AAEC News

Bad news for a bad-ass cartoonist

Joe Sharpnack reports that a sudden condition has left him partially blind. The Daily Iowan has the story.

Known for his wicked sense of humor, the stalwart Iowan's work has appeared in the Washington Post and USAToday over the years. He was a member of the AAEC for a time, before his iconoclastic ways lead him to quit. His work has appeared in a number of collections, including the first "Attitude" book by Ted Rall, and the AAEC's "Attack of the Political Cartoonists."

And now, AAEC President Pat Bagley

The 2018 AAEC Convention is Fast Approaching!

This year’s gathering of the nation’s editorial cartoonists and political junkies in Sacramento — Thursday, September 20th to Saturday 22nd — promises to be a blockbuster. Our featured guest is Atlantic staff writer McKay Coppins, who extensively covered the Trump campaign and was called “a dishonest slob” via Twitter by the then-GOP nominee for his award-winning reporting. We’ll also get a chance to ask Rob Rogers if there are other ways to become nationally famous without first losing one’s job.

We’ll kick off things with a reception on Thursday, September 20, that will open a retrospective of Rex Babin’s work from his time at the Sacramento Bee before his untimely death in 2012. We’re also going to be joined by cartoonist colleagues from Canada and New Zealand, who will share what it’s like to cartoon an ongoing train wreck from outside the train. The closing gala, on Saturday September 22, will feature food, drink, music, (and possibly an award for the cartoon created during the convention most likely to spark an international incident between the U.S., Canada and New Zealand)!

Here are the links to register today: http://www.aaeccartoonists.org/

Pat Bagley
President, Association of American Editorial Cartoonists

AAEC winners at the 2018 AAN Awards

A huge congratulations to Cullum Rogers, who won 1st Place in the Out of the Box/Cartoons category from the Association of Alternative Newsmedia. This was the second year in a row Rogers took first place for his cartoons in the Durham, North Carolina-based Indy Week. It was also the last time his work would be eligible, as the shrinking alt-weekly laid off the cartoonist earlier this year. Way to go out on top, Cullum! 

And kudos to Russell Hodin and Jen Sorensen, who were also cited for their alt-weekly work. Hodin took home 3rd Place, and Sorensen received an Honorable Mention.

Lalo moves into Los Casagrandes

A big congrats to cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz for landing another gig on an animated series. As he did with Coco and Bordertown, Alcaraz will be the cultural advisor for Los Casagrandes on Nickelodeon. Now, someone just needs to option La Cucaracha!

 

 

Major cartooning award news!

There are two big AAEC announcements to make today. First up, congratulations to Charis Jackson Barrios, the winner of this year's John Locher Memorial Award. 

Barrios recently received a BFA on a full scholarship from The Cooper Union in NYC. While a student, the cartoonist did design and illustration projects with places like Frederator Studios and BuzzFeed. She has made comics for The Nib and Splinter News, and more of her work can found at her website https://www.charisjb.com.

The judges noted: "Charis is producing well-crafted, smart, affecting comics that are equally adept in dishing out facts and relating personal anecdotes, especially with regard to race. Her comics are thoughtful and substantive, executed in a bold, readable style, and address a range of timely, relevant topics from a unique perspective underrepresented in political cartooning." 

You can read the winning comics here:
Why Don’t You Just Pick One? My Life With a Biracial Identity
2017: The Year Black Women Slayed (Again)
Know Your Hate Groups

The judges also wanted to recognize the following cartoonists for their outstanding submissions to the 2018 Locher Award: 
1. Leila Abdelrazaq
2. Sage Coffey
3. Madeleine Witt
4. Caroline Cook
5. Jake Thrasher

More details on the John Locher Memorial Award and this year's panel of judges can be found here: http://locheraward.org/news/2018/7/15/2018-locher-award-winner

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Next, a big congrats to cartoonist and comics historian R.C. Harvey, who was bestowed with the Inkpot Award during last week's San Diego ComicCon. The Inkpot is given annually to "individuals for their contributions to the worlds of comics, science fiction/fantasy, film, television, animation, and fandom services." Bob Harvey has been an integral member of the AAEC for decades — most recently serving on the board as Secretary/Treasurer — and a constant, wry presence at its annual confabs.

This year's Inkpot recipients included, among others, cartoonists Shannon Wheeler and Brian Fies, as well as actors Kevin Smith and Nichelle Nichols. Good company indeed! Here's a photo of Bob excitedly waving his award about in San Diego.

 

Critquing cartooning as "real" art

Among cartoonists it is well known that, with the exception of enlightened centers of learning such as Ohio State and their Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum (and to some degree Duke University), academia had been generally disdainful or ignorant of their artform. One Pittsburgh critic decides to look at the work of Rob Rogers and try judging cartooning as a fine art: https://hyperallergic.com/450916/the-art-of-a-fired-cartoonist/

 

Nick Anderson on life after newspapers

Over the weekend, TV News KTRK talked to cartoonist Nick Anderson about finding a new audience online after getting axed from the Houston Chronicle.

Comic Strip of the Day joins The Daily Cartoonist

Kudos to friend of the AAEC Mike Peterson, who is moving his long-running blog Comic Strip of the Day to The Daily Cartoonist. Mike, who might be the hardest working semi-retired journalist in show business, makes a great addition to the revamped web site, and will no doubt find a larger audience with the new platform.

http://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2018/07/23/csotd-part-mmmxc-a-new-beginning/

Charlie Daniel, Hall of Famer

A big congrats to editorial cartoonist Charlie Daniel, of the Knoxville News Sentinel, who was recently inducted into the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame! Daniel, a longtime AAEC member, produced 15,000 cartoons during a 55-year career. 

The week in Trump

So much newsing! Here are just a few drinks that we caught in our cup from the firehose that was Donald J. Trump this week:

Friend of the AAEC Rod Emmerson found his "Trump Trophy" cartoon go viral worldwide.

Barry Blitt talks about his latest New Yorker cover and how he SEES TRUMP EVERYWHERE.

Bill Bramhall's cartoon goes viral and A1 on the New York Daily News.

Rob Rogers has the best week ever as his Spiked cartoon show opens across from the White House.

 

To be continued....