Toronto Comic Arts Festival Celebrates Tenth Anniversary

Press Release:

Fans of comics, manga, and graphic literature will be clearing their calendars this May to attend the 10th Anniversary of The Toronto Comic Arts Festival! Taking place May 11^th and 12^th 2013 at Toronto Reference Library & The Appel Salon, TCAF is expected to draw a record crowd of 20,000 across all festival events, and will reach new heights as one of the most celebrated literary comics events in the world!

Founded in 2003 in conjunction with The Beguiling Books & Art in Toronto, The Toronto Comic Arts Festival seeks “to promote the breadth and diversity of comics, and what is considered comics, as legitimate medium of literary and artistic worth.” By partnering with Presenting Sponsor Toronto Public Library, TCAF has achieved its goal of changing the Canadian comics landscape… and the first ten years were just the beginning! TCAF 2013 will feature the largest and most international array of comics authors and artists in the history of the Festival, a virtual who’s who of literary cartoonists including featured guests:

• Art Spiegelman: Author of Maus, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Co-Founder RAW Magazine. Debuting:Co-Mix
• Francoise Mouly: Art Editor of The New Yorker, Founder of Toon Books, Co-Founder RAW Magazine
• Taiyo Matsumoto Author of Tekkon Kinkreet (adapted into film by Sony Pictures). First North American event. Debuting: Sunny Volume 1. (Japan)
• Raina Telgemeier: New York Times Bestselling Author of the childrens’ and middle-grade graphic novels Smile and Drama
• Blutch: Angouleme Grand Prix Winner. First North American event. Debuting: So Long, Silver Screen. (France)
• Gengoroh Tagame: Acclaimed Japanese gay comics creator. First North American event. Debuting: The Passion of Gengoroh Tagame. (Japan)
• Dash Shaw: Author of BodyWorld. Debuting: New School.
• Maurice Vellekoop: Acclaimed illustrator and comics author. Artist of TCAF 10^th Anniversary Poster.

(More detailed biographies follow at the end of this release).

These seven featured guests join a fantastic and diverse array of more than 300 Canadian and international cartoonists who will make up the 2013 Festival.

PROGRAMS:

The World’s Stage (in Toronto): The Toronto Comic Arts Festival is the most internationally-focused comics Festival in North America, and TCAF 2013 will see the largest number of international cartoonists yet! Representative cartoonists will be on hand from more than 17 countries, including Austria, Australia, Brazil, England, Finland, France, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Puerto Rico, The U.S.A., Canada, with more to be announced. TCAF 2013 will prominently feature gallery showings and installations of work by Australian, Finnish, French, and Japanese cartoonists, details TBA.

TCAF TURNS TEN: The 10^th Anniversary of The Toronto Comic Arts Festival will not go unobserved, as a massive participatory gallery-show will mark the official kick-off of the festival, held at and in conjunction with Steamwhistle Gallery. The thousand-plus cartoonists who have participated in TCAF events since 2003 will be invited to contribute their special vision ofToronto and Comics in a wonderful celebration of the Festival and the city we call home.

The World Of Taiyo Matsumoto: This talented and prolific cartoonist’s career will be explored through a full program of Festival events, headlined by an exhibition of original artwork and goods, to be held at and in conjunction with The Japan Foundation, Toronto. Further events will include a special screening of the filmTekkon Kinkreet (based on his graphic novel), with Director Michael Arias and Screenwriter Anthony Weintraub in attendance.

Everything You Love… And More!: TCAF 2013 will reprise our most popular programming from the history of the Festival, including our popular Webcomics Pavilion, OWLkids Kids Area, Wowee Zonk Small Press Area, Panel Discussions and Interviews, Workshops, Readings, and much more. These events will take place in and around Toronto Reference Library, official TCAF hotel The Marriott Bloor-Yorkville, and the Yonge-Bloor neighbourhood.

Over the next several months, TCAF will announce additional Featured Guests from Canada and around the world, details of programming and related events, and a full run-down of all that’s in store at the 2013 Festival. We will be sending PR for all events, but be sure to check the TCAF Website and social media for up-to-the-minute updates!

TCAF Website: http://torontocomics.com
Twittter: @TorontoComics
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/2204475413/

SPONSORS
The Toronto Comic Arts Festival would not be possible without the assistance of our sponsors and partners, including presenting sponsor Toronto Public Library and retail sponsor The Beguiling Books & Art.

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, which last year invested $157 million to bring the arts to Canadians throughout the country.
Nous remercions le Conseil des arts du Canada de son soutien. L’an dernier, le Conseil  a investi 157 millions de dollars pour mettre de l’art dans la vie des Canadiennes et des Canadiens de tout le pays.

TCAF is produced with the support of the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council.

TCAF would like to recognize the efforts of the following organization in planning TCAF on an ongoing basis: The French Consulate in Toronto, The Japan Foundation, The Italian Cultural Institute, NORLA (Norwegian Literature Abroad), The Flemish Literature Fund, and the Australia Council for the Arts

In addition, TCAF would like to thank publishers Drawn & Quarterly, VIZ Media LLC., OWLkids, Fantagraphics, Picturebox Inc., Random House Canada, Scholastic Canada, and First Second for their assistance.

Sponsorship opportunities for TCAF 2013 are still available, please contact us at:contact@torontocomics.com for more info.

PRESS
All general press inquiries, interview and press accreditation requests should be submitted to: media@torontocomics.com.

FEATURED GUEST BIOGRAPHIES:

Art Spiegelman is the acclaimed author of the hugely-influential autobiographical graphic novel Maus, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1992. The co-founder of the influential comix magazine RAW, Spiegelman comes to TCAF following his successful presidency of The Angouleme Comics Festival in France, and to debut his new career retrospective Co-Mix from Drawn & Quarterly.

Francoise Mouly is the art director of publishing institution The New Yorker, choosing their provocative covers and illustrations amongst many other tasks. A majorly influential force in the history of comics, Mouly co-founded RAW magazine, and continues the task of defining visual literacy through her new children’s graphic novel imprint Toon Books.

Taiyo Matsumoto is a Japanese comics creator whose kinetic style and thoughtful, considered narratives have won him fans across the world. Best known for his work Tekkon Kinkreet (adapted into an animated film of the same name) Matsumoto has had a stunning career and has a strong list of works available in English, French, and, of course, Japanese. Matsumoto will debut his new series Sunny at TCAF, published by Viz Media. In addition, Taiyo Matsumoto will appear alongside Tekkon Kinkreet director Michael Arias, and screenwriter Anthony Weintraub at several events including a special screening of the film.

Raina Telgemeier is the New York Times Bestselling-author of the graphic novels Smile and Drama from Scholastic Publishing—the former of which has spent nearly two years at the top of (or very near-to) The New York Times Bestseller List and won multiple industry awards, and the latter of which has debuted this fall to rave reviews and bestseller status too!

Blutch is one of the most respected cartoonists in France, winner of the highly-prestigious Angouleme Grand Prix (perhaps the highest honour in cartooning), and a phenomenal talent whose work will finally be making its North American debut at TCAF 2013. So Long, Silver Screen will be published by PictureBox Inc., a series of interlocking short stories that will delight fans of the medium.

Gengoroh Tagame is perhaps the most famous gay cartoonist in the world, despite the translations of his work into languages other than his native Japanese not beginning in ernest until the last few years. Tagame’s work will finally make its English-language debut in the new collection The Passion of Gengoroh Tagame, assembled by veteran manga editor Anne Ishii, designed by Chip Kidd, and published by PictureBox Inc.

Maurice Vellekoop is the Toronto-born artist and illustrator who has spent his distinguished career seamlessly mixing alternative comics and illustration for clients as diverse as The New York Times, Vogue, Rolling Stone, Drawn & Quarterly, Fantagraphics, and Toronto’s own Pink Triangle Press. Vellekoop is the illustrator of the Tenth Anniversary Toronto Comic Arts Festival poster.

Dash Shaw is a comics wunderkind, creating a series of ambitious, intelligent graphic novels that are constantly pushing against the boundaries of the medium. His graphic novels The Bottomless Bellybuttonand BodyWorld have racked up numerous award nominations and critical acclaim, and he will debut his new graphic novel New School at TCAF 2013, to be published by Fantagraphics Books.

For a full, up-to date exhibitor list including full biographies and artwork, please visit http://torontocomics.com/exhibitors/.

MA – Art Spiegelman Lecture

Art Spiegelman speaks at Northeastern University on Tuesday March 27, 2012 at 5:00pm.

“What the %@&*! Happened to Comics?”
A lecture with images

Pulitzer Prize-winning artist/illustrator and author of MAUS, In the Shadow of No Towers, and Breakdowns

The Morton E. Ruderman Memorial Lecture
Blackman Auditorium in Ell Hall

Free and open to the public

Sponsored by the Ruderman Family Foundation

Northeastern University — Blackman Auditorium
360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115

DC – MetaMaus Lecture

Art Spiegelman appears on Monday, March 26, 2012 from 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Press Release:

MetaMaus: A Look Inside a Modern Classic, Maus
Monday, March 26, 7:30 pm
$20; $15 Member/Student with ID/Senior
$50 VIP Premium Ticket*

Click here to purchase tickets

Winner of the 2011 National Jewish Book Award

Pulitzer Prize-winner Art Spiegelman reenters Maus, the unforgettable biography of his father’s life during and after the Holocaust. Spiegelman delves into the book that consumed him for 13 years to discuss his survivor parents, the oxymoron of picturing life in a death camp, racist imagery and his beloved medium of comics. MetaMaus brilliantly deconstructs one of the most important works of art and literature of the 20th century, while providing insight into Spiegelman’s creative process.

Art Spiegelman is an award-winning author and illustrator of more than 10 books, most notably Maus, for which he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1992. His comics are best known for their shifting graphic styles, formal complexity and often controversial content. His work has been published in numerous periodicals, including The New Yorker, where he was a staff artist and writer from 1993-2003.

“Why the Holocaust? Why mice? Why comics? Spiegelman answers intelligently, articulately, and with a high degree of psychological and aesthetic penetration.” Booklist, starred review

“Richly rewarding…The book also serves as a master class on the making and reading of comics…The last frame encapsulates in one single moment the artfulness behind the tale we’ve just read, and the uneasy combination of filial pride and anger that flowed through Maus and flows through Metamaus as well.” The New York Times Book Review

Buy the Book!

*VIP Premium Ticket includes a front-row seat and an invitation to a private reception with the author after the event.

Funded in part by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

DCJCC
1529 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20036

QC – D+Q Kids Day

Please be advised this event has been cancelled.

Françoise Mouly and Art Spiegelman will be with us for a very special Kids Day on Sunday September 25th at 11am!

This event will showcase TOON Books, Mouly’s own imprint of hardcover comics for emerging readers, which have received universal praise and multiple awards for their innovative approach.

There will be readings, colouring, cookies, juice and fun for the whole family! We will also be handing out Young Readers Cards, which will grant holders 10% off on all kids and young adult books. Come at 11 am and bring your kids!

Librairie Drawn & Quarterly
211 Rue Bernard Ouest, Montreal, QC H2T 2K5
(514) 279-2221

QC – Meta Maus Launch

Art Spiegelman lectures on Saturday September 24th at 4 pm.

Concordia’s Hall Building, H-110
1455 boul de Maisonneuve O, Montreal, QC, H3G 1M8 Canada 
Tickets $20 – available online now!

The SBC Gallery, Librairie Drawn & Quarterly, and POP Montreal present What the %&*! Happened to Comics?, a lecture by Pulitzer?Prize-winning comic book icon Art Spiegelman. This unique event offers fans of the graphic narrative and comic art the opportunity to hear firsthand one of the great raconteurs of the medium. Spiegelman takes his audience on a highly entertaining chronological tour of the evolution of comics, emphasizing the value of this medium in our post?literate culture.

This is also a launch for Meta Maus, a companion to The Complete Maus.

NYC – The Fine Art of Comics

 

Gary Panter, Art Spiegelman, and Chris Ware speak at the Whitney Museum on Wednesday July 20th at 7pm!

Press Release:

“The Kin-der-Kids” and “Wee Willie Winkie’s World,” the pioneering and popular comic strips that Lyonel Feininger debuted in 1906, formed the basis of many of his subsequent paintings, as the visual language of comics that he employed for his commercial work migrated into his canvases. The cross-pollination between comics and high art, which began in the early 20th century, also fed the extraordinary explosion of graphic novels and comics in the past several decades. In conjunction with the exhibition Lyonel Feininger: At the Edge of the World, a panel of master comic artists, including Gary Panter, Art Spiegelman, and Chris Ware, will discuss the intersection of comics and fine art. Moderated by John Carlin.

$8 general admission; $6 senior citizens and students; free for members.

Whitney Museum of American Art
945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street, New York NY 10021

NYC – Benny and Penny Signing

Geoffrey Hayes with Francoise Mouly and Art Spiegelman at the Strand on April 22 from 7:00PM – 8:00PM.
 
Bestselling author Geoffrey Hayes has devoted his life to comics and children’s literature. He is the author of three Benny and Penny TOON Books, including the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award-winning Benny and Penny in the Big No-No. The award is given to “the author of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the U.S. during the preceding year.”

Francoise Mouly and Art Spiegelman will introduce Geoffrey, who will demonstrate how the popular (pulp) fiction of one generation becomes the literature of another and how comics are changing the way children learn to read.

Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway, New York, NY 10003-4805

NYC – Classic Children’s Comics

Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly The TOON Treasury of Classic Children’s Comics

September 10 07:00PM – 08:00PM

Two of the greatest authorities in comics have collected an unprecedented volume of the funniest, wackiest and best-told tales from the golden age of comic books. Although the book was created for young readers, everyone who grew up reading comics will be delighted to revisit their childhood with this beautiful volume. From Little Lulu to Little Archie, from Uncle Scrooge to Uncle Wiggily, and from Dennis the Menace to Burp the Twerp The TOON Treasury includes forgotten rarities as well as renowned stars. These comics will bring back memories and create new ones to be shared with new generations of comics fans.

The Strand
828 Broadway
(at 12th St.)
New York, NY. 10003-4805

http://www.strandbooks.com/