Media Release

For immediate release
March 15, 2006

Walter Phillips Gallery draws visitors into the eccentric heart of Canadian comic book culture

Comic Craze
May 4 to September 3
Opening reception: Saturday, May 20, 2 p.m.
Walter Phillips Gallery, The Banff Centre
Information: 403.762.6281

This summer, the Walter Phillips Gallery immerses visitors in the world of Canadian comics, graphic novels, ‘zines, and mini-comics with its summer exhibition Comic Craze. The show will investigate the uniquely Canadian qualities that our artists bring to this medium ― in particular the intimate, eccentric, superhero-free universes they create.

The books, by artists and writers including Shary Boyle, Marc Bell, Chester Brown, Geneviève Castrée, David Collier, Rebecca Dart, Marc Ngui, Seth, and Maurice Vellekoop tells personal, quirky, often funny stories in all graphic and narrative styles.

“Most of us probably first encountered drawings, art, and literature through comic books, but they’re rarely recognized for that role,” says Comic Craze curator Sylvie Gilbert. “This exhibition pays homage to the formative role that comics have played in our creative lives. It also renews our understanding of comics by demonstrating the high level of sophistication that comic books have achieved today.”

Visitors to the Gallery will walk into a completely transformed space, one that’s designed for hands-on investigation and experience, an interior wilderness stacked with more than 400 comic books, ‘zines, and graphic novels in French and English. They’ll be encouraged to explore, sit, and read.

In the Gallery’s adjacent Plan B space, curators AA Bronson and Max Schumann present Conceptual Comics, a survey of more than 50 books from the inventory of the New York artists’ bookstore Printed Matter ― with each book drawing on the history and vernacular of its primary source material, the comic book.

Throughout the Banff Summer Arts Festival, the Gallery will host a series of events including interactive Comic Jams June 1 and 15, a month-long presentation of Forest Walk / House Fire, a binaural sound exhibition by Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller August 2 to September 3, an exhibition of works from the Banff Centre collection by painter Takao Tanabe, and much more.

For more information on Comic Craze:
http://www.banffcentre.ca/wpg/

For high-resolution, downloadable images from Comic Craze:
http://www.banffcentre.ca/media_room/images/2006/bsaf/default.htm#comic

For more information on 2006 Banff Summer Arts Festival events:
http://www.banffcentre.ca/bsaf/2006/default.htm

Media Contact
Jill Sawyer
Media and Communications Officer, The Banff Centre
403.762.6475


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About Communications Media Releases In the News Media Services Images	Media Release For immediate release March 15, 2006 Walter Phillips Gallery draws visitors into the eccentric heart of Canadian comic book culture Comic Craze May 4 to September 3 Opening reception: Saturday, May 20, 2 p.m. Walter Phillips Gallery, The Banff Centre Information: 403.762.6281 This summer, the Walter Phillips Gallery immerses visitors in the world of Canadian comics, graphic novels, ‘zines, and mini-comics with its summer exhibition Comic Craze. The show will investigate the uniquely Canadian qualities that our artists bring to this medium ― in particular the intimate, eccentric, superhero-free universes they create. The books, by artists and writers including Shary Boyle, Marc Bell, Chester Brown, Geneviève Castrée, David Collier, Rebecca Dart, Marc Ngui, Seth, and Maurice Vellekoop tells personal, quirky, often funny stories in all graphic and narrative styles. “Most of us probably first encountered drawings, art, and literature through comic books, but they’re rarely recognized for that role,” says Comic Craze curator Sylvie Gilbert. “This exhibition pays homage to the formative role that comics have played in our creative lives. It also renews our understanding of comics by demonstrating the high level of sophistication that comic books have achieved today.” Visitors to the Gallery will walk into a completely transformed space, one that’s designed for hands-on investigation and experience, an interior wilderness stacked with more than 400 comic books, ‘zines, and graphic novels in French and English. They’ll be encouraged to explore, sit, and read. In the Gallery’s adjacent Plan B space, curators AA Bronson and Max Schumann present Conceptual Comics, a survey of more than 50 books from the inventory of the New York artists’ bookstore Printed Matter ― with each book drawing on the history and vernacular of its primary source material, the comic book. Throughout the Banff Summer Arts Festival, the Gallery will host a series of events including interactive Comic Jams June 1 and 15, a month-long presentation of Forest Walk / House Fire, a binaural sound exhibition by Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller August 2 to September 3, an exhibition of works from the Banff Centre collection by painter Takao Tanabe, and much more. For more information on Comic Craze: http://www.banffcentre.ca/wpg/ For high-resolution, downloadable images from Comic Craze: http://www.banffcentre.ca/media_room/images/2006/bsaf/default.htm#comic For more information on 2006 Banff Summer Arts Festival events: http://www.banffcentre.ca/bsaf/2006/default.htm Media Contact Jill Sawyer Media and Communications Officer, The Banff Centre 403.762.6475
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