I’m going to be moderating a panel on queer comics anthologies at the Chicago Alternative Comics Expo on June 17. I’ll post more info about that closer to the date, but I wanted to put this press release up so people could clear their calendars.
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The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) debuts on June 16 and 17, 2012, at Columbia College of Chicago’s Ludington Building, 1104 S. Wabash (8th Floor), from 11am to 6pm. It is free and open to the public.
The first ever CAKE – and the first alternative comics expo in Chicago in 16 years – will bring together the comics, art and talent of nearly 200 local, national and international
exhibitors. Special guests include Jeffrey Brown, Lilli Carre?, Closed Caption Comics (Baltimore), Paul Hornschemeier, Lucy Knisley, Anne Elizabeth Moore, Corinne Mucha, Anders Nilsen, Laura Park, Pizza Island (NYC), John Porcellino, Nate Powell (Indiana) and Chicago’s own comics collective, Trubble Club.
Comics, prints and artwork will be available for purchase, including debut books from independent publishers such as Koyama Press (Toronto), 2D Cloud (Minneapolis), and Domino Books (Stockholm/NYC) and cartoonists such as Mickey Zacchilli (Providence, RI) and Ted May (St. Louis, MO).
In addition to the diverse list of exhibitors (available at www.cakechicago.com), CAKE presents a full slate of exciting programming. Panels include a comics and animation screening curated by the Eyeworks Animation Festival; a discussion on vulgarity in comics, featuring Ivan Brunetti, Lisa Hanawalt, Onsmith, and Hellen Jo; and a comics and fine art panel sponsored by the Art Institute of Chicago, to name a few.
Beyond expo hours, the weekend promises Chicagoans and visitors many comics-related events throughout the city:
• Kevin Huizenga at Quimby’s Bookstore, 1854 W. North Avenue, Friday, June 15, 7pm. Free and open to the public.
• Anders Nilsen Exhibit Opening, Adam and Eve Sneaking Back Into the Garden to Steal More Apples, at the Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 Cottage Hill Avenue, Elmhurst, Friday, June 15, 6:30pm. Free and open to the public.
• Brain Trubble a performative comics reading from Chicago’s Trubble Club with special guests, at the Happy Dog Gallery, 1542 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, Friday, June 15, 9pm to midnight. $5 suggested donation.
• Eat Before We Eat You, a comics art show curated by Paul Nudd and Onsmith, Exhibit Opening, 208 S. Wabash, Chicago, Saturday, June 16, 6-8pm. Free and open to the public.
CAKE is a weekend-long celebration of independent comics, inspired by Chicago’s rich legacy as home to many of underground and alternative comics’ most talented artists– past, present and future. Featuring comics for sale, workshops, exhibitions, panel discussions and more, CAKE is dedicated to fostering community and dialogue amongst independent artists, small presses, publishers and readers.
Though CAKE is an independent, not-for-profit, volunteer-run organization, the expo would not be possible without the help of generous donations from comics lovers, as well as Chicago’s independent comics, art, and music communities, Quimby’s Bookstore, the Art Institute of Chicago and Columbia College of Chicago. In order to keep the expo free and open to the public, CAKE is running a fundraising campaign through IndieGoGo until Friday, June 1, 2012 (http://www.indiegogo.com/CakeChicago).
Contact: Grace Tran
Cell: 630/234-3992
Email:cakexpo@gmail.com or grace.pt.tran@gmail.com
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Cover art by Edie Fake, who is one of the CAKE organizers…and who of course did the art for our awesome HU banner.