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Take a Journey with Dylan Horrocks
Posted: Tuesday, July 14, 2009
By: Darren Schroeder
Followers of the comic creator Dylan Horrocks can enjoy some new work of his care of a city council project from down in the South Pacific which looks at New Zealand's first eco city.
The comic was created by Dylan for the council. This brief history of Waitakere looks at how the eco city came into being and the relationship between the land, sea, indigenous wildlife and people.
It explores important links with the first people who arrived and lived off the land (Te Kawerau a Maki and Ngati Whatua), through its first European settlers creating local industries such as vineyards, orchards, timber yards and potteries, and then to more recent residents who have included artists, poets, and other free-thinking individualists.
I spent much of my childhood in Waitakere comments Dylan on his website, and have been impressed by its evolution into a genuinely environmentally-concerned eco city. It's a damn shame that the government seems hell-bent on making Waitakere disappear into its planned 'super city' - and I can only hope all the hard work on eco-friendly development doesn't disappear along with the city's name and identity.
PDF's available from Waitakere City Council website. Dylan warns that the large file has the pages in print order, while the three smaller files are in more screen friendly reading order.
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The Reality of being a Comic Creator....
Posted: Monday, March 30, 2009
By: Darren Schroeder
Australian animators David Blumenstein and Ben Hutchings
made this spot for a local Melbourne comic event called Comic Book
Funny.
If you live in Melbourne, Australia and you like funny comic books, consider showing up to COMIC BOOK FUNNY, a series of sessions celebrating Australia's independent comics makers. It's on every Saturday during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival; 5pm, Bella Union bar at Trades Hall (corner Lygon and Victoria St, Carlton).
Week one (Sat April 4): a genteel exhibition launch and informal comics salon, directed by Mme Josephine Waite. All welcome. Plus, live drawing of hot male cartoonists for a calendar they're launching in week four.
Week two (Sat April 11): a very special Intimate Conversation between the legendary small press creator Gerard Ashworth and local comics broadcaster John Retallick (http://thecomicspot.blogspot.com/).
Week three (Sat April 18): Pat Grant (http://www.patgrantart.com/) and Brisbane's Patrick Alexander (http://www.chickennation.com/) discuss the merits of dirty comics with host David Blumenstein.
Week four (Sat April 25): Bernard Caleo launches THE SEXY MEN OF AUSTRALIAN COMICS 2009-2010 FINANCIAL YEAR CALENDAR, featuring twelve hot male Australian comic artists as drawn by female Australian comic artists.
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Help Out Planet Karen
Posted: Wednesday, February 18, 2009
By: Darren Schroeder
As reported at Journalista and Girlwonder.org, Karen Ellis, creator of diary comic Planet Karen, lost her apartment in a fire on Sunday 15th January.
The apartment above her own caught fire on Sunday night, and while firefighters fought the blaze for three hours, tragically, the occupant was killed. Karen is physically fine, but most of her possessions, including books, clothes and drawing supplies, are ruined beyond repair. The apartment itself has suffered so much structural damage that she's also been made effectively homeless. (See this comic for an account in her own words.)
Check out Karen's comics on the fire and aftermath: planetkaren.girl-wonder.org
The call is out for contribution to her Paypal account to help out. Just head to http://planetkaren.girl-wonder.org and hit the "Donation" button in the right-hand column. Every donation, whatever its size, really counts!
Girl-Wonder.org is also planning a fundraising auction on Karen's behalf. If you have items you think you'd like to donate, they ask that you contact Karen Healey at karen.healey@girl-wonder.org for details.
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