FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kenosha, WI (July 29, 2014) – “The
Oddly Compelling Art of Denis Kitchen” is a new art exhibit featuring more than
60 pieces of original comic art by Denis Kitchen, Robert Crumb, Al Capp and
Will Eisner. The exhibit will run in the Fine Arts Gallery at the University of
Wisconsin-Parkside from August 1st through October 10th.
There will be a catered reception, as well as presentations by artist Denis
Kitchen and author Michael Schumacher, from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Thursday, September
25th as the opening event of the Kenosha Festival of Cartooning.
Racine native Denis Kitchen is both a renowned
publisher of underground comics, via his company “Kitchen Sink Press”, and an
established artist in his own right. A tireless champion of creator’s rights,
Mr. Kitchen is also the founder of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. As a
partner in “Kitchen, Lind & Associates” he acts as both an agent and book
packager for the Estates of Harvey Kurtzman, Will Eisner and Al Capp to name
just a few. Also a prolific author and editor, he partnered with Kenosha author
Michael Schumacher on the critically acclaimed biography of Al Capp “Al Capp: A
Life To the Contrary.”
This exhibit focuses not only on the art of Denis
Kitchen but also features work by perhaps one of his most renowned fellow
underground comic artists, Robert Crumb. Al Capp is also represented, due to
Kitchen’s involvement with the Capp Estate and his authorship of the Capp
biography. Finally, the work of Will Eisner is represented in recognition of
both Eisner’s iconic stature in the world of comics and also the fact that he
too has been the subject of a biography by author Michael Schumacher – “Will
Eisner: A Dreamer’s Life in Comics”.
Conceived by UW Parkside Gallery Director Amy
Misurelli Sorensen and Kenosha Festival of Cartooning Director Anne Morse
Hambrock, the exhibit presents three distinctive, but related, fields of
graphic narrative and humorous illustration: Syndicated newspaper comics,
Graphic Memoir, and Underground Comics. Each of the artists represented in this
exhibit had their own singular experiences with censorship and freedom of
expression, a theme that unifies them despite their various styles and the differing
constraints of the businesses that published their work.
The Kenosha Festival of Cartooning
“The Oddly Compelling Art of Denis Kitchen” is
presented at the Parkside Fine Arts Gallery in partnership with the Kenosha
Festival of Cartooning. The Festival, founded in 2011 by Anne Morse-Hambrock,
is a three day event which includes gallery shows of original comic art,
presentations and panel discussions by renowned professional cartoonists,
outreach to local schools, and a charity auction of original comic art and
ephemera. Events take place primarily at the University of Wisconsin’s Parkside
Campus and the Kenosha Public Museum (also currently host to a fabulous show of
original cartoon art). A full list
of festival guest speakers, and the events open to the public, can be found at
kenoshacartoonfest.com All Kenosha Festival of Cartooning events are free and
open to the public.
UW-Parkside Galleries
At The Rita
The Rita is home to three new art galleries, each featuring
unique and distinctive exhibitions that showcase the artistic talents of
nationally and regionally recognized fine artists as well as emerging new
artists.
The Fine Arts Gallery is our largest gallery, with nearly 4,000 square
feet of exhibition space that showcases diverse works by professional artists
throughout the nation. The Emile H. Mathis Gallery is home to exhibits that
feature outstanding regional artists from southeastern Wisconsin. The
UW-Parkside Foundation Gallery features the new and sometimes provocative work
of emerging student and professional artists.
UW-Parkside galleries are free
and open to the public. Summer gallery hours are 9 a.m. to noon.
Monday through Friday, or by appointment. School-year hours are 9 a.m. to
4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Galleries are also open 30 minutes prior
to the beginning of music and theatre events at The Rita. For an
appointment or detailed information, please contact 262-595-2342
Parking
Parking passes are required Monday
through Friday until 6:30 p.m. for all non-metered parking spots. A limited
number of metered spaces are available in Lots B and C for the cost of
twenty-five cents for fifteen minutes. Due to construction on Wood
Road, patrons should access The Rita parking area using County Highway JR from
County Highway E or State Highway 31.
Contact: Amy
Misurelli Sorensen 262.595.2342,
Anne Morse Hambrock
