Opening This Weekend - Our Second Gallery Show!




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 

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