Recap - Fall Chapter Mtg, Sioux Falls SD, Oct. 28-29, 2016

Another Chapter conference is in the books! Everyone had a fantastic time. Here's some pics courtesy of Mike Edholm and Cedric Hohnstadt:

Friday afternoon members met with students at a local high school.

Paul Fell chats with high school art students.

Friday evening chat after dinner at the hotel.

Chris Browne (Hagar the Horrible) adds his contribution to a giant art board that was eventually raffled off.

"Meet the Cartoonists" event at Zandbroz Variety store.

Author Richard Graham ("Government Issue") chats with cartoonist Steve Sack while Hector  Curriel looks on.

Paul Trap ("Thatababy") adds his contribution to the giant art board.

Steve Sack ponders what he will draw on the giant art board.

Cartoonist Paul Trap talks about his career and his syndicated strip "Thatababy".

Author Richard Graham discusses his latest book, "Government Issue", and the history of government use of comics for education and propaganda.

Pulitzer-Prize winning editorial cartoonist Steve Sack discusses his work.

The weekend wound down with some casual chit chat at the hotel.

A huge shoutout to Paul Fell, Mike Edholm, and Ken Alvine for working hard to make our meeting such a fun and enjoyable time!

For news and announcements about future chapter events, be sure to join the NCS North Central Chapter Facebook Group or follow us on Twitter.

Fall 2016 Chapter Mtg - Press Release

For immediate release

Cartoonists conference scheduled for Sioux Falls

Saturday October 29th

The North Central Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society is having its annual chapter meeting in Sioux Falls Saturday Oct. 29th. All the conference activities planned are open and free to the public.       Professional  cartoonists from across the Midwest will be in attendance. These cartoonists work in the field of syndication, editorial, magazine cartooning, illustrator and others aspects of the industry.   The public will have a chance meet and greet the cartoonists and get signed cartoon art Saturday morning at Zandboz bookstore downtown Sioux Falls from 10:00 to 11:30. 

Saturday afternoon from 1:00 to 4:00 at the Downtown Public Library three nationally recognized  cartoonists will make presentations.  Steve Sack , Pulitzer Prize Winner editorial cartoonist from the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Paul Trap, creator of the syndicated comic strip “Thatababy” and Richie Graham, University of Nebraska professor,  “How cartoons have been used in the war effort” will speak.  Raffle for cartoon items and art will follow the presentations.

For more detailed information about the chapter meeting, contact Ken Alvine at kenalvine@gmail.com.

(Click image below to view/download hi-res version)

Sketching for St. Jude

Kelly McNutt, Phil Juliano, and Cedric Hohnstadt

Hundreds of people showed up for the St. Jude Walk/Run for childhood cancer.

Kelly McNutt draws with a young artist

Kelly McNutt and Phil Juliano pass on some cartooning secrets to the next generation.

Cedric Hohnstadt (left) and Kelly McNutt (right) draw for the kiddos.

The National Cartoonists Society partners with St. Jude by sending cartoonists to hospitals around the country to visit and draw with sick kids (more info here.) This past Saturday (Sept. 24) was the annual Minneapolis St. Jude Walk/Run for childhood cancer, held at the brand new US Bank Stadium. Local NCS members Cedric Hohnstadt (illustrator), Kelly McNutt (animator) and Phil Juliano (“Best In Show”) spent the morning drawing with kids, answering their questions, and offering a few pointers. It was a lot of fun.

St. Jude is a terrific organization that does great work, and patients are never charged for any of their services. If you want to help them in their fight against childhood cancer you can chip in a donation on their website. Even small gifts make a difference.

Report from "MAD in Omaha" Event

MAD art director Sam Viviano, writer Desmond Devlin, and illustrator Tom Richmond

MAD contributing writer Dick DeBartolo joined the panel via Skype.

From Mike Edholm:

Not since the days of the cattle drives to the stockyards of Omaha, has so much hoopla occurred in a day in the “River City” as the arrival of MAD Magazine’s art director, Sam Viviano, contributing cartoonist/illustrator, Tom Richmond, and contributing writer, Desmond Devlin.  It should be noted that fellow contributing writer, Dick DeBartolo, was also in attendance but given Dick’s magical powers to be in two places at once with a little help from Skype.

Friday night, August 12, found the KANEKO filled with MAD fans, listening, watching, and participating in a two-hour presentation called MAD about Storytelling explaining how the artists and writers at MAD approach storytelling in its legendary movie parodies, gag cartoons, and satire.  Featured in the presentation were a number of classic MAD magazine parodies from decades past right up to the present by MAD’s contributors, known affectionately as the “Usual Gang of Idiots.”  All in attendance were thrilled to meet these fun loving and creative fellows from MAD.  To the delight of the speakers, one guest announced that she had been an intern at MAD magazine.

KANEKO is a truly amazing arts, education, and performance venue in Omaha. KANEKO is a 501(c)(3), public non-profit cultural organization, exploring and encouraging the process of creativity, and how it impacts our lives. We believe that everyone can be creative; the challenge is to recognize opportunities for creative effort. As humans we need to harness and cultivate creativity in our citizens and invest in a creative society.

Established in 1998 by international artist Jun Kaneko and his wife Ree, KANEKO is headquartered in three turn-of- the-century warehouses in the Old Market District of Omaha, Nebraska. KANEKO is an institution with a vision to celebrate creativity and is committed to fostering it as the overriding mission with four major programming themes: Design, Ideas, Performance, and Innovation.  More information about The Kaneko can be found on their website at http://thekaneko.org/

Chapter members and guests enjoy MAD artwork in the KANEKO gallery.

Jun Kaneko and Sim Vivano

Sam Viviano and Desmond Devlin sign autographs 

NCS Chapter members dine with the MAD gang. Left to right: MAD writer Desmond Devlin, MAD art director Sam Viviano, cartoonist Paul Fell, KANEKO executive director Chris Hochstetler, cartoonist Mike Edholm, illustrator Bucky Jones, MAD illustrator Tom Richmond

Speaker Added to Chapter Mtg: Steve Sack

Our 2016 Chapter Meeting will be held October 28-29 in Sioux Falls, SD (more info here). Speakers Paul Trap (syndicated cartoonist of "Thattababy") and cartooning professor Richie Graham (author of Government Issue) will now be joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Steve Sack. Steve is the editorial cartoonist for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and co-artist for the cartoon activity panel "Doodles".

The meeting is open to anyone interested in the National Cartoonists Society and/or the profession of cartooning. You do NOT have to be a chapter member to attend!

It's gonna be a fun time! Get more info and book your hotel room here. Hope to see you there!

Toonfest Art Show: Call For Submissions

The Walt Disney Hometown Toonfest is an annual festival in Marceline, MO, the town where Walt Disney spent his boyhood. It's a popular event celebrating men and women from the A-list in the world of cartooning and animation. Each year's day-long event includes a parade, guest speakers, and an art show.

This year’s Toonfest is scheduled for September 15-17, 2016. A number of NCS members have been featured speakers at past Toonfests. Terri Libenson  (“Pajama Diaries”) is one of this year’s headliners, along with editorial cartoonist Gustavo Rodriquez and Disney animators Dan Jeup and Jay Jackson.

Whether you are an official NCS member or if you are just affiliated with the group, you are invited to participate in the art show. Just email 2-3 of your cartoons to Paul Fell (pfell@neb.rr.com) before Labor Day (Sept. 5, 2016). Images can be in PDF or JPEG format at 300 dpi. We’ll take care of getting them sized, printed, and matted for the show. After the weekend exhibit, your originals will be mailed back to you with the Toonfest paying the postage.

If you prefer to send original art (which we’d REALLY like to see) please be sure it is matted or mounted on mat board. Send it to the Toonfest office at:

Toonfest Office
207 N. Main St., USA
Marceline, MO 64658

Your participation in the 2016 Walt Disney Hometown Toonfest will be greatly appreciated.

Cartoonists Needed for St. Jude Walk/Run Events in September

For a few years now the NCS has sent cartoonists to military units and hospitals to draw for soldiers and help boost morale. Now, in that same spirit of charity and fun, the NCS is partnering with St. Jude to help bring some joy to kids who are battling cancer.

Cartoonist Steve McGarry draws with a patient named Tyler at a St. Jude event.

They kicked off that effort with a huge event at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis during the 2016 Reuben weekend. Sixty NCS members spent the day at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital drawing for the patients and their families and handing out goodie bags crammed with t-shirts, sketchbooks, crayons, toys, comics and books. The artists then attended a special dinner where they did more art to be sold later to benefit St. Jude.

If you missed out on that, you have another opportunity to help! In September, St. Jude supporters and 61 cities across the country will participate in the Saint Jude walk/run to end childhood cancer. Last year NCS chapters participated in New York City, Connecticut, and Philadelphia, and everyone had a great time.

Different cities hold walks/runs on different weekends in September. Since our chapter covers several states, its not really practical for our chapter to organize one specific event. So we are leaving it up to individual cartoonists to participate locally in their cities. Find your local walk/run here. If you would like to volunteer your talent, time, and/or artwork, contact Kathy Fairbanks (Kathy.Fairbanks@stjude.org) for details. Also, the NCS will be happy to send you all kinds of promo materials to use at one of these events, as well as goodie bags and other stuff.

(If you live in the Lincoln, NE area contact Paul Fell. He is in the process of trying to organize something.)

Help lend your talents to a worthy cause!

Fall Chapter Mtg Oct. 28-29 in Sioux Falls - MASTER LIST of info!

We're putting the final touches on plans for our fall chapter meeting in Sioux Falls, SD, site of many past successful chapter weekends, and a place that we all enjoy visiting. The meeting is open to anyone interested in cartooning and the NCS - you don't have to be a chapter member! We hope you’ll mark the dates on your calendars and we’ll look forward to seeing you in Sioux Falls… in the Fall!

DATES: Friday, October 28 and Saturday, October 29.

LODGING: Country Inn and Suites, downtown Sioux Falls. (605) 373-0153
We have a group room rate for $109 per night. Buffet breakfast is included. A block of ten rooms is being held until Sept. 28, so make your reservations ASAP. If those fill up before 9/28, let us know and we’ll get them to release more. Otherwise, after 9/28 room rates will be based upon availability. For reservations, call 605-373-0153. Mention National Cartoonists Society, North Central Chapter.
      
COST: Many of the weekend's events are free and open to the public. However, if you are a chapter member or are interested in joining the NCS and would like to join us for private events such as meals, meetings, etc. then there is a registration fee of $40 per person for the weekend. The fee will cover Friday and Saturday night meals and lunch at noon on Saturday. The Country Inn and Suites room cost includes breakfast. Please make out checks to Ken Alvine. If you wish to pre-register, mail your payment to Ken. For a mailing address contact him at kenalvine@qwestoffice.net.

RSVP's NEEDED: We need an approximate head count so if you are planning to attend please RSVP to Ken Alvine (kenalvine@qwestoffice.net) by Wednesday, Oct. 19. If you are a professional cartoonist new to the NCS you can still register/attend after that date but please let Ken know if you are planning to come.


PROGRAM SCHEDULE

FRIDAY AFTERNOON:

12:00pm - Carpool leaves from Country Inn and Suites

1:30-4:30pm “Meet The Cartoonists” event at Lincoln High School. We set up cartoonists at four different tables and the students can rotate from table to table to visit with each cartoonist. We did this a few years ago and it was a huge success! Lunch provided but we need a definite head count for this event.

FRIDAY EVENING: Dinner at Country Inn & Suites.
  
SATURDAY:
Breakfast at the Country Inn and Suites

10:00-11:3am "Meet the Cartoonists" at Zandbroz Bookstore in the heart of downtown. If you happen to have books or other print materials to sell, bring ‘em along. Zandbroz will also have a window display of recent editorial cartoons from around the USA. If you have something to submit scroll down for info.

12:00-1:00am Lunch at Minerva’s (just up the street from Zambroz)

1:15-5:00pm Guest speaker presentations and raffle at Sioux Falls Public Library.

Time permitting, We have set aside a slot at the end of the Saturday presentations for a “Show and Tell”. We welcome members who would like to do a 10 minute mini-presentation on their latest project or endeavor. In the interest of time we have to limit this to the first 5 people who volunteer.

For the raffle, we hope you will contribute original art, recent books, or other cartoon related stuff. We’ll also raffle off a doodle board featuring drawings by those in attendance as well as a goodie bag of swag that all attendees at the NCS Reuben Weekend get.

Scheduled speakers:

• Paul Trap, creator of the syndicated comic strip “Thattababy”.

• Richie Graham, University of Nebraska professor and author of Government Issue, a wonderful chronicle of how the US govt. has used cartoons for the war effort and other campaigns during the last century. 

• Steve Sack, Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and co-artist of the cartoon activity panel "Doodles".

6:30pm - Traditional evening dinner at the Country Inn & Suites.

SUNDAY: 
Breakfast at the Country Inn and Suites. Head for home.


SHOWCASE YOUR CARTOONS (EVEN IF YOU CAN'T COME)
To coincide with our chapter meeting, Zandbroz will have a window display of editorial cartoons from around the US dealing with the presidential campaign. If you would like to contribute a cartoon or two, email Paul Fell at pfell@neb.rr.com by Oct. 1. Images must be JPEGs at 300dpi and sized to fit within an 8"x10" mat opening. Paul will print out the cartoons and mat them for us, because he's awesome that way.


SHARE AND INVITE!
Most of the weekend's events are open to the general public. We especially want to reach out to potential new members, which is anyone within our chapter region who has a serious interest in professional cartooning. Our chapter covers a wide geographic area (see map on the right). If you know any cartoonists in those states, why not send them a note and let them know about the weekend?

You can also spread the word on social media. Ken Alvine has put together a press release and a nifty flier image (below). Click to view/download a hi-res version to post on your own website or social media.

Finally, you can also invite people to follow our chapter on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-date info and other cartooning goodies.
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Walter "Wally" J. Malins, RIP

Walter “Wally” J. Malins
April 22, 1947 — July 15, 2016

Yesterday, we received word that our very dear friend, Wally Malins, passed away. Those of you who ever attended the Disney Hometown Toonfest knew Wally. He was very much a part of the Toonfest and was always there with a smile, a handshake, and probably a cool libation for you.

I knew Wally as a generous soul. A man of kind heart and a wonderful laugh. He loved time with the cartoonists and did all he could to make us welcome.

Our hearts and prayers go out to Kaye and the family. We will miss this wonderful man. There will be from this day on, a very large space left in Marceline that will be impossible to fill.

Rest well, Wally.

MAD Magazine Comes To Omaha

Yes, yes, the rumors are all true. MAD Magazine (well, some of it and that's more than enough) will be touching down in the metropolis of Omaha for a touch of "MADness" at The Kaneko. From the press release: 

MAD About Storytelling

Omaha, Neb. – KANEKO will host a discussion panel with the creative talents behind the long running MAD Magazine on August 12 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission and free for KANEKO Members. Tickets available at thekaneko.org/mad.

MAD About Storytelling will include a lively and entertaining discussion panel with Sam Viviano (Art Director), Desmond Devlin (Writer), and Tom Richmond (Illustrator). This discussion panel is part of our ongoing Storytelling exhibit, which explores the creative process of storytelling.

About MAD Magazine

In circulation for over half a century, and revered as one of the most influential forms of satire and humor in American popular culture, MAD Magazine has a tradition of their own form of storytelling.

About KANEKO

KANEKO is a non-profit cultural organization dedicated to exploring and encouraging the creative process and how it impacts our lives. Established by internationally renowned sculptor Jun Kaneko and his wife, Ree, KANEKO was conceived of as “open space for your mind,” a place where thoughtful examination of others’ ideas through exhibitions and public programs leads us to new and exciting ideas of our own.

Gallery Art Show: Jerry Van Amerongen

Jean Stephen Galleries is proud to announce the first ever show and sale of the comic art of chapter member Jerry Van Amerongen:

Artist Jerry Van Amerongen looks at the world uniquely. His wry wit and surreal humor have been featured in newspapers for 36 years in The Neighborhood and Ballard Street. As author of 15 books celebrating his comics and as a two-time winner of the Best Cartoon Panel of the Year Award his success as a cartoonist is legendary. Please join us in welcoming Jerry Van Amerongen in this first ever show of his paintings and original cartoon art.

April 30-May 28, 2016
Jean Stephen Galleries
4811 Excelsior Blvd
St Louis Park, MN 55416
1/2 mile east of Hwy 100 on Excelsior Blvd.

Artist Reception
Saturday, April 30, 2016
5:00-8:00 PM
RSVP 612-338-4333
jsg-at-jsgalleries-dot-com
www.jsgalleries.com

Summer Retreat Rescheduled

Due to a scheduling conflict a new location and date are being planned for the Summer Retreat. If you've already booked your hotel, you'll need to call and cancel. Sorry for the confusion. Stay tuned!

Summer Retreat Announced! EDIT: Rescheduling

NOTE: Sorry for the dearth in posts. Most formal announcements are now being posted to our Facebook chapter page. There's also a Facebook chapter members group where individual members are sharing their latest drawings, projects, etc. Check 'em both out! In the mean time, I'll try to do a better job of keeping this blog alive.

UPDATE: Due to a scheduling conflict a new location and date are being planned. Sorry for the confusion. Stay tuned!

SUMMER RETREAT ANNOUNCED!

Mark your calendars! The North Central Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society is planning a cartooning retreat in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Where: The Retreat At Pointer’s Ridge

When: June 17-19, 2016

Our speakers are both Omaha-area cartoonists:

Paul Trap draws the comic strip “Thattababy”, distributed by Universal Syndicate.

Ben Lane is a former Disney animator who worked on the new “Zootopia” feature. He is currently working for the Cartoon Network.

Registration is $25 per person, which will cover the cost of a catered lunch, catered dinner and beverages.

Hotel:
We have secured a $79 per night rate at the Days Inn Sioux Falls Airport, just off of Interstate 90. (This rate is good until May 27)

Tentative Schedule:

Friday, June 17
Check in at Days Inn S.F. Airport
7 pm - we’ll head over to a nearby restaurant for pizza and beers.
Pizza courtesy of the N. Central Chapter. Beers are on you.

Saturday, June 18
1.  Breakfast at motel.
2.  Car pool out to The Retreat At Pointer’s Ridge.
3.  We plan to spend the day and evening at the Retreat where we’ll hear from our speakers, have lunch and dinner catered in by Hy-Vee catering. Beverages (both adult and otherwise) will be available.
4.  We’d also like to have an informal session where those who are so inclined can update the group on projects that they’re working on.
5.  We’ll also have the infamous Chapter Raffle, so please bring original art, books, or other cartoon stuff that we can raffle off to help cover costs.
6.  Chapter Chair Jim Horwitz will also be giving a report on the state of the chapter and anything else that happens to fall out of his head.

Sunday, June 19
1.  Breakfast at motel.
2.  Head for home.


Updated schedule and registration form coming soon.

Hope to see you all there!