Friday 29 October 2010

The Unkindest Cut: Ulster Cartoonists Retrospective at Linenhall Library

A cartoon history of 20th century Ulster as chosen by Historian and Librarian John Killen (author of the book by the same name) It's a return of a popular exhibition from May 2005 with bits by big spoke inkers like Cormac, Ian Knox and others. Website says,

"Ulster 's twentieth century was, to say the least, eventful. The home rule crisis, partition from the south of Ireland, two world wars, depressions, recessions and recurring outbreaks of civil conflict culminating in the Troubles which dominated the last three decades of the century. Through it all, the political cartoonists kept up a running commentary on events and personalities ? Carson, Devlin, O'Neill, Hume, Adams and Trimble. Their cartoons reveal, as words alone never can, the prejudices, suspicions and sheer absurdities that the situation has engendered over the years.

This lively exhibition presents historian and librarian John Killen's selection of 170 of the best of these cartoons, together with his pithy captions and text. Demonstrating the characteristic dark humour common to all sides in the north, the selection also suggests some interesting, if quirky, scenarios for a better future."

The Linenhall Library entrance is off Fountain Street. The exhibition is on the 3rd floor, in the Political Collection Room. Staff told me it remains there until year end.


Wednesday 20 October 2010

Monday 18 October 2010

24 Hour Comic: Rise at Sundown by Patrick Brown

My own 24 Hour Comic, Rise at Sundown, is now online. I've challenged myself by writing for kids, and working in colour, and I'm very pleased with how it came out.

24 Hour Comic: Don't Get Lost by Andy Luke

The latest comic created on 24 Hour Comics day to go online is Andy Luke's Don't Get Lost. It's a very personal, autobiographical piece, and, as Andy warns, "deals with themes of sexual abuse and may contain triggers that could be upsetting".

Sunday 17 October 2010

Young Cartoonist of the Year Award

The Cartoon Museum in London are running the Young Cartoonists of the Year award, to be awarded at the Cartoon Art Trust Awards on 2 December. Closing date 15 November. Some illustrious names on the judges list there. If you're a political or topical humour cartoonist, and are either under 18 or under 30, why not go for it?

Wednesday 13 October 2010

24 Hour Comics Day - the aftermath

24 Hour Comics Day is over for another year, and by Wednesday I still barely have enough of a brain to blog about it, so here's a link to Andy Luke's report on the event - go and read that. Many thanks go to Catalyst Arts for hosting the event - Mark, Charlie and Nathan who made their own comics, and especially Kat who didn't but helped out above and beyond, indefatigably providing us with food and caffeinated drinks.

Stephen Downey (Cancertown, Torchwood) has already managed to get his comic online, and it's really cool.


More to come as they go online. I'll link to the results of the Dublin event too as they come in. Meanwhile, the Forgotten Pelmet have given us a bit of coverage.