Panel Borders: Comics Unmasked
Starting a month of shows about comics and controversy, Alex Fitch talks to three of the creators of a new exhibition at the British Library – Comics Unmasked: Art and Anarchy in the UK – which looks at the cultural and social connections between the last hundred years and more of British comic books and strips. Alex discusses the various titles on display in the library show with curators Paul Gravett and John Dunning, which range from an erotic comic drawn by Bob Monkhouse to original annotated scripts by Alan Moore and Mark Millar. Also, in an extract from a Q and A recorded at Gosh! Comics, exhibition designer Dave McKean talks about the look of Comics Unmasked, as well as other comics he created designed specifically for gallery display, which are collected in the forthcoming book Pictures that tick 2: Short Narrative Exhibition. Plus, a recording of the guided tour of Comics Unmasked by Gravett and Dunning, with additional contributions by Adrian Edwards and Tim Pilcher. (Originally broadcast 5th May 2014 on Resonance 104.4 FM, London)
Comics Unmasked at the British Library / Oh Boy! by Bob Monkhouse / comics by Dave McKean
For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org
Links: Info about Comics Unmasked on the British Library website
Dave McKean’s website
Info about Pictures that tick 2: Short Narrative Exhibition on Dark House Comics’ website
Previous interviews with Paul Gravett, Dave McKean and John Dunning
Recommended events:
Graphic Brighton festival
A one day event, being held at the University of Brighton Faculty of Arts, May 24th 2014, curated by Paul Slater, Barbara Chamberlin and Alex Fitch. Guests include Chris Riddell, David Lloyd, John Higgins, Nicola Streeten, Hannah Berry, Corinne Pearlman, Daniel Locke, Joe Decie, Neil Evans (a.k.a. Nelson Evergreen), Lawrence Elwick, Ian Williams, Paul O’Connell, Nye Wright, Hannah Eaton, Paul Collicutt and Tim Pilcher.
The day will comprise talks, panel discussions, workshops and much more, and is only a five minute walk from the sea front for a lunchtime barbeque!
Tickets are £8 / £5 concessions and must be bought in advance from http://arts.brighton.ac.uk/graphic-brighton
9.30 – 5.30, Saturday 24th May 2014,
University of Brighton Faculty of Arts, 56-58 Grand Parade, Brighton BN2 0JY
Bristol Comics Expo
…takes place on May 10th and 11th at Future Inn, Cabot Circus, Bristol and featured guests include James O’Barr, Michael Golden, Arthur Suydam, Renee Witterstaetter, Ben Willsher and many more.
Tickets have to be bought in advance at www.bristolexpo.co.uk
London Radical Book Fair 2014
In collaboration with the London Radical Bookfair and the Alliance of Radical Booksellers, Alternative Press will be taking over Bishopsgate Institute.
In the first event of its kind, AP will be bringing the small press to a new audience – championing zine-making and DIY alongside radical publishing and bookselling.
Spread across three floors, artists will be exhibiting and selling their self published comix, zines, art books, and prints; they include: Elliot Baggott, Gareth Brookes, Isabel Greenberg, John Maybury, Lizz Lunney and many more.
10th May, 2014, Bishopsgate Institute, Liverpool Street, London
More info at: www.alternativepress.org.uk
Comics at the AusNZ literary festival
Various Australasian comic book creators are in London and are featured in documentary screenings for the Australia and New Zealand festival of literature and the arts taking place from 30th May – 1st June. These include:
Screening: THE SHARP EDGE – The Art of Martin Sharp (Oz magazine illustrator)
Eccentric. Outsider. Artist. Genius. Martin Sharp shaped pop art and culture in Australia and around the world for half a century.
Friday May 30th, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Talk: GRAPHIC LIVES – Sarah Laing, Dr Mary Talbot and Evie Wyld
What does working with graphic novels to remember great lives add to the biography genre?
Friday May 30th, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Talk: WRITING AS THE ‘OTHER’ – Ed Hillyer and LF Bollée
Ed Hillyer and LF Bollée discuss post-colonial indigenous representation in novels and comics with broadcast journalist Alex Fitch.
Saturday May 31st, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Workshop: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL COMICS with Sarah Laing
Join this award-winning Kiwi fiction writer and graphic artist to create your own comics.
Saturday May 31st, 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Screening: GRAPHIC NOVELS! MELBOURNE!
This feature documentary goes deep inside the burgeoning graphic novel scene in Melbourne.
Saturday May 31st, 5:30 pm – 6:45 pm
Other guests at the festival include Clive James, John Pilger and Val McDermid talking about their work. Full programme at http://ausnzfestival.com/events/
