Hanging Party!

MetroMix Plug

KARE11 launched a new website today called metromix. Keep checking the site, because within a week you may find a video chock full of your favorite Conspirators talking about life & comics.


Why is the woman in the photo so happy? Could it be that she and her gentleman friend just read "Understanding Toilets" by Danno Klonowski?

That's my guess. Swing by the "Potty Humor" section of Lutefisk Sushi to read it for yourself!

Sushi Goes A-List

Thanks, City Pages!

http://calendar.citypages.com/location/79427/

Lutefisk Sushi Volume C

Daily from Thu., May 1 until Sat., May 31
Galleries
Altered Esthetics


Will Lutefisk Sushi ever reach Volume Z? It's possible but hard to imagine, considering each box set is a massive collection of original comic art and mini-comics. Volume C will feature work by around 50 artists including Kevin Cannon, who will also be premiering a special limited edition of his graphic novel Far Arden at the reception at Altered Esthetics. Part book launch, part art show, other aspects of the gallery event include "The Potty Humor Exhibit," which will feature crude and dirty-humored artwork in, of course, the bathroom, and a hand-crank zoetrope constructed by Sushi contributor Ken Avidor. The opening reception, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, May 2, will also serve as a fundraiser for Altered Esthetics, with a silent auction, first edition prints by Adam Turman, live music, and the unveiling of an art vending machine, which we'll take over a pop machine any day.— Jessica Armbruster

MicroCon 2008: A Transformerative Experience!

Just wrapped up another successful MicroCon, MNCBA's yearly spring show. Although it didn't feel much like spring inside or out, everyone seemed in higher spirits than normal.

While Zander and I spent most of the show selling books and promoting Lutefisk Sushi, I took some time out to battle, defeat, and ultimately befriend a Decepticon. Unlike most of the phonies who come dressed up in costumes, this was the real Soundwave:

Speaking of Sushi, Ryan Dow made this awesome iron-on Sushi shirt. He bought the orange shirt and the iron-on kit at Target.

Speaking of DIY clothing, Matthew Kriske showed up in shoes that he had painted himself. He's got a "name who's on my shoes" contest going on at his blog. Contest or not, we're just glad Kriske's finally wearing shoes.

Speaking of Kriske, you can see his hilarious mustache story in the newly released "Muscles and Fights: Volume III." Bud Burgy and Amado Rodriguez printed up 10 copies through Lulu and will hopefully print up many more! I overheard some talk of Diamond's Coffee Shoppe hosting a M&F art show during Art-a-Whirl ... but you'll have to check the M&F website for more info. From L to R, Zander Cannon, Dank! (aka Danno), and Bud Burgy:

Bob Lipski (Uptown Girl), and Dan Olson (Super Fantastica Comix):

Steven Stwalley setting up for the show. He spent half the show behind his booth and the other half rooting through bins and scoring cool old comics.

Curtis Square-Briggs with his own score, the best comic book cover ever made:

Finally, Kriske shows some gorgeous Sam Hiti sketches. Interested in learning comics from a master? Hiti will be teaching a comics course at MN Books Arts starting May 7. Not sure if there are spots left, but you can check out details here.

Daily Crosshatch Interview (part 1)

Sarah Morean came by the Attic last month and we chatted about comics & stuff. You can read part one here.

Thanks, Sarah!

Big Time Attic: The Comic by Guest Artist David Steinlicht

Thanks, David!

If you'd like to submit a BTA comic, read more here.

Lutefisk Sushi C Website Updated

One week to go until the big gallery opening.

Check out the updated website and pass the URL along to your friends!




www.cartoonistconspiracy.com/sushi

MicroCon This Sunday

I heard it's supposed to be rainy and crappy all weekend. Bad for yachting, great for con-ing! Stop by the Minnesota Fairgrounds on Sunday to satiate all of your comics needs. Zander and I will be there (sans jumpsuits) hawking our wares.

MICROCON COMIC BOOK CONVENTION
Sunday, April 27, 2008
10am - 4pm

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Minnesota State Fairgrounds - Progress Center
1621 Randall Ave, St. Paul, MN 55108

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Parking: free
Admission: $7

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Guest List
More info

I'll give a free mini-comic to the first person who can explain the cryptic meaning of the different font sizes and colors on the Guest List. I used to think that "bold" meant you're more famous than other people, but then why are Terry Beatty and Gordon Purcell (among others) in the non-bold bracket? And why am I green this year?

Danno Does Far Arden

The book hasn't been optioned, but already there's a movie poster! Thanks to Dank! aka Danno for this amazing 11x17" poster of Far Arden.

Click on image for larger version!

Fan Club: Avatar: The Last Airbender

A while back Kevin and I were asked to do some samples to audition to draw the Avatar: the Last Airbender comic stories for Nickelodeon Magazine. We weren't enough on model, but I thought the drawings came out pretty well. Enjoy!










Needless to say, these characters are copyright Nickelodeon.

Sushi C Box Printing

The highlight of each Lutefisk Sushi show is the silk-screened box that eventually gets stuffed with 50 locally produced mini-comics. This box is limited to 150 copies and will be unveiled at the Sushi gallery show on May 2nd.

Tonight Shad Petosky (of Puny Entertainment fame) and Zander and I pulled the two color prints. Well, Shad did all the pulling ... and all the prep work ... and most of the clean-up... Anyway, here's how it all went down:

First I gave the artwork to Shad as two black images, one for the blue ink layer and one for the salmon ink.

Shad printed out the art, covered the paper with oil to make it translucent, and placed the art on the screen. (The screen had been coated with light-sensitive emulsion. Here's the art for the salmon ink layer on the exposure table:


The screen is exposed, the emulsion is washed out, and we're left with a surface that is solid except for where the ink will pass through. This process is repeated on a second screen for the second color.


I mixed up two big batches of blue and salmon ink while Shad bolted the first screen to the printing table hinges. Here I'm putting the box (in its raw, unfolded form), beneath the screen, lining it up to the registration marks:


After the box is lined up correctly Shad pulls the screen down and forcefully uses a squeegee to pull ink over the live art area. He then lifts the screen up, Zander pulls the printed box out, and I put a fresh box in. Zander makes sure everything's working like clockwork:


Here's the first color -- the bottom layer of ink -- drying in the Mega Rack:


After two hundred boxes are pulled, we take a two hour break and do the whole process over again with the second color:


The creative energy in that studio make some men go mad with power...


... and others mad with hubris:


Thanks to Curtis for helping with photography!

Make Your Own Lutefisk Sushi T-Shirts!

UPDATE: Linked images (below) are fixed!


Show your Sushi pride and mad DIY skillz! Make a Lutefisk Sushi Volume C t-shirt with a design below.

MATERIALS

• ink-jet printer
  
• scissors
  
• iron (NO steam)
  
• flat ironing surface (like a drafting table)
  
• t-shirt (washed & ironed)
  
• t-shirt transfer paper (buy at Target)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Purchase t-shirt transfer paper. CAUTION: There are two kinds of paper: one for light fabric shirts and one for dark fabric shirts.
   
2. Follow the instructions that come with your paper. CAUTION: This is important, as the light and dark paper have very different instructions.
   
3. Wear it to Altered Esthetics for the May 2nd opening!

IMAGES
[Click on the images below to view full-size. Then right-click to download. Jpegs are 200 dpi.]

Version 1, 6 inches wide:

Version 1, 3 inches wide:

Version 2, 6 inches wide:

Version 2, 3 inches wide:

I Wish Someone Would Invent: The Coffee Roomba

Have an IWSWI idea? Send a description and drawing to info [at] bigtimeattic.com, and include "IWSWI" in the subject line.

The Coffee Roomba

Reader David Bernardy from Chapel Hill writes:

I like coffee in bed a lot, but not as much as my wife.
The PROBLEM--whose gonna get out of bed to get it.
I think you know the answer to this. Why would I want to invent such a thing if I had a coffee-bearing spouse?
So, the INVENTION, which would allow us both to be happily bedded and caffeinated, goes like this.
Combine the moving-about qualities of a Roomba, with the Timed-Ahead qualiteis of your average automated coffee pot. At a preset time, it could roll into your room, announce itself in a whistle or two, and then shoosh out a couple lattes, or green tea, if that's your preference, or even cocoa. I can imagine add-ons/upgrades that would allow for a bagel toaster and a cream-cheese drawer, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
COULD THEY DO IT?
Hell, yes. They already have stuff like this: lil' droid butlers that scurry around with cocktail trays on their heads. All I want is one to come to my bed, in the morning, with the hot beverage of my choice, and sing sweet-morning lullabyes to me. Is that too much to ask?

Thanks, David!

First Burger Time* Dies ... Now This!

Do you ever have one of those days where you glance out your window and think you see your local eatery being hauled away on a truck? Well today it actually happened! Not ten minutes ago I was walking past the Big Time Attic headquarters window and saw this:



It's like ... it's like someone decided to haul the moon away. That garish Burger King sign has been a mainstay in the BTA landscape. It's part of our identity. Since moving in two years ago we could always count on a new Burger King slogan to give us a chuckle.

As sad as it sounds, BTA staffers past and present have memories in that fast food joint. A few years ago we produced a game for Cartoon Network and Burger King as part of their "Fosters" campaign. And you bet everyone in BTA rushed across the street to buy a kids meal when the Fosters toys were released.

And oh, the whoppers...

But as sad as it all is, THIS makes up for it:


* Burger Time is the fun-filled arcade game that we have in the office. It got us through some long winter days until finally breaking down forever. Is there some kind of burger-themed curse going on?

Save the Date: Sgier Show at SooVAC 5/9

Conspirator Mike Sgier has been hard at work at MCAD getting his MFA. Celebrate with him at SooVAC on May 9, 2008. Here are the details:


The Minneapolis College of Art and Design MFA Thesis Exhibition 2008

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Mike Sgier
The Ballad of Toby & Sara

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April 23-May 11, 2008

Soo Visual Arts Center
2640 Lyndale Ave S, Mpls (612) 871-2263
Open Wednesday through Saturday or by appointment
Gellery hours at www.soovac.org

Reception: May 9, 2008: 6-9 p.m.
Ride the reception shuttle/ MCAD > Soap Factory > SooVAC
Departing MCAD every 45 minutes; first bus at 6 p.m., final bus at 9 p.m.

Far Arden Reviewed by ComicsReporter.com

Everything I know about the comics industry comes from my imagination and Tom Spurgeon's ComicsReporter.com. So I was thrilled to see my little pet project reviewed today. Thanks, Tom!

More on the printing of the book is here.

You can read all 350 pages online for free here.

Sushi Artist Potluck on Saturday at AE

Attention All Sushi Artists:

Don't miss the potluck at Altered Esthetics this Saturday, April 12, from 1-3pm.

If you have artwork to drop off, this is your last chance! If you just want to hang out and see the gallery space, come on by!

Because it's a potluck, please bring some food. Steve wrote up a handy food matrix so we don't all end up bring chips:

If your last name starts with a A-F please bring salads, fruits or veggies.
If your last name starts with G-L, and isn't J, please bring on the casseroles, crockpots, crackpots or other entrées. Vegetarian or vegan if you are a K or an L.
J is for jello.
If your last name starts with M, something spicy please. With zing!
If your last name starts with N-R, dessert please. I did not just make this the dessert group because Rita is in it, either. OK, maybe I did. What are you gonna do about it? Vegetarian or vegan if you are a P, Q, or R.
Boy we have a lot of S. S's, better bring something healthy. Do I smell appetizers? In honor of the late Chuck Heston, make them veggie or vegan if you like Planet of the Apes better than Soylent Green.
If your last name starts with T-V, please bring beer or other beverages. Or condiments, since most of those are drinkable too.
If your last name starts with W-Y, cups, utensils, plates, napkins, paper swimsuits.
If your last name starts with Z please bring lutefisk sushi and antacids

See you there!

Doc Pop Delivers Far Arden Cameo

San Francisco conspirator Doc Pop has a great stop-motion experimental film on his flickr site ... and ol' Far Arden is in there. Check it out:



Also, Doc's blog turned me onto a ridiculously addictive blog, photoshopdisasters.com. Half of me says "I'm horrified" and the other half says "Yeah, YOU try doing some of this stuff on deadline!"

Big Time Attic: The Comic by guest artist Danno

Thanks, Danno!

If you'd like to submit a BTA comic, read more here.


CONTINUE READING

Attic Watching T-Pain Watching PUNY

This is famed rapper T-Pain watching himself in the hilarious short film "Akon Calls T-Pain" that was animated by our sister company PUNY Entertainment.

I watched this video in the PUNY studio a few nights ago and cracked up during the whole thing even though I had never heard of Akon or T-Pain before. Yeah, I'm more of a Vic Chesnutt guy these days. Anyway, here's the short. Crank up your speakers:

Two Great Shows Tonight: Altered Esthetics & MCAD

First, Altered Esthetics is having an opening for MPLS/STPL. It's a battle royale of sorts, where Minneapolis artists display art in St. Paul (at The Black Dog) and St. Paul artists display art in Minneapolis (at Altered Esthetics).

At the opening tonight you'll see the "MPLS vs. STPL" jam comic that the Cartoonist Conspiracy created a few months ago.

Here's the skinny:

Opening Reception Friday April 4, 7pm-10pm
The opening reception will be in Minneapolis at Altered Esthetics,
featuring the artwork about Saint Paul:
Altered Esthetics
1224 Quincy Street NE
Minneapolis MN 55413
612.378.8888

Get more details at www.AlteredEsthetics.org

Also, MCAD is having a cartoon art show and lecture called "Off-Kilter Comics." It features the art of Zak Sally, Lilli Carre, John Hankiewicz, Dan Zettwoch, and Ivan Brunetti. Four of them, including Sally, are giving a gallery talk at 6pm.

Here's the skinny:

Off-Kilter Comics
When: April 4-20, 2008
Where: MCAD Gallery: Main Gallery
Artists' Gallery Talk: Friday, April 4, 6 p.m.
Reception: Friday, April 4, 6:30-8 p.m.

Get more details at www.MCAD.edu

See you there(s)!

Tim Sievert is the Man-o-the-Hour at The Daily Crosshatch

Stop what you're doing and READ Sarah Morean's interview with Tim Sievert, who's celebrating the release of his Top Shelf book, That Salty Air.

And pour yourself a tall cup of Dr. Pepper, because it's a good, long interview.