Underground Comix Legend Kim Deitch and Alternative Cartoonist Megan Kelso at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery in Seattle on Friday, August 31.
Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is pleased to welcome two of the country’s most accomplished cartoonists to Seattle on Friday, August 31. Kim Deitch and Megan Kelso represent two generations of alternative narrative art. The bookstore will host a book signing and exhibition of original artwork and prints by these extraordinary artists. The reception, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, is open to the public at Fantagraphics Bookstore, located at 1201 S. Vale Street in Seattle’s lively Georgetown arts community.
Kim Deitch’s storied career began as a contributor to seminal 60s underground comix publications including Gothic Blimp Works and Young Lust. His visionary graphics remain relevant and were subsequently featured in Art Spiegelman’s RAW and R. Crumb’s Weirdo anthologies.
In a recent review of Deitch’s Shadowland graphic novel, New York Times book critic John Hodgman observes, “Few underground cartoonists deserve that subterranean title so fully as Kim Deitch. He was there at the beginning of the movement, drawing for The East Village Other in 1967, and his work retains much of that psychedelic, R. Crumb-like earthiness. But also: He’s constantly digging, churning the inky soil of American pop culture and marveling over the fossils he turns up.” (June 3, 2007.)
In addition to Shadowland, Fantagraphics Books has collected Deitch’s work in Beyond the Pale and published comic book series including The Stuff of Dreams, Mishkin File, and Waldo World. His work is currently the focus of an exhibition at the Phoenix Art Museum in Arizona. Deitch’s first exhibition in Seattle will include colorful limited edition prints and original drawings from Shadowland.
Seattle-born cartoonist Kelso began her career in the 90s with her self-published ‘zine Girlhero. Fantagraphics recently published the highly acclaimed The Squirrel Mother, a collection of Kelso’s short stories. According to People magazine, “Kelso has sharp powers of observation, and many of her characters have a blank-eyed innocence that serves as a counterpunch to the acuity of the narratives.” Kelso will exhibit original work from “Watergate Sue,” he ongoing series appearing in the New York Times Magazine. This work can be viewed at: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/magazine/funnypages.html. Megan Kelso currently lives and works in New York City.
Kim Deitch and Megan Kelso will also appear (with Fantagraphics Books publisher Gary Groth) at the Bumbershoot arts festival in Seattle on Sunday, September 2, 5:45 PM - 6:45 PM at the Leo K Theater.
Listing Information:
Kim Deitch and Megan Kelso Art Exhibit and Book Signing.
Friday, August 31, 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Exhibition continues through September 19, 2007
Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S. Vale St. (at Airport Way S.), Seattle, WA
206.568.0110
Hours: Daily 11:30 – 8:00 PM. Sundays until 5:00 PM
www.fantagraphics.com
