Only rarely is there discovered a significant body of work by an artist as important as Robert Crumb. The drawings and related artifacts found in the forthcoming exhibition R. Crumb: Early Works, 1965 – 1967 represent a rare opportunity to experience the evolving aesthetic of a prominent American artist. Join us this Saturday, September 10 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery as we unveil this exceptional collection of seminal works by one of history’s most gifted cartoonists. Below is a narrative explaining the origin of this work by Crumb confidant Mimi Currier, who will attend the…
Re/Read: Daishu Ma’s Leaf
Welcome back to Re/Read, an occasional column by Fantagraphics Bookstore curator Larry Reid drawing attention to books that you may have missed or merit another look. This time we’ll focus on Chinese artist Daishu Ma’s graphic novel, Leaf. This wordless story is set in a bleak urban village in the Chinese countryside where an inhabitant discovers a mysterious illuminated leaf amid the congested industrial landscape. His search for meaning leads him through a maze of mechanization that serves as a metaphor for traditional Chinese culture conflicting with contemporary ecological concerns and social identity. Ma’s sublime narrative and alluring rendering…
R. Crumb: Early Works 1965 – 1967 opens September 10
Fantagraphics Books launches an exciting series of events celebrating its 40th anniversary with “R. Crumb: Early Works, 1965 – 1967,” opening Saturday, September 10 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery. This important exhibition features over thirty previously unseen original drawings and arcane artifacts, which demonstrate the development of the artist’s signature style. The show remains on view through November 2, 2016. Robert Crumb is widely considered America’s greatest living cartoonist. His work was recently featured in the Seattle Museum’s “Graphic Masters” exhibition alongside Dürer, Rembrandt, Goya, Hogarth, and Picasso. The seminal work on display at…
Re/Read: R. Crumb’s Kafka
Welcome to Re/Read, an occasional column by Fantagraphics Bookstore curator Larry Reid drawing attention to comix that you may have overlooked or are worthy of another read. We’ll begin with a classic by the great Robert Crumb. Kafka is among the most compelling books by R. Crumb. A collaboration with writer David Zane Mairowitz, this book seamlessly weaves Franz Kafka’s complex stories into a biographical narrative of his life in Prague as Europe descended into turmoil at the turn of the twentieth century. Many of Kafka’s stories foreshadowed the unspeakable horrors that would soon befall his fellow Jews at…
What’s in Store: Get Some Crumb
Make plans now to attend the opening of R. Crumb: Early Works, 1965 – 1967 on Saturday, September 10 at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery. This important exhibition features over two-dozen previously unseen original drawings and artifacts, which demonstrate the development of the artist’s signature style. The show remains on view through November 2, 2016. Call the bookstore for information on nearby hotel, hospitality, and transportation options. You still have ten more days to see the Seattle Art Museum’s stunning exhibition, Graphic Masters: Dürer, Rembrandt, Goya, Hogarth, Picasso, R. Crumb. Don’t miss this amazing show, on view through August…
What’s in Store: Fantagraphics at 40!
Fantagraphics Books begins our celebration of 40 years publishing the world’s greatest cartoonists with an exhibition of the world’s greatest cartoonist. R. Crumb: Early Works, 1965 – 1967 documents the artist as he develops his signature style with original drawings, comix, and related ephemera. Most of these works have never been displayed publicly, so you’re in for a treat. The show opens on Saturday, September 10 and continues through November 2, 2016. The 40th year festivities continue on Saturday, October 8 as Seattle native Charles Burns discusses his graphic masterpiece Black Hole. This arresting story is set a short distance…
What’s in Store: Peter Bagge’s Neat Stuff!
Join us at Fantagraphics Bookstore on Saturday, August 13 for the debut of the Complete Neat Stuff by legendary Seattle cartoonist Peter Bagge. A limited number of advance copies of this two volume, slip case edition will be available for the artist to sign between 6:30 and 8:00 PM. Neat Stuff includes early work by Bagge introducing a cast of iconic characters that would populate his comix for decades. The Bradleys became a template for the dysfunctional American family, influencing the work of artists like Matt Groening, Mike Judge, Dana Gould, and countless others. This book collects the classic comix…
What’s in Store: Love and Loss
The Fantagraphics Bookstore family mourns the loss of our dear friend and colleague Geneviève Castrée Elverum, who succumbed to a year-long battle with cancer on Saturday. A talented musician, artist, and cartoonist, Geneviève appeared at the store to perform at the Love & Rockets 30th anniversary celebration in December of 2012. The following year the store hosted a book launch party for her graphic novel Susceptible with an art show, slide talk, and book signing. Together with her husband, musician Phil Elverum, she organized the Unknown Music Festival in her adapted hometown of Anacortes, Washington. They graciously invited our bookstore to participate…
What’s in Store: An Intruder Tribute
On July 9, Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery pays tribute to the phenomenal Intruder comix tabloid on the occasion of its final issue. It’s hard to overstate the influence of this publication on the local comix community. Over the course of 20 issues, this resourceful collective of Seattle cartoonists has elevated the careers of a number of artists including editor Marc Palm, Max Clotfelter, Tom van Deusen, Ben Horak, Brittany Kusa, James Stanton, Seth Goodkind, Marie Hausauer, John Ohannesian, Darin Schuler, Brandon Lehmann, David Lasky, Scott Travis, Joe Garber, and Billis Helg, among many others. It has inspired several sister publications…
What’s in Store: More Clowning Around
Drop by Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery this Saturday, June 25 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM as Tatiana Gill hosts a clown coloring contest from her new book Down to Clown. We’ll have cool prizes and free corn dogs, cotton candy, caramel corn, and more! All entries will be exhibited through July 7. An added attraction at the Hot Off the Press book fair on July 9 is a rare show by seminal Seattle punk band Chinas Comidas led by literary artist Cynthia Genser, who will also give a spoken word performance. The band will play new material from their Songbook…
