Sheldon 'Comic Art' exhibit to focus on relationship between comic, high art

Released on 01/16/2007, at 2:00 AM
Office of University Communications
University of Nebraska–Lincoln

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007, through Apr. 29, 2007

WHERE: Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, 12th and R Streets

Lincoln, Neb., January 16th, 2007 —
A color JPEG image of a work from
A color JPEG image of a work from "Comic Art" - "Krazy Kat" by George Herriman, 1941, watercolor and ink on board.

Drawn from the permanent collection and loans from collectors, "Comic Art," a new exhibition at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, plots the relationship between comic and high art.

Chris Ware, one of the leading comic artists in the United States today, has written an essay for the gallery guide to the exhibition. In it, he shares his views on the place that comic art occupies in American culture and in the high art world today.

The exhibition, on view from Feb. 6 through April 29, will include works from Enrique Chagoya, Jon E. Gierlich and S. Clay Wilson, Howard Finster, Red Grooms, Philip Guston, George Herriman, Roger Shimomura, Saul Steinberg, Art Spiegelman and Walt Kelly, among many others.

Coinciding with this show at the Sheldon will be the "Chris Ware" exhibition, which will include drawings and other materials related to his upcoming graphic novel based in Omaha. It opens Feb. 16 and continues through April 29. Both exhibitions have received generous support from the Duncan Family Trust, Runza Restaurants and West Gate Bank.

Public events and programs related to the "Comic Art" exhibition are:

* Artist conversation, 5-7 p.m., Feb. 16. Sheldon curator Daniel Siedell and artist Chris Ware discuss comic art and both exhibitions in Sheldon's Ethel S. Abbott Auditorium. A reception will follow their dialogue.

* "Comic Art" panel, 5-7 p.m., Feb. 20. Moderated by Patrick Jones, a UNL history professor, a panel including Richard Graham, UNL librarian, Timothy Schaffert, an Omaha author, and Siedell will discuss the significance of comics. This event is sponsored by the Nebraska Humanities Council.

* Second Sunday gallery walk, 2 p.m., March 11. Comic artists Paul Fell and Bob Hall discuss "Comic Art."

* Comic art workshops for sixth graders, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., March 10 and 24. The workshops, which have a cost of $20 per student, are available to the first 50 students with paid registrations. For more information, call 472-1170. The workshops are generously sponsored by Security Federal.

With the exception of the workshops, all events are free to the public, as is admission to the exhibitions.

The Philip Johnson-designed Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery houses a permanent collection of more than 12,000 objects focusing on American art. The museum, 12th and R streets on the UNL campus, is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. For information or to arrange a tour, call (402) 472-2461. Additional information is available on the Sheldon Web site, www.sheldon.unl.edu.

CONTACT: Tom White, Public Relations Manager, Sheldon Art Gallery, (402) 472-1197