MCA's IN THE HOUSE WHACHA GONNA DO

Hey Chicago Peeps:

This Saturday July 27 from 10 AM to 6 PM I'll be exhibiting at the MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART in Chicago's SATURDAY STRIP, with two tables full of King-Cat Comix and other fine comic book releases from around the world!

Also exhibiting: Quimby's, CAKE, Megan Kirby, and Ezra Clayton Daniels (who'll be repping a buncha local cartoonists too), so come on down!  And don't forget they also have their DAN CLOWES retrospective up!).

Thanks.  BTW I was hoping to have the new King-Cat out for Autoptic in MPLS, but that is seeming dicey at this time.  I should still have it out by the end of August tho.  Look for it soon!

John P.

MCA Events page

Facebook Events page

SPX PLUS Part Four

After leaving Pittsburgh Tuesday morning, we headed west on I-70, into Columbus, the Next Seattle®.

Just waitin' on a friend.

Sold some comics at Used Kids, then headed across the street to the Cartoon Research Library, where we met up with fellow SPX traveler J.T. Dockery, and Associate Curator Caitlin McGurk gave us a behind-the-scenes tour.

I'd been to the library many times -- in fact I think it was the place where I first met Dylan Williams, pouring over old White Boy comics with cotton gloves on -- but I'd never been behind the magic door where all the comics are actually archived.  It was a cartoonist's dream!

JP, NVS, and JTD view an original Jack Davis drawing.

(Photo courtesy Caitlin McGurk)

The back room was full of sliding shelves, flat files, photographic equipment, and books, lots of books.  We got to look at original Windsor McCays, Segars, Bushmillers, and much more.  Amazing.

Caitlin's cat, Zeek.

Just three dudes, hangin' out.

Our Founder.

Whut-zat?!?

Whudizzit?

It's a squirrel.

After selling comics to the good ol' Laughing Ogre, we made our way further west to Indianapolis, where I had a couple shops to drop off King-Cats at-- Comic Carnival and Luna Music.  Then back on the highway for the dreaded trip up to Chicago.

Dreaded because this stretch of interstate between Indy and Chicago is almost always snarled with terrible traffic-- giant trucks going 85 and pickup trucks going 40.  And delays, construction, and slowdowns.  We were cutting it close...  but we made it to Chicago with time enough to stop at Sultan's Market before the event at Quimby's.

Noah at Quimby's.

Is Quimby's the best weirdo bookstore in the country?  The world?

Quimby's not only has cool books, but cool staff too, notably the great Edie Fake and Neil Brideau.

Check out the tattoo!

JP and Felicia, lifelong (I hope-- for her sake!) King-Cat fan.

(Photo by Liz Mason.)

We drove back to Beloit that night, and the next morning I took Noah to the airport.  When I got back I commenced power-sleeping, because the next day I was heading up to Minneapolis, for the last leg of the trip.

NEXT:  THE PARIS OF THE MIDWEST

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE EVIDENCE

So last weekend I had a couple events in Chicago with my old pal Zak "Sammy the Mouse" Sally, and my new pal Dale "TOOTH" Flattum.  We did a reading at Quimby's in honor of Zak's hot-off-the-presses Sammy the Mouse Volume One, which collects the three Fantagraphics releases in one handy book.  One handy, completely self-printed book.  Yes Zak not only self-published this one on his trusty La Mano imprint, but he actually ran the press it was printed on.  Pretty amazing, and it looks great!

The Quimby's signing was a lotta fun.  It's always a good time to be there, experiencing the magic that is QUIMBY'S.

Afterwards Zak and I got cranky and walked around Wicker Park looking for something suitable to eat.  I wish I had pictures, but I forgot my camera.

Dale's silkscreened exhibition poster

Zak and John discuss those ceramic tiles that line the wall of the Charles Schulz Museum.

The next morning we headed over to Rational Park, a design and exhibition space a little bit farther west on North Avenue, and set up for our three-person show, PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.  For the show Zak hung every one of the 96 pages he drew for Sammy the Mouse so far, along with some beautiful inky poster originals.  Dale put up a bunch of his detourned xerographic screenprints and displayed his "Fluxus" boxes, handmade wooden boxes containing small repros of many of his works, a la Duchamp's Green Boxes.  Also on display were his handmade Brillo Boxes...  A box in every pot, a chicken in every garage!

Zak's wall.

TOOTH wall in progress.

I showed a variety of prints, drawings, photographs and original King-Cat pages.  I don't usually show my work on walls.  I generally like to hand it to people in zine form.  But it was nice to put up all our work together, and to be showing with these artists whom I admire.

John P.'s wall.

I wasn't sure anyone would actually show up, but show up they did.  Some old friends of mine made surprise appearances, and a bunch of Chicago Cartoonists were in attendance, stalwarts and whippersnappers alike.

Dale examines the proof of Zak's insanity.

(Photo by Johnathan Crawford)

Show organizer Grace Tran (left).

(Photo by Johnathan Crawford)

 

(Photo by Johnathan Crawford)

(Photo by Johnathan Crawford)

(Photo by Johnathan Crawford)

(Photo by Johnathan Crawford)

Afterwards we thought it would be a good idea to eat Chili at midnight.  Oops!

Sunday Morning Hobo Camp.

(Photo by Amy Jo)

Zak, on the way back to Minneapolis.

(Photo by whoever wasn't driving, I hope...)

(Photos by Stephanie Dorman, except where indicated)

Thanks to: Grace, Zak, Dale, Amy Jo; Stephanie; Johnathan; Quimby's; Rational Park; all who came out, and all at Johalla Projects.

CHICAGO EVENTS THIS WEEKEND

Hey everyone, two whoppin' big events in Chicago this weekend--

Friday March 23, 7 PM

Zak Sally's SAMMY THE MOUSE VOL. ONE Release Party

with Special Guests™ Dale "Tooth" Flattum and John "Lizzardo the Living Lizard" Porcellino. 

Quimby's Queer Store

1854 W. North Avenue

(773) 342-0910

INFO

* * *

Saturday March 24, 7-11 PM

Physical Evidence: The Artwork of Zak Sally, John Porcellino & Dale Flattum

A collaboration between Johalla Projects and Rational Park, PHYSICAL EVIDENCE is a group show celebrating the sustainability of DIY practices. The show, presented salon-style, will give viewers a chance to see the scope of the original works of art.

Hand-assembled and/or printed zines, comic books, gig posters and screen-printed sculptures by Sally, Porcellino and Flattum will be available for viewers to purchase. They are physical objects, hand-made and hand-distributed, reminders of the artistic means accessible to individuals with a desire to do it themselves.

Rational Park

2557 W. North Avenue

Facebook event page

BE THERE OR BE SQUARE

COMICS & MEDICINE

Last weekend I was honored to participate in the 2nd Annual COMICS & MEDICINE Conference, held this year in my hometown of Chicago, Illinois.  It was an amazing weekend.  I met lots of great people, many for the first time, and was able to talk a bit about both my own health experiences, and the new book The Next Day.  Fun Fotos Follow:

Let's all learn about comics!

The conference was held at the Northwestern University School of Law off Michigan Avenue.  Wow, the storied halls of academia!!!

My table.

Crowds swarm the Quimby's booth.

Where's all the video games at?

Quimby's table, L-R: Liz, Adam, Sarah, and Another Satisfied Customer™.

Friday evening there was a nice reception with free booze and teriyaki sticks.  Everyone had a good time.  (Above: Liz, Hillary Chute, and conference organizer, GP, and cartoonist Ian Williams.)

Conference organizer (and nurse) MK Czerwiec.

(Photo courtesy Phoebe Gloeckner)

Scott McCloud and Phoebe Gloeckner.

(Photo courtesy Phoebe Gloeckner)

 

Phoebe documenting Liz's arm.

John P. looking teriyaki'd out.

(Photo courtesy Phoebe Gloeckner)

JP and PG.

Scott, Phoebe, and Hillary begin some sort of "Hand Jive"/"Sharks vs Jets" thing that I couldn't figure out.

Sneer contest?  I have no idea.

Paul Gravett and Scott McCloud Understand Comics together.

  

Plaid Squad: Ian, Phoebe, John P., Chris Lanier, McCloud.

(Photo courtesy Phoebe Gloeckner)

After rocking the Wyndham Hotel's giant Dom Perignon (?) I returned to Liz's for a good night's rest on her couch.  Above: Oshinko the Cat.

Meow.

Lake Shore Drive, day two of the conference.

Comics & Medicine art display.

A page from The Next Day.

The conference closed with an amazing lecture by the great Scott McCloud.  If you ever get a chance to see him speak, jump on it!

Things wrapped up with a booksigning at Quimby's.  That's Brian Fies (Conference organizer and Mom's Cancer author) leaning over the table, and David Small (Stitches) in the lower right-hand corner.

* * *