The Official K Chronicles and (Th)ink Website

*EMAIL OF THE WEEK..
Dear Keith,

Wanted to let you know that “Killed Cartoons” merited a cover story in
this week’s
Pasadena Weekly:

http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/article.php?id=4397&IssueNum=62

Also, we’ve launched a web site for the book: www.killedcartoons.com

Would be obliged if you can mention the book on your blog.

Best–D.

(David Wallis has put together a collection of cartoons that were killed by editors for various reasons. I’ve only got one in there, but there could’ve been a lot more..-kk)

**NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO WRAP-UP
What can I say about New York that hasn’t been said already. If you haven’t been, you should go at least once.

The Studio Museum of Harlem brought me out for a panel on their current exhibition of
comix from Africa accurately entitled “Africa Comics.” The exhibit included work from Madagascar, Togo, South Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Mozambique, Nigeria, the Ivory Coast and more. My favorite pieces included Mendozza y Caramba’s “AAAAAA!”, Cisse Samba Ndar’s “Oulai: Pour que Cesse l’Excision, and the simply drawn work of Pahe.

The panel took place off site at one of Columbia’s law school auditoriums. Though sparsely attended, the audience was enthuiastic and asked some good questions. The panel wouldn’t have anything if not for the surprise appearance of one of the artists in the exhibition, Joe Dog, who just happened to be in town at the same time of the panel (New York’s kinda that way). It was funny because people were asking him questions as if he were a representive of all the artists in the exhibit, and he had to keep reiterating that he is from South Africa and that all the artists in the exhibition are so varied he couldn’t possibly answer questions for them. It’s kinda how I feel when white folks come up to me and ask “How come Black people..?”

There was also a cartoonist from Cameroon in the audience who had to flee to Paris because of some of the cartoons he had drawn!! He told of other cartoonists and journalists who had been killed for the work they had done.. Shit! And I get mad when a paper doesn’t run one cuz I put the word “poop” in it.

Anyway..this dude was really cool and was doing a residency at a place in town. I wish we coulda hooked up again to talk. Hopefully we will meet up again in June when we go out there for Mocca.

Speaking of surprise appearances: My Mom drove down from Boston and I saw Seattle cartoonist David Lasky quietly perusing the exhibit at the Studio Museum. The New York City Comic Con was going on at the time, but he said he wasn’t even there for that. He was just in town to take a little time off from Seattle. Cool!

This is an incredible exhibit worth seeing. I think it’s only up til April so git yer ass over there.

Anyhoo..Thanks to Kalia and Co. at the Studio Museum for bringing me out and putting me up in the supa-fine Sugarhill Inn at Harlem. We stayed in the Josephine Baker room and had a glorious time. The room even had a comic on the bathroom wall by Ward Sutton and a Harlem historical poster by Tony Millionaire.

Also met up with NYC cartoonists Ted Rall, Mikhaela Reid, and Masheka Wood for some top secret stuff. SHHHHHHHHhhhh…

Thanks to Jamie and Derv, and M & M for putting us up. And Oh, the food…

**MY RETURN S.F…
..was weird. I felt sad for a minute getting off the plane and seeing the Bay Area for the first time as a visitor, and then felt like a tourist as I lugged all my stuff onto the BART to take it to the Mission. I’ve known Marginal Prophets partner Jeff K. for many years..and we have slept on many floors together…but I never crashed at his place until this trip. Interesting.

But Wondercon rocked. It’s a full-blown mainstream convention worthy of your attention. It’s right at the point now where it is managable. Enjoy it while you can, cuz if it continues on its current pace, it could be unruly in a few years, kinda like a smaller San Diego.

Saw the usual culprits. Sergio Aragones, Scott Shaw!, all the Cartoon Art Museum folk (great party on Friday), Peter Conrad and a lot of Norcal NCS folk. But also saw some unexpected peeps in the house, included Tom Waits.

Yup. THE Tom Waits. Gave him a book. He asked me to sign it. And then people came to me after and said they heard Tom Waits bought a book from me. (I ain’t gonna tell that I gave it to him!! :))

On Saturday, we hit the Isotope party and it wasn’t crowded! It was mellow. It was perfect! Then we hit some bars and one of them had a Galaga game. The mix of intoxicants in my body must’ve been the perfect mix because I scored 90,000 points!! I’ve never scored more than 50,000 ever in my life. I was on fire.

Overall, it was a grand experience. I return this weekend for the annual Anarchist’s Bookfair in Golden Gate Park. It’s two days for the first time ever!!

Cheers!!

Keef