Insight Through Cartoons
I’ve become fond of zoom events. During the pandemic, I had a virtual opening of an exhibit I was in, many meetings, and yesterday I did a virtual book launch for my book, Very Funny Ladies. Thanks to many of you who joined from all over the place! Here we all four are, screenshots (which I forgot to take) by my online friend and great artist, Keith Henry Brown. From top to bottom, me, Roz Chast, Kim Warp and Kendra Allenby. As you can see we laughed a lot, and then we did get serious a little when we discussed sexist stuff. What I particularly enjoyed was the perspective we all brought as people from a different generations. As professional creative women, but also as cartoonists who respond to the world around us. I wish it was taped, but alas, the taping failed. I am considering doing regular video interchanges as a feature for this newsletter. Stay tuned.
Yesterday, I went to my local bookstore and signed and personalized a ton of books that people had ordered. It was really fun, and drawing little pictures in the book for people makes me happy. The photos below were taken by my husband, expert assistant in book-opening-for-signing, Michael Maslin (also a wonderful New Yorker cartoonist!). You can still order personalized signed copies for many weeks and probably months, link here.
I promise this newsletter will be about other things, but right now I am so excited to get this book to people. The history of this art form that is cartooning is so rich, and I absolutely love learning about culture, politics and people through cartoons. Not only does one garner insight into an artist by looking at the body of her work, but we can also get an understanding of ourselves and our culture, now and over time.
Here is one below by Mary Guaerke from the early 1950’s, she didn’t have many cartoons in the magazine, sadly.
This could have been drawn today.