SIZE MATTERS: The Mini-Comics Blog

Three Things
Yeah, I know this is a mini-comics blog, but occasionally I’ll post things that maybe aren’t strictly mini-comics, but mini-comics related and also things that I think others may be interested in. I have three such things to tell you about today.

Thing the first
Via his blog Drawer, I’ve been watching Warren Craghead’s installation take place from day to day. Right now he’s at “T minus 28 days,” and it’s interesting to observe this wall of sketches and collages grow. He began with this post:

”I'm starting a new series here on DRAWER - a countdown to the opening of my first-ever solo show. I'll check in periodically and post about what I'm doing to get the show together and up and hopefully document how fun and frightening it'll be. The show opens November 4, 57 days from now (thus the post title) at Second Street Gallery here in Charlottesville.”

So, fifteen posts later, he’s at “T minus 28 days” and writes:

”Last night I worked on some larger pencils in prep for ordering frames on Monday (that slipped a week). This AM got some more small things made. I also have the design for the first weekly street poster - I'll post it as a PDF next week after I slap it up all over town.

Tonight - openings if Violet is doing well, then more drawing after wife and kid go to sleep. So far the theme music for working on the show late night is all Arcade Fire, Archers of Loaf and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.”

Warren has done several mini-comics, including Jefferson Forest, Jefferson Estates, Thickets, Other People’s Schemes, and an illustrated book with Roger Noyes titled The Problem With Chemistry.

Thing the second
Little Cakes used to be a great source of mini-comics and art in NYC’s East Village. Hanna’s second floor apartment doubled as an art gallery and mini-comic distribution facility, and it was right across the street from the best vegetarian comfort food joint ever, Kate’s Joint. Well, Hanna’s been busy hoping jets back and forth to Tokyo, but she provided some links to a show that I think looks like a lot of fun.

“Delicate Kinship” in Hanna’s words is: “a group show of small sculptures paired with plants. Some artists used the pots and plants as landscapes. Others made protectors or buddies for the plants to hang out with.”

Come on, that sounds cool as hell. Makes me want to run out and get some plants myself.

Anyway, here are some pictures from the show and sketches of the ideas for some of the pieces.

Thing the third
Dan Nadel, from PictureBox/Ganzfeld, has sent out a press release for The Ganzfeld 4, Paper Rad, B.J. and da Dogs, and the awesome tabloid zines from SPX by Matthew Thurber, Frank Santoro, Paper Rad/C.F. and Marc Bell & Peter Thompson.

From Dan:
”We are celebrating these projects with a whole mess of fun events:

--First up: This Saturday, October 15, Paper Rad will be signing copies of their book at Printed Matter (535 W. 22nd St. NYC) from 5 to 7 pm. The signing will be immediately followed by a night of performances at EAI two floors up (535 W. 22nd St., 5th floor, NYC) from 7 to 10 pm. Paper Rad will be performing music, showing videos, dancing, and manning the wheels of steel. Free admittance and Free Red Stripe beer all night long. Don't miss this exuberant extravaganza!

--In the future: November will bring some Ganzfeld events, including a signing at Giant Robot NYC with Julie Doucet, Gary Panter, David Sandlin, and Paper Rad on November 5. Details to come shortly.

--And finally, Paper Rad will be embarking on a book 'n' rock tour starting right after their NYC shindig, including Quimby's in Chicago on 10/22 and the Mattress Factory in Pittsburgh on 10/30. Check www.theganzfeld.com for more dates and info.

I’m going to the Quimby’s thing. I picked up the tabloid thingy at SPX, but didn’t get the PaperRad/Ben Jones book. Oh and just to wake your eyes up, take a gander at the Paper Rad website. Who needs coffee, when you can look at that?