Chicago Alternative Comics Expo Debuts in June

Chicago Alternative Comics Expo

The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) debuts on June 16 and 17, 2012, at Columbia College of Chicago's Ludington Building, 1104 S. Wabash (8th Floor), from 11am to 6pm. It is free and open to the public.

The first ever CAKE – and the first alternative comics expo in Chicago in 16 years – will bring together the comics, art and talent of nearly 200 local, national and international

exhibitors. Special guests include Jeffrey Brown, Lilli Carré, Closed Caption Comics (Baltimore), Paul Hornschemeier, Lucy Knisley, Anne Elizabeth Moore, Corinne Mucha, Anders Nilsen, Laura Park, Pizza Island (NYC), John Porcellino, Nate Powell (Indiana) and Chicago’s own comics collective, Trubble Club.

Comics, prints and artwork will be available for purchase, including debut books from independent publishers such as Koyama Press (Toronto), 2D Cloud (Minneapolis), and Domino Books (Stockholm/NYC) and cartoonists such as Mickey Zacchilli (Providence, RI) and Ted May (St. Louis, MO). Also available will be a CAKE Anthology, edited by Andy Burkholder.

In addition to the diverse list of exhibitors (available at www.cakechicago.com), CAKE presents a full slate of exciting programming:

• ClassroomJammer Kids: Teaching Comics, featuring Josh Bayer, Nicole J. Georges, Walker Mettling and Corinne Mucha, moderated by Aaron Renier;
• Crude and Rude: Comics and Vulgarity, featuring Ivan Brunetti, Lisa Hanawalt, Hellen Jo and Onsmith, moderated by Josh Reinwald and Justin Rosenberg (Sponsored by Quimby’s Bookstore);
• Jeffrey Brown Makes a Minicomic: Jeffrey Brown makes a minicomic in 1 hour!;
• Low-Brow-High-Mesh: Silkscreened Comics, featuring Sanya Glisic, Keith Herzik, Jen Tong and Tom Toye, moderated by Carrie Vinarsky;
• Free Smells: A Comics Mixtape, from Ryan Sands;
• Double Vision: Comics and Animation, with a Q&A featuring Jo Dery, Jim Trainor, Amy Lockhart and Marc Bell, presented by the Eyeworks Animation Festival (Lilli Carré and Alexander Stewart);
• Start a Micropress, featuring Sarah Becan, Austin English, Jesjit Gill, Annie Koyama, Greg Means and Caroline Paquita, moderated by Zak Sally;
• Comics In Chicago, The Past 10 Years (Sponsored by the Chicago Independent Radio Project - CHIRP), featuring Ezra Claytan Daniels, Lyra Hill, Paul Hornschemeier, Robin Hustle and Jeremy Tinder, moderated by Edie Fake;
• Just the Facts: LadyDrawers at Work, featuring Nicole Boyette, Sara Drake and MariNaomi, moderated by Anne Elizabeth Moore;
• Queer Communities, Queer Anthologies, featuring Justin Hall, Robert Kirby and Annie Murphy, moderated by Noah Berlatsky (Sponsored by Little Heart, a Comic Anthology for Marriage Equality);
• Kevin Huizenga, Anders Nilsen and John Porcellino in Conversation, moderated by Caitlin McGurk;
• Violent Line: Mark-Making and Meaning, featuring Anya Davidson, Charles Forsman, Patrick Kyle, Grant Reynolds, Conor Stetchschulte, Lale Westvind and Mickey Zacchilli, moderated by Noel Freibert
• Real Life: A Roundatable on Women and Graphic Autobiography, featuring Rina Ayuyang, Lucy Knisley, Keiler Roberts, Marian Runk, Leslie Stein, Julia Wertz
• Wacky Wall Walkers: Comics and Fine Art, featuring Paul Nudd and Karl Wirsum, moderated by Joe Tallarico (Sponsored by the Art Institute of Chicago)

Beyond expo hours, the weekend promises Chicagoans and visitors many comics-related events throughout the city:

• Anders Nilsen Exhibit Opening, Adam and Eve Sneaking Back Into the Garden to Steal More Apples, at the Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 Cottage Hill Avenue, Elmhurst, Friday, June 15, 6:30pm. Free and open to the public.
• Kevin Huizenga & Dan Zettwoch at Quimby's Bookstore, 1854 W. North Avenue, Friday, June 15, 7pm. Free and open to the public.
• Brain Trubble a performative comics reading from Chicago's Trubble Club with special guests, at the Happy Dog Gallery, 1542 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, Friday, June 15, 9pm to midnight. $5 suggested donation.
• Eat Before We Eat You, a comics art show curated by Paul Nudd and Onsmith, Exhibit Opening, Morpho Pop Up Gallery, 208 S. Wabash, Chicago, Saturday, June 16, 6-8pm. Free and open to the public.

CAKE is a weekend-long celebration of independent comics, inspired by Chicago’s rich legacy as home to many of underground and alternative comics’ most talented artists– past, present and future. Featuring comics for sale, workshops, exhibitions, panel discussions and more, CAKE is dedicated to fostering community and dialogue amongst independent artists, small presses, publishers and readers.
Though CAKE is an independent, not-for-profit, volunteer-run organization, the expo would not be possible without the help of generous donations and support from comics lovers, IndieGoGo funders, local businesses, Chicago’s independent comics, art, and music communities, Quimby’s Bookstore, Columbia College Chicago, and the Art Institute of Chicago.