Fundraisers/Benefit

We have some amazing suggestions for fundraisers circulating through the Group!

We are currently pricing what it would cost to publish our own comic newspaper. Rates should come in after Memorial Day. If the prices are too steep, Dylan Harrelson suggested setting up an e-news feed where we could do the same thing online at minimal cost.

Also, we are considering holding a comic art exhibition at the Nelson-Atkins where our members could show off their stuff, maybe sell a few things and we could accept donations. (I am already scouring the earth for frames of all shapes and sizes) This would be an event we could easily and heavily promote in the media and to potential sponsors.

Lets get some feedback going! Let us know what you think or if you have other suggestions!

Downtown 3rd Art Annual Art Festival Announced!

Kansas City, MO – The vibrant and colorful art of new and emerging talent as well as established contemporary artists will line the eight city blocks of the Power & Light District when the Downtown 3rd Art Annual returns to Kansas City for its third anniversary, June 25 – 27, 2010. Joining the exhibiting artists are local fine art photographers Martha Moore of Blue Springs and Robert Johnson of Kansas City.

The Kansas City Power & Light District hosts this three-day juried art event, transforming the Power & Light District into a first-rate outdoor art gallery. Howard Alan Events, the festival’s promoter, stipulates that all artists are required to be on-site for the entire duration of the show. The public can meet and talk with the artists personally about their art and inspiration. The artistic media represented include paintings, sculptures, photos, glass, wood, jewelry, collage, and ceramics.

The Downtown Art Annual provides another dimension to one of the most exciting downtowns in the country. The District is the cornerstone of a massive $2 billion dollar urban renaissance, which includes major attractions, such as a performing arts center, arena, convention center and urban lofts.

For additional information on the Downtown 3rd Art Annual Art Festival and other Howard Alan Events art and craft shows across the country, visit http://www.artfestival.com/ or call 954-472-3755.

• Friday, June 25, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Saturday, June 26, 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

• Sunday, June 27, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

Power & Light District in Downtown Kansas City
Navigational address:
1370 Walnut St.,
Kansas City, MO 64105

Skyping it with Dan Haskett

Wednesday May 26th, MAPA is proud to present an evening talk with Dan Haskett. Haskett's work is pretty much known every where but many people are not aware of how far his work really reaches. If you have watched films and T.V. shows such as the Little Mermaid, Fox and the Hound, Tiny Toon Adventures, Class of 3000, and Scooby Doo, then you have seen and know Dan's work very well.

This year Dan celebrated his 40th Anniversary in the animation industry and when I asked him if he would be willing to do a Skype session with MAPA, I was very excited and humbled that he was willing to share some of his professional experience with us.

I hope everyone takes the time to come for this wonderful treat and if you have any questions you would like to ask have them ready. Or better yet pass them on to either me or Dylan so we can put together a nice little question and answer session.

Hope you guys are excited because I know I am. If you would like to learn a little more about dan please check out the following links! See you soon!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0368153/
http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Dan_Haskett
http://cedrichohnstadt.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/interview-with-character-designer-dan-haskett/
http://seeingblack.com/2005/x020705/haskett.shtml


~Arie

Samples of Dan's work!

2010 KCAI 'Frame by Frame" Animation Festival

A week ago, I had the distinct priviledge to attend the 2010 KCAI 'Frame by Frame" Animation Festival: a film festival showcasing all the senior projects from the Kansas City Art Institute Animation Department.  The collection of talented, burgeoning talent literally took my breath away.



Check out all this year's senior submissions, as well as all the Sophomore and Junior films from the Blacksheep Collective at the KCAI Animation Channel. 

And a special thanks to Doug Hudson, Chair of the KCAI Animation Department.

KCAI Students Win Oscar Gold

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Three students from the Kansas City Art Institute took home the film industry’s highest honor…with their student project.

After months of anticipation, Isaiah Powers, Jeremy Casper and Stuart Bury learned their 2009 graduation/thesis film, “Dried Up,” was selected for a Student Academy Award. The animated short film had advanced passed seven regional and two national competitors to reach the coveted student version of the well-known Oscar.

The news came shortly after one of the students, Stuart Bury, landed a summer internship in Hallmark's Multimedia Studio: a rare distinction given only to a few students in the U.S. each year.

In June, the Academy of Arts and Sciences will fly the three men out to Hollywood, California for the official award ceremony.




Written by Dylan Dietz originally for NBC Action News.  Copyright, May 2010.

Adam Kubert and Jason Aaron at Elite

Hey! It's Arie! I have always felt that comics and animation go hand in hand especially now a days when you see all the Justice League and Xmen shows on tv. Even in other countries like japan, comics tend to act as working storyboards for the latest animated t.v shows.

That is why today I wanted to share a little about the local comics scene with MAPA and animation lovers. I really wish that animation and comics were more integrated here in KC, getting more comic artists out to animation events and more animators out to comic events. I have scene amazing storyboard artists like Eric Canete for example, that works in animation as a story board artist by day and draws for Marvel and DC at night. Or even people Like Bill Pressing, who is a Joe Kubert School Grad getting his humble beginnings in comics training and now works at Pixar.

If you don't know what the Joe Kubert School is. It is a humble little art school in Dover New Jersey where you can go to get trained as a comic book artist by comic book legends, Joe Kubert, Adam Kubert and Andy Kubert. Joe has a nice like track record having over 80 years in the comic book business as an artist. He can draw circles around your mom and then draw your mom in like 5 seconds.

Speaking of the Kuberts lets get to the topic of discussion. For those that aren't in the loop, Adam Kubert and Aaron Jason were out at Elite comics in Overland park Kansas yesterday signing their new book. (If you haven't checked out Elite you should. The owner, William, is a great guy and he has a huge over lifesize statue of the Simpsons family sitting on a couch in the middle of his store. His store is AWESOME!!)

Jason is a local comics writer with a laundry list of title under his belt and he and Adam teamed up on ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN/WOLVERINE #1.

















Both Jason and Adam are amazing creators and there writing and art styles really mesh well together in this book. I stole Jasons copy of Adam and his families sketch book while I was at it for myself. ( Don't worry I paid for it. But it was the last one and I was glad to add it to my sketch book collection.)

I think it is amazing though how even with Adam on the East coast and Jason in Kansas city they still seem to work very well together to tell a story. You can tell they work closely as a team. It also goes to show that no matter where you live in this world you can easily spread your creativity across boarders to touch others. If you didn't make it down to Elite yesterday you missed a real treat. I got to talk with both Jason and Adam for a while and then everyone left to get some BBQ at Jack Stack.

Elite always has some Amazing events going on. They even help with putting together the local Kansas City Comic Con. William is a major supporter of local talent, as well. So if you get the chance, go check out the shop.

~Arie

Featured Artist: Vinny Medellin!

Get to know this talented art student from the Kansas City metro!  You're sure to see more of him in the future of animation!  

MAPA MENTORING OPPORTUNITY:

MAPA member Leah Karchin needs mentors for her interactive students in the Blue Valley School District. Take a moment to read about her program. Then, drop Leah a line to see how you can help.

Also, take a moment to check out our Facebook updates.  Big things are brewing at MAPA!