Purdue Libraries exhibit, workshops and collaborations to feature Hoosier cartoonists, comics
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University Libraries will celebrate comics and the editorial art of Hoosiers who have made significant impacts in newspapers across the country with an exhibit and three workshops in the coming weeks.
Through March 2, the exhibit "Indiana Cartoons and Cartoonists," with collections from Purdue Libraries and the Indiana Historical Society, is on display in the John W. Hicks Undergraduate Library. The exhibit features such artists as "Chic" Jackson's "Roger Bean," a comic strip that focused on the lives of a typical Hoosier family. Purdue's own Pulitzer Prize-winning artist John McCutcheon's editorial musings showing his fierce opposition to the United States' entry into World War II, along with Jim Davis, who was responsible for bringing "Garfield" the cat to life.
During the exhibit and throughout March, Purdue Libraries will partner with the West Lafayette Public Library, Words on the Go and the Tippecanoe Arts Federation to coordinate multiple events that examine the process of cartooning, as well as connecting art and words in different mediums.
Ryan Bidlack, local artist and creator of the comic, "Sam and Maze," will have works in the Hicks Library exhibit. His work can also be seen on the corner of 5th and Columbia Street in downtown Lafayette. Every Monday while the exhibit is on display, Bidlack will update the window, and at 3 p.m. March 1, he will end the exhibit with a presentation about his work. You can view his work at https://samandmaze.com
Additionally, Exponent newspaper cartoonist Rachel Tobias will conduct three workshops dedicated to the cartooning process. These include:
* Monday (Feb. 14). 3:30-5 p.m. Creating a personalized comic to give to someone special for Valentine's Day, focused on anime/manga comics.
* Wednesday (Feb. 16). 3:30-5 p.m. Review styles of drawing, inspiration and paneling around graphic novels.
* Feb. 23. 3:30-5 p.m. Talk about local artists, resources, drawing techniques and paneling.
Information on the workshops is available at www.lib.purdue.edu/info/cartoonists/home
The exhibit and all events are free and open to the public. The John W. Hicks Undergraduate Library is open 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays; and 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sundays.
Writer: Jim Bush, 765-494-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu
Source: Dawn Stahura, 765-494-2762, stahurad@purdue.edu