Rob Clough just did a great round up of minis he'd picked up from Forbidden Planet in NyC. Great thoughts and wonderful books.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Rob Clough round up.
Rob Clough just did a great round up of minis he'd picked up from Forbidden Planet in NyC. Great thoughts and wonderful books.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
IPRC benefit at GRASS HUT in Portland!
grasshutcorp.com/blog/
Zine River
A Benefit Art Show for the Independent Publishing Resource Center
Grass Hut Gallery 811 East Burnside Portland, OR 97214
Opening Reception: Friday June 26, 2009 at 7-10pm
The show will be up in the gallery until June 29th and online until August 2nd.
Featuring artwork and zines by Chris Johanson, Thomas Campbell, Lori D, Nicole J. Georges, Gabriel Liston, Theo Ellsworth, Dan Gilsdorf, Travis Millard, Mel Kadel, Megan Whitmarsh, Leif Goldberg, Keegan Wenkman, Scrappers, Sammy Harkham, Chris Duncan, Thom Lessner, Elizabeth Haidle and E*Rock.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Thurston Moore on Growth.
A Thurston Moore quote from Our Band Could Be Your Life:
"Moore felt independent labels had lost what made them good in the first place, which was that they didn’t try to compete on any level with the majors. But, noting the steady growth in their sales, indie labels had lately begun to aim higher. 'The whole thing of becoming bigger and bigger to me was wrong,' Moore said. 'You should find a great neutrality and just stay there and maintain that force.'"
Thanks to Tom Neely for telling me about this.
I've been thinking about this idea so much for the past couple years.
"Moore felt independent labels had lost what made them good in the first place, which was that they didn’t try to compete on any level with the majors. But, noting the steady growth in their sales, indie labels had lately begun to aim higher. 'The whole thing of becoming bigger and bigger to me was wrong,' Moore said. 'You should find a great neutrality and just stay there and maintain that force.'"
Thanks to Tom Neely for telling me about this.
I've been thinking about this idea so much for the past couple years.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Olympia Comics Festival this Saturday!
Sparkplug will be going to The Vault in Olympia to attend the Olympia Comics Festival along with Teenage Dinosaur. The show is small but vital and a great reason to go to the capital of Washington. It runs from 12 noon till 5 pm, with loads of related events. Please come by if you are in town. We'll have a bunch of good stuff.
We got that Post MoCCA Attitude!
This Year's MoCCA Festival was the hottest convention I've ever been to. I mean that literally, it was sweltering and stuffy BUT there were so many amazing comics there. It made it totally worth it for me and Sparkplug.
Here is my list of books I bought, traded for or was gifted:
- What Are You Thinking? by Martin Enstsen
- You're Talking With the Wrong Person by Martin Enstsen
- The Hookah Girl and Other True Stories by Marguerite
- 2 one sheets by really good newcomer Miss Lisa Ramsey
- Falling Sky by Victor Kerlow
- Paper Cutter #10 by Tugboat Press with work by Damien Jay, Jesse Reklaw and Minty Lewis
- Casual Sex by David Beyer Jr.
- Gangster Rap Posse #1 by Benjamin Mara
- Invasive Exotics by Jack Turnbull
- The Red Stiletto by Marc Sobel
- Invisible Forces by Juliacks
- A Fall A Part by JP Coovert
- Welcome to the Death Club by Winshluss
- Dapper Chap Quarterly #2, #3, #4 by Mike Freiheit, Neal Iannone, Lauren Hicky, and others
- Call All My Dawgs #3 (Totally Sinbad) by Sam Gaskin
- She Skull #1 by Sara Antoinette Martin
- Peaches Gets Pinched by Erin Colby Griffin
- Mine by Jason Hoffman
- Nine Tenths by James Smith
- Piracy is Liberation by Mattias Elftorp
- Blue Eyes by Lisa Mangum
- Slap in the Face: My Obsession With GG Allin by Justin Melkman
- Wet Gringo by Nick Choban with art by Sergio Zuniga and Justin Melkman
- Bury Me Not by Candy Blondell
- Simple Routines #10 & #11 by JP Coovert
- Elkekation by Molly O'Connell
- Ben Steeple #1 by Jason Estrin
- Dog Comix #6 1/2 by Gary Fields
- Monkey Island by Matt Rota
- Golago #95 (a Sweedish comix anthology)
- Daring Americans by Benjamin Marra, Devin Clark, Thomas Forget, and Dan Meth
- Saucy #1 by Frank Reynoso
- Sugarcube by Samuel C. Gaskin
- Whisky Jack & Kid Coyote Meet the King of Stink by Shawn Cheng
- Magic Shistle #11 1/2 by Sam Henderson
- The Ugly Place by Kubby
- The Biographer by Ada E. Price
- Everything #2 by Mark Hensley and Scott Longo
- Pool Cue on Hand by Malcy Duff
- Two Pages, Two Comics, One Abstraction: by Derik Badman
- Insomnia Season by Mike Freiheit
- Nurse Nurse #4 by Katie Skelly
- Jumbly Junkery #6, #7 by L. Nichols
- Gutter by Victor Kerlow
- Protagonists by Ada Price
- Gags For Kids by Karen Sneider
- In the Name of Love (R. Kelly Comics) by Scott Longo
- Cestbon Anthology #4, #5
- Year Books by Nicholas Breutzman, Shaun Feltz and Raighne Hogan
- Beauty Patrol by Cody Roder
- A Butler Named Hawk by Clara Johansson
- Sorry I Can't Take Your Call Right Now But I'm Off Saving the World anthology
- The Mud Bog by Kubby
- Sula: Falling Through Ice by James Smith III
- Gang of Fools by James Smith III, Jean Baptiste and Jamie Starr
- Taffy Hips Issue #3 by Zara Messano, Gil Gentile, Harrison Sherrod, Jack Rohman and others
- Smoke Signal (a free anthology) by Gabe at Desert Island Comics
- Mexikask Granso by Clara Johansson and Emelie Ostergren
Basically a ton of amazing stuff. I'm sure I forgot something, got something wrong or listed something I shouldn't have. If you want to correct something or would like to know what I thought of something send me an email or comment here, please.
And if you'd like to see me and Shannon O'Leary's Flickr pictures from the show go here.
Taffy Hips talks with Austin English
The new issue of the wonderful art newspaper Taffy Hips (#3) has an article about Austin English (as well as Gary Panter and Ron Rege Jr.). Well well worth a look:
http://taffyhips.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
FUTURE INK COMICS ART SHOW AND RELEASE PARTY PHOTO SET!
Thanks to everyone who came out for the Pre-Mocca Future Ink Comic Art Show and Release Party last Friday at BQE Eye Level Gallery in Brooklyn.
You can see photos of the art and some live action shots from the scene (taken by the lovely and talented Nika Denoyelle) here.
Friday, June 05, 2009
Hellen Jo and Calvin Wong at MoCCA!
Hellen Jo and Calvin Wong made a surprise trip to New York to be at MoCCA. They'll be sitting at table 810 with Damien Jay and Corine Mucha
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
New Books, New Parties and MoCCA Festival
Sparkplug is premiering Windy Corner #3 and Rock That Never Sleeps this Weekend at the MoCCA festival in New York City.
Windy Corner #3 Edited by Austin English. This issue has work and writing by Austin English, Lilli Carre, Sakura Maku, Molly Colleen O'Connell, Frank Santoro, Gipi, Carol Tyler, Vanessa Davis, Jason T. Miles and Joseph Hart
Rock That Never Sleeps is one book by two wonderful artists, Juliacks and Olga Volozova.
The books will be at the show and all events as well as being available online at:
www.sparkplugcomicbooks.com
The MoCCA Festival is at 69th Regiment Armory at 68 Lexington Avenue, between 25th and 26th Streets June 6th and 7th, 11am-6pm
We'll be at tables 813-815. Artists at the table will include Shannon O'leary, Austin English, Tom Neely, Jesse Reklaw, Willow Dawson, Molly O'connell, Juliacks, and Olga Volozova.
I'll be on a panel with some good buddies on Saturday at the festival from 2pm to 2:50, Making Good Comics in a New Era
With Alvin Buenaventura (Buenaventura Books), Mats Jonsson (Gallago), Tom Neely (2007 Ignatz Winner), Brett Warnock (Top Shelf), Julia Wertz (www.fartparty.org), Dylan Williams (Sparkplug Comic Books). Chaired by Heidi MacDonald (The Beat). How are small comics publishers and self-published cartoonists responding to the current comics market? What are the main challenges and opportunities for independent publishers in today’s publishing climate? This roundtable is cosponsored by Sparkplug Comics.
We are taking part in two great events. One of Friday Night and the second on Saturday Night:
Friday, June 5th from 8:30 to 11:00 pm at Eye-Level BQE Gallery, at 364 Leonard St. in Brooklyn NY
Comics publishers Secret Acres, Bodega Distribution, and Sparkplug Books are proud to present some brand new ink of the future - hot off the presses - at Brooklyn’s own Eye-Level BQE Gallery on Friday, June 5th in conjunction with this year’s MOCCA Arts Festival! Celebrate new releases by cartoonist Minty Lewis who will be debuting her collected Ignatz Award winning PS Comics, along with fellow cartoonists Jesse Moynihan, author of the critically acclaimed Follow Me, Kazimir Strzepek, creator of the Eisner Award-nominated graphic novel The Mourning Star and, last but not least, Olga Volozova and Ignatz nominee Juliacks who will unveil their new collaborative comic book odyssey, Rock That Never Sleeps. Joining the artists for a four day only group art show will be special international cartooning guests from noted Swedish publisher, Galago, and the renowned Norwegian comics collective, Dongery. Also on display will be new works be Eamon Espey, Theo Ellsworth, Austin English and many more.
Saturday, June 6th from 6:30-8:30 at Giant Robot New York, at 437 E. 9th between 1st Ave and Ave. A in Manhattan Wow, June 6th is shaping up to be an event filled day at GRNY. In addition to the opening reception Panelists V, Giant Robot will also host the debut of three new comics including Windy Corner #3. Meet the artists behind the Ignatz award nominated magazine and get a signed copy of the new issue. Editor Austin English will be on hand, along with contributors Lilli Carre, Sakura Maku, Molly Colleen O'Connell, and Joseph Hart. Also witness the debut of Rock That Never Sleeps, a comics collaboration from acclaimed artists JULIACKS and Olga Volozova, Julia Wertz's much anticipated Fart Party v. 2, as well as Crooked Teeth #4, the amazing mini comic from up-and-coming artist Nate Doyle! All the artists will be on hand to talk about their work and sign books.
Windy Corner #3 Edited by Austin English. This issue has work and writing by Austin English, Lilli Carre, Sakura Maku, Molly Colleen O'Connell, Frank Santoro, Gipi, Carol Tyler, Vanessa Davis, Jason T. Miles and Joseph Hart
Rock That Never Sleeps is one book by two wonderful artists, Juliacks and Olga Volozova.
The books will be at the show and all events as well as being available online at:
www.sparkplugcomicbooks.com
The MoCCA Festival is at 69th Regiment Armory at 68 Lexington Avenue, between 25th and 26th Streets June 6th and 7th, 11am-6pm
We'll be at tables 813-815. Artists at the table will include Shannon O'leary, Austin English, Tom Neely, Jesse Reklaw, Willow Dawson, Molly O'connell, Juliacks, and Olga Volozova.
I'll be on a panel with some good buddies on Saturday at the festival from 2pm to 2:50, Making Good Comics in a New Era
With Alvin Buenaventura (Buenaventura Books), Mats Jonsson (Gallago), Tom Neely (2007 Ignatz Winner), Brett Warnock (Top Shelf), Julia Wertz (www.fartparty.org), Dylan Williams (Sparkplug Comic Books). Chaired by Heidi MacDonald (The Beat). How are small comics publishers and self-published cartoonists responding to the current comics market? What are the main challenges and opportunities for independent publishers in today’s publishing climate? This roundtable is cosponsored by Sparkplug Comics.
We are taking part in two great events. One of Friday Night and the second on Saturday Night:
Friday, June 5th from 8:30 to 11:00 pm at Eye-Level BQE Gallery, at 364 Leonard St. in Brooklyn NY
Comics publishers Secret Acres, Bodega Distribution, and Sparkplug Books are proud to present some brand new ink of the future - hot off the presses - at Brooklyn’s own Eye-Level BQE Gallery on Friday, June 5th in conjunction with this year’s MOCCA Arts Festival! Celebrate new releases by cartoonist Minty Lewis who will be debuting her collected Ignatz Award winning PS Comics, along with fellow cartoonists Jesse Moynihan, author of the critically acclaimed Follow Me, Kazimir Strzepek, creator of the Eisner Award-nominated graphic novel The Mourning Star and, last but not least, Olga Volozova and Ignatz nominee Juliacks who will unveil their new collaborative comic book odyssey, Rock That Never Sleeps. Joining the artists for a four day only group art show will be special international cartooning guests from noted Swedish publisher, Galago, and the renowned Norwegian comics collective, Dongery. Also on display will be new works be Eamon Espey, Theo Ellsworth, Austin English and many more.
Saturday, June 6th from 6:30-8:30 at Giant Robot New York, at 437 E. 9th between 1st Ave and Ave. A in Manhattan Wow, June 6th is shaping up to be an event filled day at GRNY. In addition to the opening reception Panelists V, Giant Robot will also host the debut of three new comics including Windy Corner #3. Meet the artists behind the Ignatz award nominated magazine and get a signed copy of the new issue. Editor Austin English will be on hand, along with contributors Lilli Carre, Sakura Maku, Molly Colleen O'Connell, and Joseph Hart. Also witness the debut of Rock That Never Sleeps, a comics collaboration from acclaimed artists JULIACKS and Olga Volozova, Julia Wertz's much anticipated Fart Party v. 2, as well as Crooked Teeth #4, the amazing mini comic from up-and-coming artist Nate Doyle! All the artists will be on hand to talk about their work and sign books.
Friday, June 5, 2009, 8:30 PM – 11:00 PM
BQE Eye Level Gallery
364 Leonard Street
Brooklyn, NY
Lorimer/Metropolitain Stop off the L Train
http://www.eyelevelgallery.com/
Comics publishers Secret Acres, Bodega Distribution, and Sparkplug Books are proud to present some brand new ink of the future - hot off the presses - at Brooklyn’s own Eye-Level BQE Gallery on Friday, June 5th in conjunction with this year’s MOCCA Arts Festival! Celebrate new releases by cartoonist Minty Lewis who will be debuting her collected Ignatz Award winning PS Comics, along with fellow cartoonists Jesse Moynihan, author of the critically acclaimed Follow Me, Kazimir Strzepek, creator of the Eisner Award-nominated graphic novel The Mourning Star and, last but not least, Olga Volozova and Ignatz nominee Juliacks who will unveil their new collaborative comic book odyssey, Rock That Never Sleeps. Joining the artists for a four day only group art show will be special international cartooning guests from noted Swedish publisher, Galago, and the renowned Norwegian comics collective, Dongery. Also on display will be new works be Eamon Espey, Theo Ellsworth, Austin English and many more.
Artists will be signing copies of their new books and selling limited edition prints and artwork. And refreshments will be served courtesy of the publishers! So come on down to the side of the of the freeway (after first stopping by Desert Island at 540 Metropolitain to see Paul Hornschmeier read from his new book, Mother, Come Home). Come one, come all and come early to see the ink of the future!
After a year of supporting emerging visual artists living and working in Brooklyn and Queens, EyeLevel Gallery expands its operation with the opening of EyeLevel Casa. With an expanded gallery space, a new partnership with North Brooklyn Public Arts Coalition, and redesigned store featuring the best of Brooklyn design.
BQE Eye Level Gallery
364 Leonard Street
Brooklyn, NY
Lorimer/Metropolitain Stop off the L Train
http://www.eyelevelgallery.com/
Comics publishers Secret Acres, Bodega Distribution, and Sparkplug Books are proud to present some brand new ink of the future - hot off the presses - at Brooklyn’s own Eye-Level BQE Gallery on Friday, June 5th in conjunction with this year’s MOCCA Arts Festival! Celebrate new releases by cartoonist Minty Lewis who will be debuting her collected Ignatz Award winning PS Comics, along with fellow cartoonists Jesse Moynihan, author of the critically acclaimed Follow Me, Kazimir Strzepek, creator of the Eisner Award-nominated graphic novel The Mourning Star and, last but not least, Olga Volozova and Ignatz nominee Juliacks who will unveil their new collaborative comic book odyssey, Rock That Never Sleeps. Joining the artists for a four day only group art show will be special international cartooning guests from noted Swedish publisher, Galago, and the renowned Norwegian comics collective, Dongery. Also on display will be new works be Eamon Espey, Theo Ellsworth, Austin English and many more.
Artists will be signing copies of their new books and selling limited edition prints and artwork. And refreshments will be served courtesy of the publishers! So come on down to the side of the of the freeway (after first stopping by Desert Island at 540 Metropolitain to see Paul Hornschmeier read from his new book, Mother, Come Home). Come one, come all and come early to see the ink of the future!
After a year of supporting emerging visual artists living and working in Brooklyn and Queens, EyeLevel Gallery expands its operation with the opening of EyeLevel Casa. With an expanded gallery space, a new partnership with North Brooklyn Public Arts Coalition, and redesigned store featuring the best of Brooklyn design.
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