CBLDF/Cartoon Art Museum Party Raises the Roof

Andrew Farago at the Cartoon Art Museum sends us this recap of last weekend's stellar joint party:

On February 1, 2003, the Cartoon Art Museum played host to the third annual joint CAM/CBLDF A.P.E. weekend fundraiser. Dozens of indy comics stars, up-and-coming small press creators and talented web- cartoonists mingled with Cartoon Art Museum and CBLDF members, making this the most successful CAM/CBLDF joint effort to date (with a 300% increase in donations compared to the 2002 fundraiser).

The Cartoon Art Museum held opening receptions for three of its exhibitions that night: She Draws Comics: Great Women Cartoonists, Hate Mail: Comic Strip Controversies and Small Press Spotlight, featuring the Oakland-based artist Jason Shiga. Among the party attendees were She Draws Comics curator Trina Robbins, Leela Corman, Jackie Estrada, Tom Hart, Lea Hernandez, Batton Lash, Steve Leialoha, Caryn Leschen, Lee Marrs and Scott McCloud. Original artwork on display included works from such diverse artists as Berkeley Breathed, Nell Brinkley, Frank Cho, Robert Crumb, Will Eisner, Justin Green, Ub Iwerks, Lynn Johnston, Winsor McCay, Dale Messick and Charles Schulz. Each of the Museum's five galleries was filled to capacity throughout the evening, making it CAM's most successful reception in nearly a year.

Jason Shiga was on hand for the unveiling of his "Meanwhile Matrix," a massive six-foot by six-foot work that took him three years to complete. Fellow Bay Area artists Lark Pien, Derek Kirk Kim and Ben Catmull, all upcoming subjects of future Small Press Spotlights were among the many on hand to congratulate Shiga. Other local artists in attendance included Andrice Arp, Jesse Hamm, Kelly McCubbin, Laurenn McCubbin, Jesse Reklaw and Gene Yang. Live music for the event was provided by The Clarendon Hills.

Dozens of items were given away as door prizes at the reception, including rare and out-of-print comics, books signed by Frank Miller, Judd Winick, Keith Knight, Jeff Smith and John Romita Jr., plus a piece of original artwork from Trunktown, an online comic strip by Tom Hart and Shaenon K. Garrity. Thanks to the aforementioned artists and to San Francisco-based comic shop Amazing Fantasy for donating raffle prizes.

Plans are already being discussed for next year's reception, which promises to be an even bigger and better fundraiser for the two organizations. Thanks to everyone who attended and showed support for the Cartoon Art Museum and the CBLDF.