An Evening at the IIC with Lorenzo Mattotti!
Monday, May 9, 2011 – 6:30pm
Istituto Italiano di Cultura – 496 Huron St., Toronto
Free admission
www.iictoronto.esteri.it

The Istituto Italiano di Cultura is honored to host a talk by mesmerizing maestro Lorenzo Mattotti. The Italian artist will discuss his career in comics and beyond, including his latest graphic novel Stigmata, and his collaborations, from his animated terrors in the movie Fear(s) of the Dark to illustrating Lou Reed’s concept album The Raven.

Lorenzo Mattotti is a world-renowned cartoonist and multi-disciplinary artist working in painting, illustration, animation, and design. After studying architecture, he decided to devote himself to comics. His works have been published in the most important magazines and his books are translated all over the world. From “Il signor Spartaco”, “L’uomo alla finestra”, “Stigmate””Ligne fragile”, and many other works, up to “Fires” and “Murmur” published by Penguin Books in 1993, Mattotti’s work has evolved with a continuing coherence, though always within the eclectic tradition of those who have the courage to be innovative. For children he has illustrated “Pinocchio” by Collodi, “The Pavilion on the Links” by Stevenson and has published “Eugenio” that had the Grand Prix of Bratislava in 93. Mattotti has also worked in the fashion world, reinterpreting the models of the most famous fashion designers for “Vanity” magazine. He has carried out advertising campaigns and has illustrated the cover of such magazines as The New Yorker, Le Monde and Suddeutsche Zeitung. In 1995, the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome and The Frans Hals Museum in Harlem dedicated an anthology to him. He realized many important posters: Cannes 2000 – “Lire en Fête” “La Marie de Paris”. Recently he worked in the Film “Eros” of Wong Kar Way – Soderbergh et Antonioni, he creates the segments within the three episodes. In May 2011, Fantagraphics will publish Mattotti’s newest work The Raven, a collaborative effort with musician Lou Reed adapting and transforming the works of Edgar Alan Poe.

As a reminder, Lorenzo Mattotti is a featured guest of TCAF, May 7-8, 2011. For more info, check out www.torontocomics.com.

ZOO Film Screening & Discussion
With Usamaru Furuya
Monday, May 9th, 2011 @ 7:00pm
Toronto Underground Cinema, 186 Spadina
$10.
www.torontocomics.com

THE NEXT DAY
Book Launch & Exhibition
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
The National Film Board of Canada Mediatheque
150 John St. (at Richmond St. W), Toronto
Doors open at 7:00; Event starts at 7:30
Admission is FREE

This Is Not A Reading Series hosts a free intimate discussion with the entire creative team behind The Next Day, including indie-comics star John Porcellino (“Porcellino creates some of the most thoughtful, intelligent and beautiful comix in America” – TIME). The hour long discussion will be followed by a reception, and will also mark the opening of an ongoing immersive exhibition of original artwork from the graphic novella as well as animations, soundscapes, projections and more from the upcoming interactive experience at the NFB Mediatheque in Toronto through late May.

The Next Day is a groundbreaking graphic novella constructed from intimate interviews with survivors of near-fatal suicide attempts. In this poetic and profound philosophical exploration, four seemingly ordinary people each offer haunting personal insight into life, the decision to end it, and what comes after… It is produced and published by Pop Sandbox, the award-winning company behind KENK: A Graphic Portrait.

The Next Day was developed simultaneously as a separate interactive animated documentary online, in co-production with the National Film Board of Canada and in association with TVO as part of the NFB-TVO Calling Card Program.

The Next Day graphic novella will be available in Canadian bookstores and comic shops across North America in early May. It is distributed by Raincoast Books. The interactive experience will launch in late May at nfb.ca/thenextday and tvo.org/thenextday.

The entire creative team will also be guests of the Toronto Comics Art Festival May 7th and 8th, and appearing at the Drawn & Quarterly store in Montreal May 10th. Further details will be announced shortly and more information is available at thenextday.ca.

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Co-Presented by: The National Film Board, TVO, This Is Not A Reading Series, Hot Docs Documentary Festival, The Toronto Comic Arts Festival, The Canadian Mental Health Association, Raincoast Books and The Toronto Animated Image Society

NEW:ARTIST SIGNING TIMES ANNOUNCED!

12noon-3pm: Bobby Chiu, Jeff Lemire, Jim Zubkavich, Joe Ng, Kei Acedera, Ken Lashley, Marcio Takara, Michael Cho, Svetlana Chmakova

3pm-6pm: Alex Milne, Alvin Lee, Brian McLachlan, Eric Kim, Eric Vedder, Joe Ng, Julie Faulkner, Ken Lashley, Michael Cho, Ray Fawkes, Svetlana Chmakova

6pm-9pm: Agnes Garbowska, Alvin Lee, Bobby Chiu, Brian McLachlan, Chip Zdarsky/Steve Murray, Dale Keown, Eric Vedder, Francis Manapul, Jason Bradshaw, Jim Zubkavich, Julie Faulkner, Kagan McLeod, Kalman Andrasofszky, Kei Acedera, Marcus To, Ramon Perez, Stuart Immonen

9pm-12midnight: Chip Zdarsky/Steve Murray, Dale Keown, Kagan McLeod, Kalman Andrasofszky

Silent Auction Ends at 8PM

TORONTO—Toronto’s Illustration and Artistic Community comes together on April 17th in a 12 hour art-event at Revival. The unique event will raise money to aid relief efforts in Japan following the devastating recent earthquake and tsunami there. Spearheaded by a consortium of Toronto illustration studios, the Artists Help Japan: Toronto event is the local iteration of a charity movement begun by Pixar Art Director Dice Tsutsumi. The Toronto edition will feature live art shows, a silent auction, and dozens of artists and illustrators selling commissioned drawings, with all proceeds benefiting the Canadian Red Cross.

“As artists we are tremendously inspired by Japan and Japanese culture,” says Bobby Chiu, the illustrator, teacher and founder of Toronto’s Imaginism studios behind the Artists Help Japan: Toronto event. “We were all personally affected by the quake, tsunami, and resulting damage. It is important to give back for all that Japan has given us, and we can think of no better way to do so than with our art.”

Artists Help Japan: Toronto will feature more than 24 artists and illustrators from the Greater Toronto Area creating original drawings for 12 hours! This is an unprecedented opportunity for the general public to commission an original drawing from a professional artist and watch its creation in process; the artist’s fee will be donated entirely to the Canadian Red Cross.

In addition:
– Dozens more cartoonists will donate original art, books, and other rare items to be featured in a silent-auction on-site at Revival Bar.
– Live art demonstrations from Toronto Illustrators on stage, with the final pieces to be auctioned off live at the event
– $1 from the sale of every drink at Revival Bar will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross.

Admission to the ARTISTS HELP JAPAN: TORONTO event is free, and all ages are welcome. The event will run from 12 Noon to 12 Midnight.

ABOUT:
Artists Help Japan is a charity movement initiated by Dice Tsutsumi, an art director at Pixar Animation Studios, who was also behind 2008 Totoro Forest Project to help preserve Sayama Forest in Japan and Sketchtravel Project, to gather the force of communities of artists and creative minds around the world. We believe artists have special roles to contribute to the society. http://artistshelpjapan.blogspot.com/

Artists Help Japan: Toronto is spearheaded by Imaginism Studios President and illustrator Bobby Chiu, who was contacted by Dice Tsutsumi to run the Toronto event. Working with Illustrator Alvin Lee, Udon Entertainment CEO Erik Ko, writer/artist Jim Zubkavich, and Christopher Butcher of Toronto comic book store The Beguiling and the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, the team hopes to bring together Toronto’s diverse and exciting artistic community to engage the public in an unprecedented fundraising endeavour.

All proceeds from Artists Help Japan: Toronto will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross, specifically earmarked to aid in Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief. http://www.redcross.ca/

SPONSORS:
Revival Bar has been entertaining guests, visitors and fans as a premium event space since 2002. Revival has generously donated the use of their main space for the Artists Help Japan: Toronto event, and will be donating $1 from the cost of every drink to the fundraising efforts.http://www.revivalbar.com/

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– Chris @ The Beguiling

The Beguiling is proud to be teaming once again with Toronto Public Library on their KEEP TORONTO READING campaign throughout the month of April. We’ve developed 2 programs this year, one for kids and one for adults, and our friends at Anime North have also developed a neat program! It’s all happening on Saturday, April 16th at North York Central Library. Here are the details:

KTR: Graphically Speaking: Biographical and Historical Comics
North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street
Saturday, April 16, 2011, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Scott Chantler (Two Generals), Zach Worton (The Klondike) and Chip Zdarsky (The National Post) on documenting history and autobiography through graphic novels. Each creator will present from their new work, and then join The Beguiling’s Christopher Butcher in a lively discussion about history, biography, and autobiography in comics. Presented in association with The Beguiling and The Toronto Comic Arts Festival.

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KTR: Graphically Speaking for Kids
North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street
Saturday, April 16, 2011, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Make manga with the pros, Eric Kim and Tory Woollcott. This art workshop is for kids ages 9 to 12. Call 416-395-5630 to register. Space is limited. Presented with Toronto Comic Arts Festival.

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Anime North @ The Library!
North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street
Saturday, April 16, 2011, 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Anime cosplay… at the library! Hear an award-winning cosplayer give tips on how-to-do awesome makeup. Then enjoy a screening of the sci-fi romance anime Summer Wars. Come in costume and be eligible to win passes to Anime North. Presented with Anime North.

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It’s going to be a fun day at TPL…!

– Chris @ The Beguiling