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Thursday, September 23, 2010

Comic Books Comics Night at the Opera: The Results are In

Posted by Alison Hallett on Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 2:52 PM

Art by Matt Wagner; photo by Mike Russell
  • Art by Matt Wagner; photo by Mike Russell

Okay, so the Portland Opera made a really good PR move, and we're biting. On Monday, around 20 Portland cartoonists were invited to attend a dress rehearsal of Pagliacci/Carmina Burana, and "draw whatever inspires them about the production." Colleen Coover, Matt Wagner, Erika Moen, Steve Lieber, Shannon Wheeler and more took up the offer—the sketches are compiled here, though they're regrettably tiny.

The project was inspired by Mike Russell, who began drawing great little opera-based comics during last season's bloggers' night at the opera series. I gotta confess to having had a real problem with that particular series—no blogger is going to write a critical review of a show after free tickets and a behind-the-scenes tour, particularly not a blogger who's an inexperienced arts writer. The ick factor is gone with this comics thing, though; sure, the opera has figured out a way to get comics people to advertise their shows for free, but there's no pretense of criticism, and it's really fun to see the different ways these artists chose to render the show. Mike's is linear and quite funny; Natalie Nourigat went the diary comics route; Ron Chen just drew sketch after sketch.

Hey, other local arts orgs, are you kicking yourselves right now? You should be. This is savvy.

 

Comments (14) RSS

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1
You totes forgot to mention our own Carolyn Main was there doing some drawing.
Posted by Graham on September 23, 2010 at 3:12 PM · Report
2
I shouldn't be surprised, but the efforts to infantilize every aspect of this city continue to amaze me.
Posted by D on September 23, 2010 at 3:16 PM · Report
3
D's super villain name: Dr. No Fun
Posted by Commenty Colin on September 23, 2010 at 3:51 PM · Report
4
Fun is different than childish.
Pointing out examples of Portland being a shining example of a colony of failed artists happens to be fun for me.
Posted by D on September 23, 2010 at 3:56 PM · Report
5
@D...uuuuude. Many of these people are full-time, working comics artists. "Failed" doesn't so much apply.
Posted by Alison Hallett on September 23, 2010 at 4:10 PM · Report
6
@D: How is this childish?
Posted by Graham on September 23, 2010 at 4:11 PM · Report
7
It's like opera for the ADHD set
Posted by D on September 23, 2010 at 4:56 PM · Report
8
Wow. What a fantastic idea, indeed. One I'd like to borrow in the very near future.

Appropo of nothing important, really (save for humbly countervailing "Sunny" D), I'm increasingly blown away by Portland comic artists. After being in comic exile for 25+ years, it's nice to return and get reoriented to some cool-ass shit. Erika Moen's experience very closely mirrored my first trip to the opera last year. Particulary the part about being very underdressed.
Posted by TSW on September 23, 2010 at 5:02 PM · Report
9
@Alison Hallett @D was talking about the folks exiled to the Portland Opera not the tune people.
Posted by Rosy on September 23, 2010 at 5:16 PM · Report
10
@Rosy awww.
Posted by Alison Hallett on September 23, 2010 at 5:25 PM · Report
11
Rad. Bookmarking these artists!
Posted by ROM on September 23, 2010 at 6:10 PM · Report
12
IS it me or does the thumb holding that picture look like a weird big toe?
Posted by El Stunto on September 23, 2010 at 10:50 PM · Report
13
I think these artists tracking and sketching D's life for a day would be a neat idea!
Posted by TSW on September 24, 2010 at 6:35 AM · Report
14
Laura Hudson has some MUCH better photos up at Comics Alliance:

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/09/24/c…
Posted by Alison Hallett on September 24, 2010 at 11:50 AM · Report

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