Join us Friday, June 5th, from 7pm-11pm, at Verno Studios on the Southside of Pittsburgh, to support the ToonSeum, Pittsburgh’s Museum of Cartoon Art. Featuring DJ Raw-Z, Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School, live cartooning, the opportunity to bid on one of a kind cartoon art and unique experiences, free comics and much more!

-Entertainment and Activities:

Live music by The Whips; Performance by burlesque entertainer Paige Turner; Music and dancing with DJ Raw-Z; live cartooning with Rob Rogers, Joe Wos, Wayno and more; Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School Life Drawing sessions; make your own superhero mask; Balloon animals by Mel Practice; Free comic books; and introducing- The Megaton Martini! Woo!

-One of Kind Auction Items:

Original art from Dan Piraro (Bizarro), Molly Crabapple, Mike Peters (MotherGoose and Grimm), Wayno, Rob Rogers and many others. Production art from popular shows including Sesame Street, Dragon Tales, and Yogi Bear.

-Unique experiences including:

Dinner for six at Gypsy Cafe with filmmaker and Pittsburgh icon Rick Sebak; Bad girls night out, tattoo, and a night at the roller derby; Cartooning workshop for 10 people; Comedy workshop with Gene Collier and time on stage at a comedy club; and lots more!

Get your tickets now and support the ToonSeum!

When: Friday June 5th, 7pm-11pm

Where: J Verno Studios, 3030 Jane Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Must be 21 to attend.

Tickets: 35 dollars online, 45 dollars at the door

Student tickets: 25 dollars online, 35 dollars at the door

www.ka-blam.org

Can’t attend but you would still like to support the cartoon arts? We welcome your donation: The ToonSeum, 10 Children’s Way, Pittsburgh, PA, 15212

ToonSeum Mission Statement:

The mission of the ToonSeum is to celebrate the art of cartooning. Our goal is to promote a deeper appreciation of cartoonists and their work through hands-on workshops, community outreach, cartoon-oriented educational programming, and exhibitions or original cartoon art.

www.toonseum.org

Chapter 5 of my superhero sci-fi comic The Vanguard is now underway, presently at Page 3. So if you like superhero team stories, and sci-fi space opera, check out my humble comic-I think you’ll like it.

PITTSBURGH — The ToonSeum, Pittsburgh’s museum of cartoon art, presents Zippy’s Pittsburgh and More: The Art of Bill Griffith, February 7 through March 31, 2009.

Zippy’s Pittsburgh and More is an exhibit of Griffith’s original comic art, with several strips featuring Pittsburgh landmarks as settings. “Our location at the Children’s Museum has a certain surreal quality that lends itself well to Zippy,” said ToonSeum Executive Director, Joe Wos. “Giant inflatable ice cream dinosaurs, twenty-foot cranes made of old gas station signs, and of course a museum of cartoon art, all seem to fit quite well in Zippy’s world!” The artist agrees, saying “For me, Zippy is funniest when his craziness bumps up against the ‘real world’, which is why I put him in diners and have him talking to Bob’s Big Boy. It doesn’t get much more real than Pittsburgh, PA – it’s Zippy Country!”

Zippy the Pinhead, one of the unlikeliest daily comic strips in the history of newspapers, initially appeared in underground comics in the early 1970s, and was first published as a daily strip in the San Francisco Examiner in 1985. The following year, King Features picked up the strip for worldwide syndication. Zippy’s creator Bill Griffith describes the character as the “wise fool,” who “knows nothing at all and everything at once.” His twisted response to all forms of high and low culture forces us to take a fresh look at words and images that permeate our consciousness daily.

Bill Griffith will appear for a special book signing at Phantom of the Attic Comics in Oakland, on Saturday, February 21, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. The book signing is sponsored by Phantom of the Attic and Copacetic Comics.

The ToonSeum is Pittsburgh’s museum of cartoon art, currently housed within the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh (10 Children’s Way, on the North Side). Entry to the ToonSeum is free with paid admission to the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh (Adults- $10, Children under 18 and Seniors – $9, Children under 2- Free). Museum hours are Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. For more information, please visit www.toonseum.com or call (412)325-1060

Pittsburgh City Paper is the media sponsor for Zippy’s Pittsburgh and More.

Issue #4 of the sci-fi superhero action comic The Vanguard is now available in print form. Presenting the story of Chapter 4 of the webcomic in 24 full-color pages on high-quality paper along with extra art not seen online, the comic can be ordered online from IndyPlanet right here, where you can also get a summary of the story along with previews of the cover and the first 6 pages.

The previous three chapters can also be ordered at the same site.

The Andy Warhol Museum and the ToonSeum proudly present Cartoon Factory 2008: Scaring Up the Vote, a hands-on event and exhibition. Spend the pre-election Halloween weekend creating your own political cartoons, buttons and t-shirts with nationally syndicated cartoonist Rob Rogers of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and guest cartoonists. With only a few days left in this historic presidential race, you won’t want to miss this unique chance to participate in the process.

Factory participants will be able to create their own editorial cartoons using Rob Rogers caricatures of Obama, Biden, McCain and Palin or by drawing their own cartoons from scratch. The completed cartoons will be on display in the Warhol Museum for a full week (that’s more than 15 minutes of fame). The public can also screen-print t-shirts of their favorite candidates, create campaign buttons and participate in a cartoon caption-writing contest.

“I have suspended my campaign of daily editorial cartoons to address the current crisis,” said editorial cartoonist Rob Rogers. “We are living in scary times. Creating editorial cartoons is the only thing that helps me cope in a world filled with war, famine, poverty and male pattern baldness. I hope the public will find it just as cathartic to create their own cartoons and escape the incessant campaign coverage and dismal news from Wall Street.”

Election cartoons by Rob Rogers and the cartoons created by participants will be on display at The Warhol through November 9th. The Cartoon Factory will take place Friday, October 31st through Sunday, November 2nd. Factory hours are Friday 10am-9pm, Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 10am-5pm.

An Opening Reception and Halloween Political Party will take place Friday evening, Oct. 31st, from 6-9pm and will feature Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School, prizes for best costumes, light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. The in-gallery factory will be open during the reception. Admission is half price for the reception.

Contact: For more information call the ToonSeum at 412-325-1060 or the Warhol Museum at 412-237-8300

Admission: Members – Free; Adults – $15; Sr. Citizens – $9; Children/Students – $8; Friday night is half-price.

The ToonSeum and The Andy Warhol Museum are proud to co-present a panel discussion about editorial cartooning and the 2008 Presidential election.

In the midst of a campaign infused with racism, sexism, ageism and moose hunting, America’s editorial cartoonists have been very busy. With only a few weeks left in this historical campaign, we invite you to join three of the nation’s top editorial cartoonists as they share their unusual behind-the-pen perspective.

Nationally acclaimed cartoonists Ann Telnaes, Mike Peters and Rob Rogers will share their thoughts and cartoons on the 2008 race for the White House. The panel will be moderated by iconic Pittsburgh radio personality, Lynn Cullen, who is no stranger to lively discussions about politics.

Ann Telnaes, is one of only two women to win the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning. She lives and works in Washington, D.C. and her animated editorial cartoons appear on the Washington Post website.

Mike Peters is the Pulitzer-Prize winning cartoonist for the Dayton Daily News and creator of the comic strip, Mother Goose and Grimm.

Rob Rogers is the award-winning editorial cartoonist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and president of the ToonSeum Board.

The public panel will take place at the Andy Warhol Museum and is the first collaboration between the ToonSeum and the Warhol Museum. “We are very excited to be working with the Warhol to present this event,” said Joe Wos, Executive Director of the ToonSeum. “Cartoons and pop art have a long and storied relationship.”

Where: Andy Warhol Museum Theater
117 Sandusky Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15212.
Tel: 412- 237-8300

When: Saturday October 18th at 2pm

Panel discussion is included with paid admission to the Warhol.
Adults — $15 Senior citizens (55+) — $9 Students with valid ID — $8 Children (children 3 – 18) — $8 Members of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh – Free

For images or interviews contact Joe Wos (412)325-1060
Joe@toonseum.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ToonSeum at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
Contact: Joe Wos 412-325-1060
Email: joe@toonseum.com

Mother Goose and Grimm: The Art of Mike Peters

The ToonSeum’s newest exhibition, “Mother Goose and Grimm: The Art of Mike Peters,” will open on October 18 in The ToonSeum Gallery at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.

The exhibit will feature original art by Pulitzer-Prize winning cartoonist Mike Peters. The comic strip, Mother Goose and Grimm, featuring the lovable dog Grimmy, is seen in over 800 newspapers nationwide and consistently appears in top ten lists. The comic has been published in over 30 collections and appeared as a popular animated cartoon on CBS.

The Art of Mike Peters will feature over 40 pieces of original art, including examples of Mike’s award-winning editorial cartoons, which are syndicated in over 400 publications.

The exhibition will be on display in The ToonSeum, October 17 through January 4.

As a complement to the exhibit, visitors can celebrate The ToonSeum’s first birthday with a special visit from Mike Peters and Grimmy. On Saturday, October 18, from 10:30 to 11:30 am, Mike will be demonstrating his work and signing his book, “The Ultimate Mother Goose and Grimm,” which will be available for purchase. Kids can meet Grimmy and receive free cookies courtesy of Eat N’ Park while supplies last.

The event and exhibition are included with paid admission to the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.

What: “Mother Goose and Grimm: The Art of Mike Peters.”
When: October 17-January 4.
Where: The ToonSeum Gallery at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, 10 Children’s Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.
Admission: Adult $10.00, Children (2-18) and Senior Citizens $9.00, Member Guests $8.00, Children under 2 are free.
Details: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Joe Wos at (412) 325-1060 or joe@toonseum.com .

Mother Goose and Grimm: The Art of Mike Peters is presented in part by the Art Institute of Pittsburgh

For images or interviews contact: Joe Wos, joe@toonseum.com or 412-325-1060

Crime Comic Book Creator Signing at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum

Friday, October 10, 2008, from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM, a number of crime comics creators will be at a special signing event at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum, 301 West Camden Street in Baltimore.
The event, coinciding with the big mystery convention Bouchercon, includes
- Max Allan Collins (Road to Perdition)
- Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets)
- Greg Rucka (The Complete Whiteout)
- Jill Thompson (Scary Godmother)
- Tim Broderick (Cash and Carry)
- Duane Swierczynski (The Immortal Iron Fist)
- Gary Phillips (Darker Mask)

For more information, visit the museum’s website at http://www.geppismuseum.com/

A really BIG bang, with a team member possibly having made the ultimate sacrifice. You can read this chapter from the beginning to see what led up to the explosive ending.

There’s a photo and a brief summary of the signing that featured Josh Elder, Chris Burnham, me (Tim Broderick), and Jeffrey Brown at timbroderick.net