A Whimventure® to THE Library
Visiting the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum on a typical Tuesday.
Sometimes you need to throw caution to the wind and just go to a library. The library in question is The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum located at THE Ohio State University in Columbus. I like to think of it as one of my “happy places.”
Currently (besides an amazing library filled with amazing books and artwork to look at) they have a regular exhibit space and two spaces for special exhibits. I was there for the special exhibits since I’ve already seen the regular stuff in the past. I heard about both of these exhibits at Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (another one of my happy places).
The Lone Crusader - Larry Ivie and Fandom in the Golden Age of Comics
I’ve realized over the years just how much I don’t know about stuff. I learned a long time ago that compared to normal people I’m a geek. Compared to comic book geeks, I’m a know nothing doofus. That saying “I know enough to be dangerous” for me it’s more like “I know enough to have normal people look at me weird.” So I read a bit and try to learn more… I even go to THE Library. Maybe the weird people I look up to will look at me normally.
Larry Ivie’s collection is amazing, the things he collected, the work he did, the people he knew… simply put- Wow. I really can’t put it all into words so pictures will have to do.
See Anyone You Know? The New Yorker Cartoons and Covers of Edward Koren
Gag cartoons are an art form. I’ve tried and sometimes wish my comic strip could just be a single panel. I think I could get the strip out more often than I currently do. Edward Koren’s exhibit is a masterclass in embracing your style and creating amazing work embracing your community.
I loved all of it, but I will say the process of making a New Yorker cover touched the teacher in me. I try to explain to kids (& most recently my niece) the importance of what engineers call iteration.
It’s what I like to think of as messing around with an idea. “Done is better than perfect.” A quote that hung in my classroom to make students understand that focusing on perfection isn’t the best use of time. Try different things and see what works. Unfortunately, kids tend to want to draw it once “perfectly” and then move on while more mature artist draw it a hundred times before settling on one concept- usually they settle because of a deadline. The exhibit showcased so many works, but one part I enjoyed were the drawings used to develop a New Yorker cover. The final cover wasn’t even on the wall. Which, to me, was genius.
One thing I see from both these exhibits is the love these guys had for the art of comics. As an old guy I wish I had actually focused more time in my youth drawing and making art. I’m trying to make up for lost time. I know (having read enough Science Fiction) that if I had spent more time drawing, or started earlier, I wouldn’t be the same lovable curmudgeon I currently am. Still, I try to look at opportunities as chances to not have regrets, probably because I do have a few tucked away somewhere around here.
The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday. If you are in the area, if you can’t tell, I highly recommend visiting.