WKDU Supports: Philly Comics Now: The Art of Graphic Storytelling

Saturday, October 12, 2024 - 12:00pm - Sunday, December 15, 2024 - 5:00pm

Age: 
All Ages
Philly Comics Now

This epic exhibition features over sixty contemporary Philadelphia-based artists exploring the diverse possibilities of independent comics. Large-scale prints, a black-light room installation, a monstrous reading room, and multiple newly conceived, collaborative print projects will be shown in conjunction with the tools and materials of comics, including thumbnails, hand-drawn sketches, and artist notes. Hours: Tuesday - Friday 12pm - 6pm, Saturday 12pm - 5pm

Curated in conjunction with Partners and Son (Tom Marquet and Gina Dawson) and focused around creative workshops by Jessica Abel and Matt Madden, Philly Comics Now unleashes the incredible underground energy of comics into the cavernous Pearlstein Gallery. Set against freshly conceived works, archival materials will highlight Philadelphia’s depth and breadth of alternative comic history. During the course of the exhibition, a portion of the gallery will metamorphose into a wild and colorful, interactive reading room with an immersive installation by Soso Capaldi.

Additional special projects are created in collaboration with local printers including:

A trippy black light installation featuring Rodger Binyone, Anuj Shrestha, Pat Aulisio and Ian Harker
A nested exhibition of Charles Burns’s speculative Kommix covers
A wall installation of Lale Westvind’s wordless publication GRIP
A mural of Meghan Turbitt’s illustrated Overheard at 30th Street Station
A selection of horror-inspired prints by Tia Roxae

The opening date coinicides with the Philly Comics Expo [PCX] on October 12, and a preview afternoon reception will take place Sunday, October 13, 2024 10am-1pm, when artists will be on-hand to discuss their print projects over bagels and coffee. Free and open to the public. Throughout the run of the exhibition, there will be a full calendar of programming centered around Rankin Visiting Scholars Jessica Abel and Matt Madden, including a Keynote Lecture, a 24-Hour Comic Workshop, a Zine Fest:Tabling Event, Comic Book Club, and a DIY Printers panel.

Pearlstein Gallery, Drexel University 3401 Filbert St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Friday 12–6, Saturday 12–5 and by appt.
https://drexel.edu/pearlsteingallery

Philly Haps

Saturday, Dec 21, 2024
Time Venue Age
Euphoria Again (record release) / Snoozer / Magic America 7:00pm PhilaMOCA All Ages
Bobby Zankel 75th Birthday Celebration 8:00pm Solar Myth 21+
Sunday, Dec 22, 2024
Time Venue Age
Julia's War Xmas Cold Weather Clothing Drive w/ Sun Organ / Bad History Month / Night of Arrogance / Sandcastle 7:30pm Foto Club 18+
Friday, Dec 27, 2024
Time Venue Age
Psychic Wars / No Yeah No / God Called In (Out?) Sick 8:00pm Ortlieb's 21+
Saturday, Dec 28, 2024
Time Venue Age
Ciel / Merlohh 9:00pm The Dolphin 21+
Sunday, Dec 29, 2024
Time Venue Age
Photon Band / Brother JT / Lettuce Prey 8:00pm Johnny Brenda's 21+
Monday, Dec 30, 2024
Time Venue Age
Lotus / Muscle Tough 8:00pm Union Transfer All Ages
Tuesday, Dec 31, 2024
Time Venue Age
Rid of Me / My Wife's An Angel / Sunburster / Born Losers DJs 8:00pm Ortlieb's 21+
Lotus / Cal Blac 8:00pm Union Transfer All Ages
NYE 2025 feat. DJ's Rob Paine / Francisco Collazo / John Raffaele / Keen / Firestone / Urbankowboi / Joshua Orange / low1ron / phreakwency / Kristian Cho / Shai FM 9:00pm Warehouse on Watts 21+
The Menzingers / Captain We're Sinking / The Wild Ones 9:30pm Ardmore Music Hall 21+
Friday, Jan 3, 2025
Time Venue Age
The Girls / Plastic Bitch / The Angies 8:00pm Ortlieb's 21+
Saturday, Jan 4, 2025
Time Venue Age
Jim E. Brown / Matthew Danger Lippman / Manic Envy / Gavin Oswald 8:00pm Icebox Project Space All Ages
Stinking Lizaveta / Darsombra / Eye Flys 8:00pm Johnny Brenda's 21+
Saturday, Jan 11, 2025
Time Venue Age
PWRUP / Kmoy /Take Today / 13 Cavities 7:00pm PhilaMOCA All Ages