ARTIST’S LECTURE
Art Spiegelman: History of Comix 101
September 11, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
Tickets on Sale August 8

Art Spiegelman

Pulitzer Prize winning illustrator Art Spiegelman is the creator of Maus, a gripping graphic novel about the Holocaust, and In the Shadow of No Towers, a personal work about his experiences during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Because his graphic novels are powerful, autobiographical and universal, Art Spiegelman was chosen with the theme of “Graphic Memory” in mind.  After college he joined the underground “comix” movement rife with social and political commentary.  In addition to a prolific career as a regular contributor to various underground publications, he also co-edited a comix revue, Arcade.  In 1980, he started the avant-garde comics magazine RAW with his wife Françoise Mouly and more recently, is editor of the children’s comic series Little Lit. He has drawn for Topps Bubble Gum Co. and The New Yorker, in addition to teaching history and the aesthetics of comics.

Spiegelman’s works experiment with the techniques and form of comics in addition to plot and narrative drive.  His works, while deeply personal, have the ability to resonate across national, geographical, and generational divides, tapping into wider historical events with a personal link to the author’s own life.  Maus I and II and In the Shadow of No Towers play with both form and story to give the reader a sense of shared fear and anxiety, the nature of family relationships, and the effects of history on the present moment.  His career has helped to shape new conceptions of the comic form as a platform for both children and adults, combining entertainment with controversial social commentary.

Art Spiegelman’s illustrated talk, History of Comix 101, discusses the history of independent comics and his experiences of more than 40 years in the business.

FILM SCREENING
American Splendor
September 4 – Thursday at 6:00 p.m.
Pack Memorial Library
Starring Paul Giamatti,  this 2003 film celebrates the life of comic book creator Harvey Pekar, exploring his inspirations, eccentricities, and the artistic literary style he pursued.

LECTURE AND HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
Graphic Novelist Evan Dahm
September 13 – Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
Pack Memorial Library
Evan Dahm will discuss the history of graphic novels, the process of creating your own and his graphic novel, Rice Boy.

BOOK DISCUSSION
Richard Chess: Maus
September 16 – Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Pack Memorial Library
Dr. Rick Chess is a Professor at UNCA, the Director of the Creative Writing Program, and the Director of The Center for Jewish Studies at UNCA.  He has used Maus as a primary text for many of his courses. Join him at the Pack Memorial Library for a lively and informative book discussion of Art Spiegelman's graphic novel Maus. Refreshments will be provided by the Western North Carolina Jewish Federation, co-sponsors of this event.

TEEN BOOK DISCUSSION
Persepolis I & II
September 17 –  Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.
Swannanoa Library
Book discussion for ages 16 and up.
The group will discuss Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood, a poignant memoir about growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Pizza and drinks will be provided, and there will be a drawing for door prizes. To get a copy of the book and sign up for the discussion, contact the Swannanoa Library at 828.250.6486.

FILM SCREENING
Persepolis
September 20 – Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Asheville Art Museum
Marjane Satrapi adapted her poignant graphic novel into this 2007 animated film.  An Academy Award Nominated film for Best Animated Feature, this coming of age story of a young girl during the Iranian Revolution in the 1970s combines the universal trials of an adolescent with a unique perspective on the history of Iran.  Created in the same visual style as her graphic novel, Persepolis is both political and personal, commenting on the consequences of war to the individual.

UP FOR DISCUSSION
Hope Larson: How to draw a comic strip
September 21 – Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Asheville Art Museum
Illustrator and graphic novelist Hope Larson will do a demonstration of the process of drawing a comic strip- from script through pencils and inks and various comics tools. In her portable studio she will walk us through the process step-by-step. An Asheville native, 25 year-old Larson has recently returned to the area. She has penned three graphic novels, signed a book deal with Simon + Schuster, and won prestigious awards. Join us for a book signing after her demo.

FILM SCREENING
Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru No Haka)
September 28 – Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Asheville Art Museum
Released in 1988, this film explores the tragedies of war through the lives of two orphans struggling to survive in Japan during WWII.  Based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Akiyuki Nosaka and told in the style of Japanese anime, Grave of the Fireflies argues that compassion and comfort in times of grief are as important to survival as food and shelter.

smArt speak, Asheville Art Museum's Distinguished Artist Series, is sponsored by a grant from MetLife Foundation.  A series partner is the Buncombe County Library System.  Additional partners are the University of North Carolina at Asheville and The Asheville School.  In-kind sponsors include Renaissance Asheville Hotel, Haywood Park Hotel, Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe, Fugazy Travel and WCQS Public Radio.

Recommended Reading: 

Art Spiegelman

Comics and Illustration

Maus (Maus I: A Survivor's Tale, also known as Maus I: My Father Bleeds History) (1986)

Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began (1991)

The Wild Party with Joseph March (1994) illustrations to the 1928 poem

Open Me…I’m a Dog! (1997) children’s book

Covering The New Yorker (2000) selected works by various artists contributed to The New Yorker, where Spiegelman was a staff artist and writer from 1993-2003

In the Shadow of No Towers (2004)

"Portrait of the Artist as a Young %@&*!" publication in The Virginia Quarterly Review (2005)

"Drawing Blood: Outrageous Cartoons and the Art of Outrage" article in Harper’s (2006)

Comics Publications: Co-Editor

Arcade, The Comics Revue (1970s)

RAW Vol 2 #1-3 (1989-91)

Read Yourself Raw (1987)

RAW Vol 1 #1-8 (1980-86)

Little Lit: Folklore & Fairy Tale Funnies (2000) Comics Anthologies for children

Little Lit: Strange Stories for Strange Kids (2001)

Little Lit: It Was a Dark and Silly Night... (2003)

Big Fat Little Lit (2006) a collection from Little Lit selections

About Spiegleman

Art Spiegleman: Conversations (2007) edited by Joseph Witek, a collection of interviews and profiles that spans 1976-2006

References

http://www.readyourselfraw.com/profiles/spiegelman/profile_spiegelman.htm

http://lambiek.net/artists/s/spiegelman.htm

http://www.barclayagency.com/spiegelman.html

Publications for Spiegelman Programs

Comics by Harvey Pekar:

American Splendor (1976-1993), comic book series

Our Movie Year (1994), written about the American Splendor film

Our Cancer Year (1994)

The Quitter (2005)

Ego & Hubris: The Michael Malice Story (2006)

Comics by Hope Larson:

Salamander Dream (2005)

Gray Horses (2006)

Chiggers (2008)

Books of Poetry by Rick Chess:

Tekiah (1994)

Chair in the Desert (2000)

Third Temple (2007)

Books by Marjane Satrapi:

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (2004)

Persepolis: The Story of a Return (2004)

Embroideries (2005)

Chicken with Plums (2006)

Monsters Are Afraid of the Moon (2006)

Books by Akiyuki Nosaka:

The Pornographers (1963)

Grave of the Fireflies (1967)

Comics by Evan Dahm:

Rice Boy: The First Book (2007)

Rice Boy: The Second Book (2007)

Next Week (2007)