MeCAF Partners with Portland Public Library

Press Release:

The Maine Comics Arts Festival (MeCAF), an annual comics event that brings over one hundred cartoonists to Portland each year, has announced a new partnership with the Portland Public Library for the 2016 show. The show will be held at the Portland Public Library’s Main Branch at Five Monument Square on Friday and Saturday, June 3rd and 4th, 2016. Over 120 comic writers, artists, publishers and cartoonists are expected to attend and exhibit at the eighth annual event. The 2016 event will be free to attend and open to the public.

Show organizers Rick Lowell and Laura O’Meara of Casablanca Comics in Portland started the festival in 2009 as a way to promote comics and provide the public with an opportunity to meet the creative talent behind the comics. “We are excited to bring this festival to the Portland Public Library. It is the perfect venue for this event, and we welcome the partnership of working with the library.” says Lowell. The show has been especially popular with families. The festival is not a typical comic book convention in that there are no stores or dealers set up selling books. Instead, the exhibitors are the creative people behind the comics. The artists will have their own work on display and available for sale.

“Comics and graphic novels are so hugely popular with Portland Public Library patrons of all ages, and Casablanca Comics is one of our long-standing community collaborators, so hosting MeCAF here seems like such a natural fit.” says Kelley Blue, Teen Librarian & Teen Team Leader at the Portland Public Library. “We’re excited to use our space in this creative way, and for the programming potential around the festival that we can bring as a partner.”

The mix of writers and artists covers a wide spectrum and includes many best-selling and award-winning comic creators. There will be programming running all day Saturday including cartooning workshops and an “Iron Cartoonist” competition. In addition, there are plans for events on Friday as part of the First Friday Art Walk.

The Maine Comics Arts Festival is a production of Casablanca Comics of Portland, Maine. Casablanca Comics is an award winning comic book retail store with two locations in southern Maine. Store owners Rick Lowell and Laura O’Meara have been sharing their love of comics with the public since 1987.

 

ME – The Sculptor Signing

Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics, Zot!) appears Casablanca Comics on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at 6:00 PM to sign his latest graphic novel The Sculptor

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Casablanca Comics
151 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 780-1676

ME – Cafe Racer Signing

Artist Sean Murphy (The Wake, Punk Rock Jesus, Interstellar) appears with writer Katana Collins and artist Clay McCormack at Casablanca Comics on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm for a special signing of CAFE RACER!

About the book:

As a toddler, Orchid and her father barely escaped Japan during the Doolittle Raid of WWII. Years later, Orchid is still an outcast as she speeds her way into London’s Cafe Racer motorcycle society. Defying both racial and sexist stereotypes, the half-Japanese teenager is unbeatable in a race–much to the disappointment of her father, who forbids her from riding his mysterious motorcycle. After discovering friendship in the most unexpected places, she soon uncovers the truth of the bike, along with its connection to the disappearance of her mother in pre-war Japan.

Cafe Racer is a story told through seven vignettes, also including extra features such as pencils, concept art, and other behind the scenes artwork.

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Casablanca Comics
151 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 780-1676

MeCAF 2014 Announces Programming Schedule

The Maine Comics Arts Festival (MeCAF) has released their programming schedule for the 2014 show to be held on Sunday May 18th:

10:00 – 1:00: Book signing with Big Nate creator Lincoln Peirce (in the main hall)

10:30 – Unusual comics! Choose your own adventure! with Jon Chad
How does your comic become a book? If you thought that a book is just made up of a cover, back cover, and all the business in-between, think again! Explore a variety of folding and book construction techniques and make your own unfolding, choose-your-own-adventure minicomic!

11:30 – DRAW ON YOUR CREATIVITY:
Comic book artist Jay Piscopo invites students to try their hand at cartoon art and demonstrates how anyone can learn to draw and create comics. Using simple geometric shapes, Jay teaches kids how to build anatomy and perspective to create art that tells a story. Stand by for adventure with this interactive workshop! Watch a short video clip at the link…

12:30 – Ben Hatke: The Three Secrets of Comics:
Discussing images in a narrative, gesture, and drawing from life, Ben Hatke (Zita the Spacegirl) talks about three secrets behind making amazing comics.

1:30 – Iron Cartoonist:
This competition will determine the MeCAF Iron Cartoonist Champion! Watch as three talented cartoonists draw against the clock, with suggestions from the audience. Special guest judges will determine the winner.

2:30 – A conversation with Jimmy Gownley and Kazu Kibuishi:
Join us as we discuss comics with Jimmy Gownley (The Dumbest Idea Ever, Amelia Rules) and Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet, Flight).

3:30 – Panel discussion about gender and race issues in current comics, with artists Melanie Gillman, Kori Handwerker and others.

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The Maine Comics Arts Festival will be held in Portland, ME on Sunday, May 18, 2014. Featuring over 100 comics writers, artists and publishers, this will be a celebration of the comics art form. This year’s show will be at the Portland Company Complex (58 Fore Street, Portland, Maine 04101)! There will be everyone from mini comics publishers to seasoned professionals. There will be comic book writers and artists, gag cartoonists, newspaper cartoonists, web comics creators and more. The guests will have their own work available for sale. Some people will be doing sketches and selling original artwork. Others will have t-shirts, buttons and posters. All of them have one thing in common… a love of comics. Featured guests include: Kazu Kibuishi, Sean Murphy, Jimmy Gownley, Ben Hatke, James Sturm, Shelli Paroline, Braden Lamb, Joe Quinones, Zack Giallongo, Maris Wicks, and many more!

ME – Klaus Janson Signs

Artist Klaus Janson, newly announced inker of Superman, signs at Casablanca Comics on Saturday, March 1, 2014 from 4:00 pm until 5:30 pm!

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Press Release:

Klaus Janson has worked for Marvel and DC Comics since the 1970s, and has worked on numerous titles. He is well known for his work on Batman, Daredevil, Defenders, Howard the Duck, Amazing Spider-Man and many other titles. We are thrilled to provide an opportunity for his fans to meet him.

Casablanca Comics
151 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101

ME – B + F Signing

Gregory Benton signs at Casablanca Comics on Sunday, March 9, 2014 from 3:00pm until 5:00pm!

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Casablanca Comics
151 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101

ME – Adventures in Cartooning Signing

James Sturm, founder of the Center of Cartoon Studies and creator of the Adventures in Cartooning series, appears at Casablanca Comics on Saturday, October 12, 2013 from 11:00am until 2:00pm.

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Casablanca Comics
151 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101

ME – Trillium Signing

Jeff Lemire, creator of Sweet Tooth, Essex County and writer for Animal Man, and many other DC titles appears at Casablanca Comics on Saturday, August 10 from 12:00pm until 3:00pm for a special book launch event.

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Casablanca Comics
151 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101

MeCAF 2013 Announces Schedule

The Maine Comics Arts Festival (MeCAF) has announced the schedule for their 2013 show! Guests include Jeff Smith, Raina Telgemeier, Sean Murphy, Brian Wood, Ming Doyle, Dave Roman, Rick Parker, Colleen AF Venable, John Green, Zack Giallongo, Jeff Pert, Joe Quinones, Maris Wicks, and many more!

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Press Release:

MeCAF will have panels and workshops on Saturday May 18th at the Portland Public Library and Sunday at the festival site at Ocean Gateway.

Saturday, May 18th
Portland Public Library – Rines Auditorium

1:00- A conversation with Jeff Smith, creator of Bone and RASL- We will be discussing Jeff’s past work and upcoming projects. (Please note that there will not be any book signings at the library. Jeff will be signing books on Sunday at the festival).

2:00- Rick Parker cartooning workshop: Join Cartoonist Rick Parker (artist of Beavis and Butthead, Harry Potty, Diary of a Stinky Dead Kid and many others) as he shares tips and techniques for drawing comics. This will be a demonstration where members of the audience will be encouraged to draw.

3:00- Raina Telgemeier! Raina Telgemeier, creator of Smile and Drama, and artist of the Babysitter’s Club series, discusses her current projects and gives a peek at her work process.

Sunday, May 19th
Ocean Gateway Terminal Maine Comics Arts Festival programming (please check back for updates as we finalize the schedule)

10:30- Jeff Pert Kid’s Cartooning Class

11:30- Colleen Venable, John Green, and Zack Giallongo

1:00- Lake Region High School Comic Class Project

2:00-TBA

3:00- TBA

 

ME – Big Nate Signing

Lincoln Peirce, the creator of the best selling series Big Nate, signs on Saturday, November 3rd from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm at Casablanca Comics Portland store. He will chat with fans and sign copies of his latest books including Big Nate All Work and No Play: A Collection of Sunday Strips.

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Casablanca Comics
151 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101

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