Dave Coverly in the November 20 Frazz, which revolves around the recently-published Speed Bump Calendar.
It's a forshadowing, no doubt, of the upcomics Mallett/Coverly joint Book Launch Party at Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo, MI, on Tuesday, Dec. 6th. Dave did a solo gig there last year where he sold out of books after signing non-stop for 3 hours. Jef, of course, will be signing copies of his new, first Frazz book. GLCers welcome!!
DON PEOPLES' LATEST
The above editorial cartoon by GLC member Don Peoples was one of the pieces selected for the 69th Area Artists Annual Exhibition at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, OH. The cartoon, The National Pastime, comments on the controversy over baseball and the use of anabolic steroids. It was on display at the Institute during November.
The 69th Area Artists Annual Exhibition is a juried show that includes works in all media. Canton Museum of Art Director M.J. Albacete, was the juror.
HAPPY BIRTHDAYS
Sharp-eyed readers spotted a personal message on the edge of Agnes' birthday waffles in the November 29 strip. It seems that Agnes shares a birthday with (Agnes creator) Tony Cochran's wife, Vickie. Happy belated birthday to both!
JUST SAYIN'
Something I hadn't noticed before in this photo from a recent NewsBlurt: Considering that Henry (on the far right) is standing behind Kelly, doesn't his head seem, um, unnaturally huge? Is this some sort of camera trick or what?
Production Manager Jim, Craig (with free food), and CafePress staff Angela, Kelly, and Henry.
