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