Toon Award Exhibition 2009

One of the things I would have liked, when I was a kid growing up in Iowa, was to meet a real cartoonist in the real world.

I had read about cartoonists in books and magazines. I had seen photos from the legendary National Cartoonists Society parties (thanks to Cartoonist PROfiles magazine). But all those events took place in big cities, and I lived, as I mentioned in last week's interview, in "one of those states that the planes fly over."

In 2009, in Okoboji, Iowa, there will be a big cartoon gallery show -- the Toon Award Exhibition -- the highlight of which is a festival weekend on April 24th and 25th, 2009.

But I'm burying the lead --

After a Saturday night dinner, there will be the very first Toon Awards (designed by Chris Browne), presented to an outstanding student cartoonist.

The judges for the Toon Award will be:

• Chris Browne - Hagar the Horrible
• Tom Richmond - Mad Magazine
• Oliver "Revilo" Christianson - Hallmark Cards
• Buck Jones - Humorous Illustrator
• Paul Fell - Editorial Cartoonist
• Ed Baker - Emmy award winning storyboard animator

Entrance criteria here. Unlike a lot of contests, all entrants get to keep the copyright to their work. As you'll read, entrants who want to show will pay a $10 entrance fee and will have to cover postage & insurance for their framed artwork there and back. You'll also have a choice to sell your cartoon.

This will be a terrific event at a beautiful venue, the Lakes Art Center. Ken Alvine, a great pro, is the man behind the scenes, putting this together. On Saturday, Ken and Jim Allen will be heading up seperate chats, and veteran gag cartoonist and friend Dave Carpenter will be talking about drawing cartoons for magazines.

This will be a great, friendly event for kids, parents and professionals. Come on down. And none of those "the plane flys over us" kinda excuses anymore.

I'll post more information as it becomes available.