CO/MIX at the Open Book Festival, Cape Town

A Treat for Comic Book Lovers

BY ANDY MASON

WHAT? CO/MIX @ THE OPEN BOOK FESTIVAL
WHEN? SATURDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 2012
WHERE? THE BANK, 50 CANTERBURY ST, DISTRICT SIX
HOW MUCH? ATTENDANCE IS FREE!

Comics and Cape Town go together. And the city’s comic book lovers are in for a treat on Saturday 22 September when local creators, a couple of international legends and lots of wannabe cartoonists and fans will be getting together at The Bank in District Six for eight hours of total immersion in the world of cartooning, comix and graphic literature.

As they pass under the specially produced Mach1one mural adorning the entrance to the venue, visitors will instantly be absorbed into a crammed and vibey studio area where the Readers Den Comic Shop, a Comics Lounge and Collectibles pop-up shop and seminar area are surrounded by comic artists and local self-publishers doing all sorts of stuff to promote and peddle their wares, with tons of art on the walls. An all-day comic jam and a couple of public easels where wannabees can put up their toons add to the do-it-yourself vibe, and there will be freebies and bargains galore.

Africartoons.com will be curating an exhibition of a small selection of the over 100 editorial cartoons that were inspired by 'The Spear'; Brett Murray's controversial portrait of the President. The artist has been invited to attend, as have some of the cartoonists, who will be on hand to discuss their work after a slide show presentation of editorial cartoons, entitled 'On the Horns of a Malema', with cartoons featuring South Africa's leading news maker.

Four public conversations are scheduled to happen during the day featuring local comic artists and publishers, acclaimed UK childrens’ book illustrator Emily Gravett and French BD Maestro Jacques de Loustal. See the programme below.

The event is organised by cartooning historian Andy Mason (N.D.Mazin) (What’s So Funny?), local comics publisher Moray Rhoda (Velocity) and the Open Book festival’s indefatiguable Frankie Murrey. Event partners include Stellenbosch University’s CCIBA (Centre for Comic, Illustrative and Book Arts), Open Book Cape Town, The Bank, Reader’s Den Comic Shop, Velocity, Africartoons.com, Mamba Media, Mama Taxi, Trek Net, Studio Woo, They Did This and Jetline Printers. Each has done their bit to make the day a success.

Co/Mix @ Open Book Cape Town follows on from the very successful Co/Mix: Comic Art/Mixed Media exhibition at the 2011 National Arts Festival, and it is hoped that Co/Mix will become an annual feature of Cape Town’s cultural calendar.

CONTACT:
Frankie Murrey, frankie@openbookfestival.co.za, 082 958 7332
Andy Mason, artworks@iafrica.com, 082 899 3091
Moray Rhoda, moray.rhoda@gmail.com, 082 707 6746

WEBSITE: www.openbookfestival.co.za

CO/MIX DAY @ OPEN BOOK CAPE TOWN 22 SEPTEMBER @ THE BANK DISTRICT 6

PROGRAMME - may be subject to minor changes

10:00 Doors Open. Comic Jam begins
Watch comic artists collaborate live in the creation of a giant comic!

10:30-10:45 Welcome and introduction

10:50-11:00 Open Mic 1: Readers Den giveaways

11:00-11:10 Open Mic 2: Free Beer Comics and Agenda Comics giveaways

11:10:-11:20 Open Mic 3: Sebastian Comics giveaways

11.30 – 12.30 Draw Your Life, Publish Your Self
Andy Mason talks autobiographical comic-making with Mogorosi Motshumi (360 Degrees), Su Opperman (Gifpit) and Tyron Love (Yummy Lemons).

12:40-12:50 Open Mic 4: Gifpit and Yummy Lemons giveaways

13.00 – 14.00 The Art of Children’s Book Illustration
Emily Gravett, Alex Latimer and Chris Venter discuss the challenges of the industry with Niki Daly.

14:10-14:20 Open Mic 5: Children’s book signings
Niki Daly, Emily Gravett, Chris Venter & Alex Latimer

14.30 – 15.30 Glocal is Lekker
Velocity publisher Moray Rhoda talks to Mamba Media’s Craig Nadelman and Studio Woo’s Pete Woodbridge about making local comics in the global context.

15:40-15:50 Open Mic 6: Velocity giveaways

15:50-16:00 Open Mic 7: Studio Woo giveaways

16:00-16:10 Open Mic 7: Soccer Warrior giveaways

16:15-16:25 Open Mic 6: Mama Taxi & Trek Net giveaways

16:30-16:50 Africartoons Slide Show of Editorial Cartoons: 'On the Horns of a Malema'
John Curtis introduces the Africartoonists

17.00 – 18.00 The French Connection
French comic art maestro Jacques de Loustal in conversation with Bitterkomix artist Anton Kannemeyer (Joe Dog).

18.15 – 19.00 Rockville 2069. A Rock musical and graphic novel
Johnny Ray introduces the project followed by live music selected from the album.

19:15 Comic Jam ends.

19:30 Doors close.

EVENT PARTNERS:

Africartoons, CCIBA,  Jetline Printers, Mama Taxi, Mamba Media, Open Book Cape Town, Readers Den Comic Shop, Studio Woo, The Bank, Velocity, They Did This, Trek Net.

MAP TO THE EVENT

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