August Arts Activities for Sioux Falls

Here's a few upcoming artistic happenings going on in Sioux Falls you should know about:

THIS FRIDAY (Aug. 1) the downtown galleries and businesses are open 5 to 8 for First Night events. The Artist League is having a reception at the Horse Barn Arts Center from 5 until 8. Musical guest is Rich Show from 6 to 8.

THIS SAT (Aug. 2) there are openings for an oil/acrylic painting class with Gary Hartenhoff at the Horse Barn. It's a three hour class starting at 9:00 a.m. Cost is $40.00 You'll need to bring materials. More details and to register is 977-2002.

Beginning Watercolor Classes with Marian Henjum - Eight Weeks, 2 hour sessions is $200.00 plus $95.00 supply cost. You can call 336-7629 for more details.

Highlights from Ken and Chris at Library

Wow, what a fun night! There was a nice crowd of youngsters and adults alike for Ken and Chris presenting at the Oak View Branch of the library. Laughter, drawing, and presents for all attending. A good time was had by all. (Well, for all except for an unfortunate cartoon rat ....) (Not to worry, a rat/mouse ambulance soon was drawn ....)

Cartooning with Ken and Chris - Mark Calendars!

Ken and Chris will be presenting a cartoon demonstration the Oak View Library for teens on June 23rd at 6:30. It should be a fun night!

On side note, it's one of the NICEST libraries in the city with a nod to Prairie Style design.

Spotlight on Local Art Students

Just a neat video on before and after work in their drawing class. Their art teacher is mightily proud of them. One thing about cartooning is just to keep drawing and drawing and drawing!

OT: My Cartooning Hand ...

... shook hands with possibly the future President of the United States. It happened in my old hometown in front of the World's Only Corn Palace.

Meanwhile, in Sioux Falls, Scott was hobnobbing with Chelsea:

WHS ComicCon - Jan. 29th

Here's the agenda:



3:30 Princess Monoke in WHS Little Theater



5:30 eat pizza in library. $2.00 2 pieces pizza and pop ** last year when we attended to see Scott McCloud, we found that pizza was preordered by numbers ahead of time, so I'd skip that part if you aren't a WHS-er. My advice is go out to eat and get there early for the 7:00 presentation.



6:15 comic book share and display



7:00 Presentation about creating manga by Svetlana Chmakova -- author of Drmacon, a 3 volume manga series. Svetlana is one of a few successful manga-kas. Vol 1 received a MangaCast Yomi award for Best Global Manga of 2006 and was named as one of Best Comics of 2005 by Publishers Weekly. She isn't even 30 yet.

Be Visible Exhibit

Jan. 15th - Feb. 15th
Graphic Design Exhibition
EideDalrymple Gallerty at Augie
Regional professional and student graphic designers presenting their work.

Worth going in and checking out!

Bat Friday

I loved Batman and lived for the episodes as a kid. Had the theme song on 45, my little brother and I had the official Batman logo t-shirts and Mom would safety pin dishtowels on and we'd have capes. We'd turn on the record player and leap off our couch and be instant superheros.

So, since it's weekend Mode, here's a YouTube video music parody by a South Dakotan. (Wally Wingert) This song is revised from '88/'89.

Whovian Observer - John's Site

A site you should check out - our John's Whovian Observer. Nice cartooning and I had actually bookmarked it before realizing he was a Sioux Falls cartoonist!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sincere well wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving. I'm sure thankful for our community of cartoonists in the region!

Believe -- OT, but neat story

Not a cartooning subject, but it was a Sioux Falls/SD happening!

Elton John, last night in Sioux Falls, seemed downright impressed and astonished that he was able to meet Sen. George McGovern. He dedicated this song to him.


This was certainly right up there as one of the best concerts I've gone to. He started at 8:00 p.m. and went non-stop -- all Elton, no costume changes, etc. until 10:40. Elton was simply outstanding. He seemed personable, making connections to the audience, at his call back signing several autographs -- much like Willie Nelson did at the Washington Pavilion -- except then Elton came back to treat us to two more songs. Willie went back to his bus! ;-)

I'd sure like to know more about EJ's dog, Arthur, which is I guess from SD! He said he carries a little piece from SD everywhere he goes. :-)

Tim Benson -- Local Cartoonist of the Week

From our cartoonist bio sheet from the Cartoonist Day exhibit:

"I became a fan of cartoons because of the Munsters; and the Batman TV series in the 1960's. My favorite cartoons on TV were "Johnny Quest" and "Fat Albert." My cartoons have been published in newspapers since 1979, when I was sports editor and cartoonist for hte "Hawk Tawk", the student newspaper of Bozemanm MT. Senior High School. While attending college, my cartoons were published by the Black Hills State College "Today", the University of Montana "Kaimin" and the Montana State University "Exponent" from 1980 to 1985. I drew a cartoon strip called "The Kid" that was published by the Exponent in 1984 and 1985. I earned a B.A. in Fne Arts from MSU in 1985.

>

**To listen to some of Tim's favorite music, click here to hear Tim's Blend Playlist, or find his playlist on the right column! **

Scott Ehrisman Spotlight - Part 3

What medium do you most enjoy working with or prefer to work in?
Cartooning: Computer drawn
ART: Mixed media and digital photography

Who would be your main influences in your work? Who do you most admire?
Ed 'Big Daddy' Roth - because of his counter culture stance on art. And Andy
Warhol for turning graphic design into art.

What is your dream career?
Full-time artist

Do you have any favorite internet links that you'd like to direct us to?

http://www.edroth.com/
http://www.juxtapoz.com/
http://www.shag.com/

Sioux Falls Cartoonist Conspiracy Meeting

June 28th
Skelly's Pub
6 to 8/9ish

Scott Ehrisman Spotlight - Part 2

** As you continue to read about our featured artist, Scott, don't forget to click here to listen to >Scott's blend of fine music for your blog reading experience. **

In some ways, Scott's artwork resembles the "Funk Art" created by artists in San Francisco during the late 1960s and early 1970s. That superficial resemblance is not a matter of direct influence, but rather is due to Ehrisman and the artists of that era having similar sources of inspiration -- like that of underground comics, performance art, highly commercialized culture surrounding popular music, and a Dada-inspired appreciation for nonsense that informs both the Pop Art movement and much of contemporary art.

Ehrisman's education background:

Associate Degree of Applied Science
Graphic Design and Print Production
Southeast Tech, Sioux Falls

Disciplines:
Mixed Media Painting, Sculpture, and Collage
Digital Photography (contemporary and abstract)
Graphic Design
Computer Illustration
Political Cartoons
Writing

Cartoonist Bio -- Scott L. Ehrisman -- Part 1

During the last several years, Scott Ehrisman has developed into one of the most high-profile artists currently working in the Sioux Falls area. He is an acknowledged leader amoung the more cutting-edge artists within the local art and popular culture.

Ehrisman approaches his art from a professional background working in the field of commercial art and graphic design. His artwork reflects a sharply satirical sense of humor and a keenly insightful appreciation for contemporary popular culture.

**To listen to some of Scott's favorite music, click here to hear Scott's Blend Playlist, or find his playlist on the right column! **