Long Beach Comic Con 9.18 -- PICS ADDED 9/27

Here are a few photos from the Exhibitor Hall at Long Beach Comic Con 2018.

Props to these exhibitors below for engaging attendees and bringing them to their table with an invitation to make a chess move! Read more about "Coronary" by comics writer Ryan Burke here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1455587713/coronary-episodes-1-3
Also on Instagram at @ryanburkewriter

Artists Alley

Artists reported good sales and foot traffic at this con.

Later in my time at the con, I snapped this glimpse of indie author-publisher Russell Nohelty (in green shirt with eyes) at his busy table.
His most recent Kickstarter --  is for an anthology "Cthulhu is Hard to Spell" -- is nearing 1,000 pledges as of 9.27.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/russellnohelty/cthulhu-is-hard-to-spell-a-comic-anthology-about-l

Early in the day, I visited with artist Jeff Victor  who had prints from his recent book "Pop Culture Evolutions" -- successfully funded via his Kickstarter campaign.
 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1766980455/the-ultimate-pop-culture-evolution

Another early day stop: Indie artist Susan Lee's table. She featured her original water colors as well as prints. http://www.lifeonitsside.com/
Susan is also the creator of the popular "Women from the Dark Side" panel at this and other conventions. http://www.lifeonitsside.com/women-on-the-dark-side
https://www.bleedingcool.com/2018/07/07/women-comics-panels-san-diego-comic-con/

Only a few photos for this post, as I only had time for  had a quick walk around at this con. And wouldn't it figure --- with a time crunch I ended up with a take-away tip from this con: Always have a back-up plan for meeting up with your ride!

Cell reception inside the hall was spotty at best, and when I was supposed to connect with Stuart via text, suddenly neither one of us could get reception. Without a back-up plan, I was reduced to wandering around looking for him. Trust me, the exhibit hall is a reasonable size, but it feels huge when you are looking for someone you can't find. From now on, I'll always have a back-up plan to meet at a designated spot in case of high tech communication failure. 

Disneyland collection FREE exhibition prior to auction - UPDATE 8.28.18

UPDATE 8.19.18
Links with articles from
New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/18/style/disney-auction.html
Los Angeles Times:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-ca-cm-disney-auction-20180816-story.html

Playlist of Gallery produced videos on You Tube
These are the same videos on display throughout the exhibit
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj3ji6Pm6bIKwa8_8JyasCCsMl7ckzCI9

Wait times of over 90 mins reported by those who tried to see the exhibition 8.18. Go on a weekday if you can. Be prepared with your own shade if you can't.

VLOG tour of the exhibit (posted on You Tube by ResortTV1)

UPDATE 8.28.18 -- REALIZED PRICES!!!

PDF with realized prices list from Van Eaton Gallery website:
https://vegalleries.com/sites/default/files/art/product_images/auctions/2018.08Kraft/2018.08_ThatsFromDisneyland_PricesRealized.pdf

Links for articles with realized prices/sales highlights:
https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/thats-from-disneyland-auction-brings-in-big-bucks

https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/destinations/california/2018/08/27/disneyland-auction-results/1076252002/

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-auction-disneyland/dumbo-flies-off-for-483000-in-8-3-million-disneyland-auction-idUSKCN1LC1Y4

Video link of auction live stream via this Van Eaton Gallery website page:
https://vegalleries.com/thatsfromdisneyland

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Longtime Disneyland collector Richard Kraft is sharing his treasures with the public, prior to an auction of all the items at the end of this month. The exhibit is called "That's From Disneyland" and is presented by Van Eaton Galleries.

Richard Kraft photo below by John McCoy/ Los Angeles Daily News.

The exhibit is FREE. Open Weds - Sun from noon - 8PM.

See it while you can! The items will be auctioned August 25th and 26th.

This article from the Los Angeles Daily News shares some background on Kraft, his collection, and a slide show of 20 photos from the exhibit.
https://www.dailynews.com/2018/08/01/disneyland-in-sherman-oaks-a-valley-man-brings-his-massive-pop-up-gallery-to-town/

That’s From Disneyland

• What: Free pop-up exhibit of one of the world’s largest private Disneyland memorabilia collections
• When: Noon-8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, Aug. 1-26
• Where: The former Sports Authority store at 13730 Riverside Drive, Sherman Oaks.
• Information: https://www.thatsfromdisneyland.com/

Here are some photos from the link (pictures by John McCoy)

Exterior of the building where the exhibit is held

Some vehicles from Tomorrowland...

Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, article from August '18 Vanity Fair

August 2018 issue of Vanity Fair shares a detailed article by Paul Goldberger, "George Lucas Strikes Back: Inside the Fight to Build the Lucas Museum."

Artist rendering of the proposed museum (image via MAD architects)

Here's a link for the article: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/07/george-lucas-museum-los-angeles

The article link includes a slide show of 20 works from the Lucas collection.

Works in the slide show include Norman Rockwell's "Saying Grace"... which was reported by CNN to have sold at auction in 2013 for a record $43 million dollars. https://www.cnn.com/2013/12/04/us/rockwell-saying-grace-auction/index.html

Also Wyeth's The Storybook:

http://bkrulikfineart.com/portfolio-items/newell-convers-wyeth-the-storybook-1921/

And the Leyendecker "Republicans vs Democrats"

Lucas is pictured below in the Skywalker Ranch library, with his wife Mellody Hobson. Photo by Stefan Ruiz.

Translated vs. original European comics -- Comment re SDCC

UPDATE 7.31.18

Yes, Stuart Ng Books exhibited at San Diego Comic Con 2018. However, I did not attend the con this year. You can find SDCC posts here on the blog for previous years.
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Ever wondered about those English translations of European comics... and the difference between the English versions and the originals???

In sample photo below... European original is on the left, English translation on the right.

Text below is from 7.2.18 post on Stuart Ng Books Facebook page:

"French comics are traditionally published in hardcover, in one of two sizes; the smaller format is 8.75 x 11.75 inches, the larger format is 9.5 x 12.75 inches. The smaller format is used for children’s comics and many of the older series (Asterix, Lucky Luke). The larger format is used for most new series (Blacksad, Sky Doll, Yaxin).
When the books are picked up by British or American publishers, they are usually reduced in size and in paperback.
If you ever wonder why French comics usually have four tiers of panels compared to the American standard of 3 tiers, it’s because the French artists expect their pages to be reproduced around 12-12.5 inches tall whereas American artists expect their pages to be reduced to fit a 10 inch tall comic.
So if you are a fan of the art and you want to be able to see all the detail and draftsmanship your favorite French artist puts into his comic, you may want to buy the French edition—the format he or she was designing for—whether you can read it or not.
Right now we are having a sale on over 200 imported French comics (Bande Dessinee). Reduced to $10 or less, this is a good time to explore the best comics France has to offer."
https://stuartngbooks.com/sale-books/bande-dessinee.html

Geppi Collection of Comics and Graphic Arts donated to Library of Congress

The Library of Congress announced the addition of a multi-million dollar donation ... the collection of Stephen A. Geppi, owner and CEO of Diamond Comic Distributors. (photo of Geppi below by Shawn Miller)

This collection is described here from the Library of Congress press release.

...more than 3,000 items from his phenomenal and vast personal collection of comic books and popular art, including the original storyboards that document the creation of Mickey Mouse.  This multimillion-dollar gift includes comic books, original art, photos, posters, newspapers, buttons, pins, badges and related materials, and select items will be on display beginning this summer. 

The Stephen A. Geppi Collection of Comics and Graphic Arts has been on public display in Baltimore, Maryland, for the past decade and is a remarkable and comprehensive assemblage of popular art.  It includes a wide range of rare comics and represents the best of the Golden (1938-1956), Silver (1956-1970) and Bronze (1970-1985) ages of comic books. The mint-condition collection is also noted for its racially and socially diverse content as well as the distinctive creative styles of each era. 

The collection also includes motion picture posters and objects showcasing how music, comic book characters, cultural icons and politicians were popularized in the consumer marketplace.  Among these are Beatles memorabilia, a collection of flicker rings popularizing comic book characters and political figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Richard Outcault’s The Yellow Kid printing blocks and the No. 2 Brownie camera model F from Eastman Kodak Company.

One signature item in the collection represents the birth of one of animation’s most iconic characters. Six rare storyboards detail the story layout and action for Walt Disney’s 1928 animated film, “Plane Crazy.”  It was the first Mickey Mouse cartoon produced, but the third to be released, after sound was added, in 1929. “Steamboat Willie” was the first Mickey Mouse cartoon to be theatrically released, on Nov. 18, 1928, which marks its 90th anniversary this year.

Read the full press release here:
https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-18-072/?loclr=fbloc

The collection had previously been on display in Baltimore for 12 years as the Steve Geppi Entertainment Museum:

https://www.bleedingcool.com/2018/05/30/steve-geppi-entertainment-museum-closes-library-of-congress/

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bs-fe-geppis-20180529-story.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2018/05/30/library-of-congress-acquires-its-largest-donation-of-comic-books-ever/?utm_term=.4942829b8025

Disney animation artifacts get the Getty conservation treatment

Enjoy this video peek into the Disney archives ... and see another example of art and science intersecting in the effort to conserve animation cels...

Obama portraits

When they were unveiled back in February... these artworks sparked controversy and inspired dialogue. Since then, they have brought record crowds to the National Portrait Gallery.

https://hyperallergic.com/435235/obama-portraits-bring-record-traffic-national-portrait-gallery/

Portrait titled "Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama" by Amy Sherald

Portrait titled "Barack Obama" by Kehinde Wiley

Read more about the portraits here:

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-appearances/the-shifting-perspective-in-kehinde-wileys-portrait-of-barack-obama?mbid=social_facebook

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-appearances/the-mystery-of-amy-sheralds-portrait-of-michelle-obama

https://mymodernmet.com/obama-official-portraits/