- Art by Matt Wagner; photo by Mike Russell
Okay, so the Portland Opera made a really good PR move, and we’re biting. On Monday, around 20 Portland cartoonists were invited to attend a dress rehearsal of Pagliacci/Carmina Burana, and “draw whatever inspires them about the production.” Colleen Coover, Matt Wagner, Erika Moen, Steve Lieber, Shannon Wheeler and more took up the offer—the sketches are compiled here, though they’re regrettably tiny.
The project was inspired by Mike Russell, who began drawing great little opera-based comics during last season’s bloggers’ night at the opera series. I gotta confess to having had a real problem with that particular series—no blogger is going to write a critical review of a show after free tickets and a behind-the-scenes tour, particularly not a blogger who’s an inexperienced arts writer. The ick factor is gone with this comics thing, though; sure, the opera has figured out a way to get comics people to advertise their shows for free, but there’s no pretense of criticism, and it’s really fun to see the different ways these artists chose to render the show. Mike’s is linear and quite funny; Natalie Nourigat went the diary comics route; Ron Chen just drew sketch after sketch.
Hey, other local arts orgs, are you kicking yourselves right now? You should be. This is savvy.
You totes forgot to mention our own Carolyn Main was there doing some drawing.
I shouldn’t be surprised, but the efforts to infantilize every aspect of this city continue to amaze me.
D’s super villain name: Dr. No Fun
Fun is different than childish.
Pointing out examples of Portland being a shining example of a colony of failed artists happens to be fun for me.
@D…uuuuude. Many of these people are full-time, working comics artists. “Failed” doesn’t so much apply.
@D: How is this childish?
It’s like opera for the ADHD set
Wow. What a fantastic idea, indeed. One I’d like to borrow in the very near future.
Appropo of nothing important, really (save for humbly countervailing “Sunny” D), I’m increasingly blown away by Portland comic artists. After being in comic exile for 25+ years, it’s nice to return and get reoriented to some cool-ass shit. Erika Moen’s experience very closely mirrored my first trip to the opera last year. Particulary the part about being very underdressed.
@Alison Hallett @D was talking about the folks exiled to the Portland Opera not the tune people.
@Rosy awww.
Rad. Bookmarking these artists!
IS it me or does the thumb holding that picture look like a weird big toe?
I think these artists tracking and sketching D’s life for a day would be a neat idea!
Laura Hudson has some MUCH better photos up at Comics Alliance:
http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/09/24/c…