#International Museum of Cartoon Art

[tomoleary]

Todd McFarlane “Spawn” International Museum of Cartoon Art Limited Edition Lithograph Print (Starbur Graphics, 1993) Source

[downthetubes]

First Graphic Novel Award open for submissions

The Cartoon Museum and SelfMadeHero have announced the launch of the 2023 First Graphic Novel Award for debut UK authors

The London-based Cartoon Museum and top independent publisher SelfMadeHero have announced the launch of the 2023 First Graphic Novel Award for debut UK authors who have not previously been published. The Award asks authors to submit 15 – 30 pages of a graphic novel in progress, fiction or non-fiction. A selected author will be given support to complete the work for publication by SelfMadeHero,…

[wpwcpod]

New gay as fuck heist show!

We’re still in the process of liking and following so we don’t show up as a bot, but part of that is making posts so: hey! Podcast summary!

‘Wrong Place, Wrong Crime’ is a supernatural heist podcast about a trio of thieves: hacker Isaac, con-artist Drystan, and strategist Bea.

Once prolific thieves in order to pay their way through university, Isaac and Drystan took two years out of the game for Drystan to have “just a small mental breakdown.” Now they’re back at it with a very casual heist on one of North America’s most secure museums. For jewels? Weapons? Art? Nope. For puppets. Obviously.

But, as with all their heists, there’s something a little… creepy about the loot they end up with. It’s a race against the clock to find out what - or who - they’ve actually stolen. Unfortunately, they don’t know the clock is ticking…

Isaac is an anxious, insular disaster who couldn’t identify an emotion if you showed him a kid’s cartoon, but can harbour a crush for 12+ years.

Drystan is a gorgeous and competent homme fatale who can kick ass, pick locks, and throw knives, but who cannot make pasta, regulate his own emotions, or input his own TikTok password.

Bea could be an international drug dealer or could work for Doctors Without Borders. Or neither. Or both. They’ve master the mystique Isaac wishes he had, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re any more on top of things.

Season 1 will be very short (4 eps!) which means you can expect it sooner rather than later (preferably this side of the summer solstice!), with the intention of S2 following closely behind.

[gwenpoolsaesthetic]

Lester Johnson American, 1919 - 2010 Classical Group #4, 1985Oil on canvas 36 x 48 in 2004.15.1 Gift of Allen and Vicki Samson Collection of the Haggerty Museum of Art, Marquette University

For more information, to see the rest of the inspirational art pieces, and to sign up for show reminders, visit https://tinyurl.com/y5t2ape7

I decided to use this piece to talk about political and social movements because, in my opinion, the group gathered here looks both creative and also like they’re up to something. I don’t know if they’re off to bind unauthorized zines or yarn bomb public monuments but, either way, it’s going to be a good time and I wish I could join them.

Academics today talk about “fan activism,” but I called this category “Political and Social Movements” because “activism” implies action. Fans certainly engage in activism—fans may work together to campaign networks to bring back their favorite shows or characters, or they may join forces to raise money for a specific cause. But fandom can influence social and political thoughts and behaviors in fans, even if those fans aren’t engaging in activism. A Star Trek fan might internalize the show's ideals of diversity and inclusion. On the other hand, they might internalize some of the franchise’s more colonialist assumptions. 

Fanworks do not need to consider the theme that fine-art pieces will be used to discuss; they only need to be inspired by or responding to one piece of art and anything you are a fan of. The orangish-red coloring here makes me think of Red Dwarf (and I think the middle-right kind of looks like Kryten), and the fingers on these people feel a little AI generated to me. So, if I were creating a work for this I might create a short cartoon showing the Red Dwarf cast arguing about AI generated content. Kryten (a mechanoid) and Rimmer (a hologram) would, of course, be for it. 

[darylelockhart]

Basquiat: A multidisciplinary artist who denounced violence against African Americans

John Harbour, Université Laval

The exhibition Seeing Loud: Basquiat and Music, currently running at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, demonstrates that the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, which is usually associated with painting, also calls upon other media, including music — the main theme of this exhibition — literature, comic strips, cinema and animation, a much lesser-known aspect of his work.

Basquiat was born in New York in 1960 to a Haitian father and a mother of Puerto Rican descent. In the late 1970s, in collaboration with Al Diaz, he drew enigmatic graffiti under the pseudonym SAMO. The artist quickly made a name for himself in the New York art world (becoming friends with Andy Warhol and Madonna, among others). He then produced solo paintings and achieved international fame that continued to grow until his death in 1988.

At the time of the Black Lives Matter movement, Jean-Michel Basquiat’s work is more relevant than ever. It highlights racial inequalities and the lack of representation of racialized people in the media, but also the violence suffered by African Americans.

Love/hate for the cartoon

As a child, Basquiat dreamed of becoming a cartoon animator. When he became a painter, the television was always on while he worked in his studio, and regularly ran cartoons. These programmes and films were a great source of inspiration for the artist, who integrated several references to animation and comic strips into his paintings.

One of these works, which can be seen in the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts exhibition, is called Toxic (1984). The painting depicts a Black man with his arms in the air, with a collage in the background that mentions several titles of animated shorts made between 1938 and 1948.

Could we say that the films are considered toxic by Jean-Michel Basquiat, despite his admiration for them? In fact, I think there is a certain duality in this picture: the artist loves the cartoon, but he hates it at the same time. The dictionary definition of the word “toxic” can mean someone or something that likes “to control and influence other people in a dishonest way.” The term therefore implies that the toxic element (the cartoon in this case) is dangerous in a way that isn’t apparent.

The violence of cartoons

The cartoon is often associated with childhood, pleasure, eccentricity.

This is a universe where anything is possible: in Gorilla My Dreams, directed by Robert McKimson in 1948, for example, the character Bugs Bunny talks, dresses up as a baby and imitates a monkey. It appears innocent. However, the cartoon can also represent the worst of humanity in a very sneaky way through the incredible violence it contains: the characters hunt each other, chase each other, hit each other, cut each other, kill each other and then start again. https://www.youtube.com/embed/G-fpqSdSnD0?wmode=transparent&start=0 Robert McKimson, Gorilla My Dreams, Warner Bros., 1948.

In Porky’s Hare Hunt, a film directed by Ben Hardaway in 1938 and quoted in Toxic, the character of Porky is injured by dynamite, abused even though he is in his hospital bed and tries to kill a rabbit. Basquiat, who consumed cartoons every day on television, knew that they were a reflection of 20th century American society.

The violence that Basquiat denounces is so present in the cartoon that it seems, to a certain extent, to have become commonplace, like the violence seen on television newscasts (which he probably watched while he was painting).

Denouncing racial stereotypes

These cartoons are also violent because they often perpetuate racial stereotypes (not to mention the many stereotypes related to sexual orientation, gender, sex, body appearance, etc.).

Bob Clampett’s 1940 film Patient Porky, which is also mentioned in Toxic, features a scene in which a elevator attendant grossly and monstrously parodies a Black character. In Untitled (All Stars) (1983), Basquiat cites Max Fleischer’s 1920 film The Chinaman, which features a highly caricatured Asian character and Koko the Clown putting makeup on to impersonate him. https://www.youtube.com/embed/_WXrrOIWZKo?wmode=transparent&start=0 Max Fleischer, The Chinaman, Bray Studios, 1920.

By placing elements referring to animation in his compositions, Basquiat attempts to denounce a stereotypical and unfair worldview where racialized people are portrayed in an unrealistic way. Basquiat said that if he had not been a painter, he would have been a filmmaker and would have told stories where Black people were portrayed as human beings, not negatively.

So, the title of the painting Toxic carries several meanings. It refers both to the main subject (Torrick “Toxic” Ablack), but also to its relationship to popular culture and to animation, in this case.

This hypothesis is very likely since Basquiat produced several works denouncing police brutality against African Americans, including The Death of Michael Stewart (Defacement) (1983).

Basquiat died prematurely in 1988 at the age of 27. Other artists from the Black community, such as Montréal painters Kezna Dalz, aka Teenadult, Manuel Mathieu, and animation filmmaker Martine Chartrand have, in their own way, taken up his struggle and continue to fight for greater visibility of Black people in the arts.

John Harbour, Doctorant en littérature et arts de la scène et de l'écran (concentration cinéma), Université Laval

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

[suncitytours]

Journey through Abu Dhabi: Full-Day Private City Tour from Dubai

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Begin your day with the breathtaking grandeur of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a mesmerizing symbol of Islamic artistry and spiritual significance. Indulge in an adrenaline-pumping experience at Ferrari World and immerse yourself in the world of beloved cartoon characters at Warner Bros, creating unforgettable memories along the way. Feel the pulse of speed and precision at the Yas Marina Circuit, home to the exhilarating Formula-1 races. Delve into opulence with an exclusive visit inside the majestic Emirates Palace hotel, a true epitome of luxury and elegance.

Immerse yourself in the UAE's rich cultural heritage at the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village and be awed by the grandeur of Qasr Al Watan, the Presidential Palace. Take in the breath taking Abu Dhabi Skyline views and explore modern architectural marvels at the Abu Dhabi Corniche & Etihad Towers.

Engage in the vibrant ambiance of traditional souks, witness the age-old craftsmanship at a Dhow building yard, and explore the art and history at the renowned Louvre Museum. Experience the essence of Emirati culture through the Carpet and Dates Market, marvel at the Coin Tower's uniqueness, and relish modern entertainment hubs like Yas Mall & Marina Eye.

We prioritize your convenience with hassle-free pick-up options from diverse locations across Dubai and the UAE, ensuring a smooth start to your adventure. Our expert guides bring Abu Dhabi's history and culture alive throughout your journey, offering in-depth insights into every landmark. Stay refreshed throughout the tour with unlimited soft drinks and mineral water provided to make your experience even more enjoyable.

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Join Sun City Tours & Desert Safari L.L.C for an exceptional adventure, unveiling Abu Dhabi's treasures through a personalized lens. Book your full-day private city tour from Dubai for an unforgettable blend of comfort, culture, and discovery in the heart of the UAE.

[jasmine604]

W2. 10 NZ Creatives

Len Lye (5 July 1901 – 15 May 1980)

Len Lye or ‘Leonard Charles Huia Lye’ was known for his experimental films and kinetic structure. A lot of his films are being held as articles in NZ archives aswell as museums abroad likee Museum of Modern Art in NYC. When he was a student he thought that motion could be part of the language of art hence the interest in film and structures. 

Left to right: Picture of Len Lye. Len Lye Blade 1998 - Collection of John and Lynda Matthews, New Plymouth. Len Lye Love Springs Eternal exhibition - Starkwhite

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2. Billy Apple (31 December 1935 - 6 September 2021)

Billy Apple, born Barrie Bates left NZ to study graphic design in Royal College of Art in London. He eventually moved to New York and continued creating pop related painting and objects, overtime he went from more tangible objects to more conceptual and process orientated practises. He was noted as someone that had frequent exhibtions and has a clear ‘brand’ within his own work. 

Left to right:Picture of Billy Apple with one of his known creations. Relation of Aesthetic Choice to Life Activity (Function) of the Subject, 1962 by Billy Apple, Tate. ‘Paid’ by Billyapple, FoenanderGallery.

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3. Ronnie Van Hout (22 January 1962 - )

Ronnie Van Hout works with a range of media such as video, painting, sculpture, photography, and embroidery. He was born in Christchurch and studied Fine Arts at the University of Canterbury, majoring in Film. He seems to be most known for his work with Pingroup and his sculpture. 

Left to right: Picture of Ronnie Van Hout. Pin Group by Ronnie Van Hout, 1983. Hellzapoppin'! Flying Saucer poster by Ronnie Van Hout. 

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4. Lesley Maclean Active between (1985 - 1986)

Lesley MacLean or ‘Black Spot’ was a Christchurch poster designer, most known for her work with the Flying Nun Bands in both a poster making sense and performing on the stage. Now she has left the world of design behind and has become a trained practitioner of Japanese tea making. 

Left to right: Picture of Lesley Maclean, Sneaky Feelings. "Husband house". A Flying Nun record. [1985] by Lesley Maclean, 'The Real Sounds of New Zealand' Exhibition by Lesley Maclean.

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5. Chris Knox (2 September 1952 - )

Chris Knox is a rock and roll musician, Cartoonist, and movie reviewer who rose to fame during the punk rock era. He was in two bands, The Enemy and Toy Love. Toy Love eventually disbanded and he and some members made ’Tall Dwarfs’. He used to often draw cartoons and designs for his album artwork and for magazine covers and cartoon strips. 

Left to right: Picture of Chris Knox supporting Blondie, Seisure Album Cover 1989, Chris Knox. Forced Exposure Magazine Cover, 1993, Chris Knox.

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6. Greer Twiss  (23 June 1937 -)

Greer Twiss is known as the ‘godfather’ of contemporary sculpture in NZ. He has been sculpting and exhibiting his work for more than 50 years. He attended the Elam School of Fine arts. He has worked with a number of materials but is most known for his works in Bronze. He retired in 1998. 

Left to right: Picture of Twiss. Bathers, 1970, Greer Twiss. London Series, Greer Twiss.

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7. Jim Allen (22 July 1922 – 9 June 2023)

William Robert Allen known as ‘Jim Allen’ served in WW2 in 1945, after which he enrolled in art studies in Italy. After coming back to NZ, he continued to study fine arts here at Canterbury University, and following that he did a series of jobs and worked alongside many organizations and projects such as the Northern Maori Experimental Project. He has had a significant influence on the development of ‘post-object’ practices in NZ.

Left to right: Picture of Jim Allen. Groundswell: Avant-garde Auckland 1971–1979, Jim Allen. Saboteur, 2009, Jim Allen.

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8. Kris Sowersby (1981 - )

Kris Sowerby a majorly self-taught graphic designer specialises in typography and over the years has garnered national and international acclaim for his typographic work as part of the Klim Type foundry which he founded. He has worked with a number of clients to come up with unique letters for branding purposes and has also released a couple of his collections and books such as ‘Art of Letters’.

Left to right: Photo of Sowersby, 2008 composition, Kris Sowersby. Page from book ‘Art of Letters’ by Kris Sowersby

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9. Maureen lander (1942 - )

Lander is a Weaver, Multimedia installation artists, and academic. Lander is a well-respected and significant Māori artist who since 1986 has exhibited, photographed, written and taught Māori art.

Left to right: Picture of Lander, Maureen Lander (2018), Embodied Knowledge. Atapō, (2020) dyed muka, work in progress. 

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10. Evangeline Davis (unknown, current)

Davis is a young photographer who documents women in the way she wants as opposed to what she grew up seeing in fashion magazines. She grew up seeing thin white girls, and wanted to document women in a 'real way', so she could see people like herself in photography. She focuses on women and their lives in NZ.

 Left to right: Photos from Davis' book 'Touchy', 2016, Angeline Davis

[mi4011amandithewarathanthri]

Assessment 1

2. conduct research into their life stories

Wladyslaw Starewicz - life and work

The first Polish animator and one of the first animation makers in the world

He was born in 1882 in Moscow to a Polish family (through his places of residence and work he would become acquainted with Lithuanian, Russian and French cinematography). He spent his childhood and youth in Kaunas, in present-day Lithuania where, as a four-year-old boy, he was adopted by his mother’s parents after she died. Early drawings revealed his significant artistic talent - he liked photography and was interested in cinematography, which at the time was still an innovation, as well as nature, particularly in the insects which he so passionately collected. 

Starewicz decided to purse an artistic career by enrolling into a painting school, despite  how disapproving his family was of this choice. 

1910 - he was awarded the title of Director of the Museum of Natural History in Kaunas, Lithuania. His first foray into filmmaking included making a series of four short documentaries, however it was in live action. 

He didn’t start delving into animation until his fifth movie. This was also meant to be a documentary intending to “show the life of stag beetles.” However, he was incensed to find that it was impossible to capture two stag belts fighting due to the beetles dying from the light of the stage lighting. 

This gave rise to his first stop motion piece featured two stag beetles in battle, named “Lucanus Cervus” (1910), after their scientific name. It was the first ever animated puppet film in Russia. He used wires to put their limbs back on, dressed them in knight outfits and then moved them, capturing individual movement phases frame by frame. 

He started working with Khanzhonkov in 1911. Aleksandr Khanzhonkov was the world's first maker of a cartoon film, the first maker of a full-time feature film in Russia and the founder of the first Russian film studio  (Studio Khanzhonkov) in 1905. Here, Starewicz continued his passion for stop motion, mostly using his dead bug collection as his character models. 

1912 - “The Beautiful Leukandia.” Was an adaptation about the tale of Agamemnon and Menelaus.

1912 - “the cameraman’s revenge.” This was his most famous piece of work and is widely  regarded as the piece that pioneered stop motion as an art form. When the film first premiered audiences actually thought that Starewicz had managed to train live bugs to act. It was a short comedy drama movie about marital infidelity, jealously,  and of course revenge. The animated story was not made for children, which was quite uncommon at the time. Starewicz showed how versatile animation as a medium can be and how it can be curated for an older audience. 

The success of The ant and the grasshopper (1913/1911) is also worth mentioning – an adaptation of a fable by Ivan Krylov that, thanks to a record 140 copies, was seen by viewers all over Europe and America. One copy, packed in a silver box, was given by the producer to a successor of the Russian throne, Alexei Nikolayevich Romanov

“The night before Christmas” (1913). It was Starewicz’s version of the original Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol story. This film featured live action interaction with his animated elements. Some parts even included his daughter Irina. 

“Terrible Vengeance” (1913). This  movie won the 2014 gold medal at international film festival in Milan.

During WW1, Satrewicz continued to make films. He worked for many different film companies and produced 60 live action movies. After WW1, he changed his name to Ladislas Starevich, as it was easier to pronounce in French, and began diving back into stop motion. During this time he produced: Midnight Wedding, The Scarecrow (1921), Frogland (1922), Love in Black and White (1923), The Voice of the Nightingale (1923), and The Little Street Singer (1924).

In 1924, Starevich moved to Fontenay-sous-Bois, where he lived until his death in 1965. There he made the rest of his films.

The Eyes of the Dragon (1925) — this film was exceptionally impressive due to its complex use of set design and character design. Starewicz’s talent as an artist truly shines through here in set decoration as well as ingenious trick photography.

The Town Rat and the Country Rat (1927) — a parody of American slapstick films.

The Magical Clock (1928) — a fairy tale story

The Little Parade - an adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s story titled ‘the steadfast tin soldier’

“Le Roman de Renard” (1937) — some consider this his best film. 

During WW2 he didn’t make any films. After WW2 he made a few more films before passing away:  “Zanzabelle a Paris”, “Fern Flower” (This his first movie in colour and won the first prize as an animated film in the 11th International Children Film Festival in Venice Biennale), “Nose to Wind”, “Winter Carousel” (his last completed film), and a half completed film titled “Like Dog and Cat.” He passed away before he could complete this last film. 

[consumare]

colors of the rainbow.

red. leather jackets, lollipop, bubblegum, hot chocolate, strawberries, sport cars, badass, chestnut hair, gives 0 fucks about others opinion, heartless, books filled with dark doodles, takes a lot of naps, ripped jeans, webtoon, unabashed flirting, hair flipping, still makes mixtapes, not a good example, brutally honest, irreversible tornadoes, chips, bad habits, knowing what’s wrong with one look, tousled hair, into natural products, doesn’t like when someone calls them cute, walking barefoot on concrete, attempts to avoid all the responsibilities, coca-cola, protective, new ideas, fuzzy blankets, honey brown eyes, horror movies, netflix, can be lazy sometimes, red, sarcastic, lace up boots, classical music, talks in sleep.

orange. has a million interests but bad at managing time, good liar, orange, astrology, outdoors, mischievous looks, friends with everyone, light brown hair, stronger than they think, holding hands at night, has snacks with them for unknown reason, would kill for the people they love, daydreaming, backward hats, unmade beds, loves art, looks mean but is actually very nice, organized playlists, tangled earphones, anime, iced lemonade, climbing trees, skateboarding, middle fingers, sarcastic, curious, wreck this journal, face masks, does yoga on daily basis, photography, dancing in the rain, steel blue eyes, horny 24/7, dried roses, cotton candy, self care guru, bad at cooking, freckles, remembering their dreams, into some kinky shit, interested in science.

yellow. likes picnics & roses, hidden birth marks, being honest, honey, pressed flowers, brown hair, spicy food, loves movie dates, chill but doesn’t take shit, listening to music from someone else’s earphones, sunshine, stuffed toys, doesn’t like loud sounds, cheek kisses, fashion, can be depressed when left alone, takes long walks, watches cartoons, thinks every animal is cute, bags with patches, olive green eyes, texts to ask if ‘u ok’ or ‘had a good day’, cat lover, flowers in their hair, peaceful being, collects & presses flowers, makes friends easily, whispering sweet words to small creatures, yellow, a sweet voice, hates cockroaches, loves the sound of ocean, feeling of sunlight hitting your skin, soft hair, keep tracks of things, never does anything to make anyone feel uncomfortable.

green. very patient, dark brown hair, sugar coated peanuts, vans shoe, self love, reading, clumsy, sarcasm, constant internal screaming, relaxed expression but a storm underneath, good at maths, kiwi, jean jackets, loaded heads & clear eyes, can tear you apart, book piles, early mornings, always mused to little things, soccer, plant parent, pocky, succulents, loves learning new languages, thick, getting into a drama, really good at reading people, has a bad temper if you cross them, stargazing, thoughtful words, charcoal eyes, cute jackets, pretty handwriting, listens to podcasts, green, smart, blooming flowers, balances work, freckled arms, always have good advice, feels like classic music & art, probably has owned the same jacket from last 10 years.

blue. can never make up their mind, not very patient, youngest in group, angel, falls in love easily, shy smiles, carnivals, big sweaters, watches sad movies late at night & then feels super guilty next day, sandy blond hair, hard working, sparkle in their eyes, still a child, fluffy pillows, scented markers, trips a lot, sweet to everyone, blue, addicted to games, freckles, asks a lot of questions, watches cartoon, they either eat everything or forgets to eat, hazel eyes, tries their best, a daydreamer & a night thinker, short as heck, spinning until they’re dizzy, cries easily, stuffed toys, cute, love museums, has a secret, avoiding their problems, can’t sit still, picks fight they can’t finish, is super sweet & soft, overemotional, literally the cutest.

indigo. knows when someone can’t be trusted, black hair, cold feet, feared, black & indigo, sensitive lips, chocolates, milk, mostly wears black, gets depressing thoughts but tries to be happy, sharp eyes, athletic, learning new languages, aces everything, blue eyes, dogs, agnostic, photo albums, focuses on details, kind, car rides, comics, soft aching hands, painting for hours, witty, protective, perfect person to cuddle with, do no harm but take no shit, tattoos, cold from outside soft from inside, piano, broken, clean white walls, extremely loyal, drinking water, headphones blasting music, draws a lot, your comfort person, amazing at sports, middle fingers, great cook, late night showers, laying down on concrete roofs to watch the stars, webtoons.

violet. fluffy pillows, laughs too loudly, wears pj’s anywhere anytime, moon, great cook, easily distracted, well moisturized, sunglasses, stuffed toys, noticed things that most people don’t, eye rolling, wants to stay young forever, takes pics of plants, light brown hair, sipping tea, mixes well with anyone, sarcasm, collects something, beautifully dangerous, bitch, goes with the flow, messy notes, stars, cotton candy, keeps up with trends, tips waiter generously, beautiful, cruising with the top down, grey eyes, sometimes lonely, no bad vibes, scented candles, loves gardening, great with kids, scary when angry, drinking out of painted tea cups, caring, homemade jams, pocket full of wonders.

[publicabsent]

𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐛𝐨𝐰.

𝐫𝐞𝐝. leather jackets, lollipop, bubblegum, hot chocolate, strawberries, sport cars, badass, chestnut hair, gives 0 fucks about others opinion, heartless, books filled with dark doodles, takes a lot of naps, ripped jeans, webtoon, unabashed flirting, hair flipping, still makes mixtapes, not a good example, brutally honest, irreversible tornadoes, chips, bad habits, knowing what’s wrong with one look, tousled hair, into natural products, doesn’t like when someone calls them cute, walking barefoot on concrete, attempts to avoid all the responsibilities, coca-cola, protective, new ideas, fuzzy blankets, honey brown eyes, horror movies, netflix, can be lazy sometimes, red, sarcastic, lace up boots, classical music, talks in sleep.

𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞. has a million interests but bad at managing time, good liar, orange, astrology, outdoors, mischievous looks, friends with everyone, light brown hair, stronger than they think, holding hands at night, has snacks with them for unknown reason, would kill for the people they love, daydreaming, backward hats, unmade beds, loves art, looks mean but is actually very nice, organized playlists, tangled earphones, anime, iced lemonade, climbing trees, skateboarding, middle fingers, sarcastic, curious, wreck this journal, face masks, does yoga on daily basis, photography, dancing in the rain, steel blue eyes, horny 24/7, dried roses, cotton candy, self care guru, bad at cooking, freckles, remembering their dreams, into some kinky shit, interested in science.

𝐲𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰. likes picnics & roses, hidden birth marks, being honest, honey, pressed flowers, brown hair, spicy food, loves movie dates, chill but doesn’t take shit, listening to music from someone else’s earphones, sunshine, stuffed toys, doesn’t like loud sounds, cheek kisses, fashion, can be depressed when left alone, takes long walks, watches cartoons, thinks every animal is cute, bags with patches, olive green eyes, texts to ask if ‘u ok’ or ‘had a good day’, cat lover, flowers in their hair, peaceful being, collects & presses flowers, makes friends easily, whispering sweet words to small creatures, yellow, a sweet voice, hates cockroaches, loves the sound of ocean, feeling of sunlight hitting your skin, soft hair, keep tracks of things, never does anything to make anyone feel uncomfortable.

𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧. very patient, dark brown hair, sugar coated peanuts, vans shoe, self love, reading, clumsy, sarcasm, constant internal screaming, relaxed expression but a storm underneath, good at maths, kiwi, jean jackets, loaded heads & clear eyes, can tear you apart, book piles, early mornings, always mused to little things, soccer, plant parent, pocky, succulents, loves learning new languages, thick, getting into a drama, really good at reading people, has a bad temper if you cross them, stargazing, thoughtful words, charcoal eyes, cute jackets, pretty handwriting, listens to podcasts, green, smart, blooming flowers, balances work, freckled arms, always have good advice, feels like classic music & art, probably has owned the same jacket from last 10 years.

𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞. can never make up their mind, not very patient, youngest in group, angel, falls in love easily, shy smiles, carnivals, big sweaters, watches sad movies late at night & then feels super guilty next day, sandy blond hair, hard working, sparkle in their eyes, still a child, fluffy pillows, scented markers, trips a lot, sweet to everyone, blue, addicted to games, freckles, asks a lot of questions, watches cartoon, they either eat everything or forgets to eat, hazel eyes, tries their best, a daydreamer & a night thinker, short as heck, spinning until they’re dizzy, cries easily, stuffed toys, cute, love museums, has a secret, avoiding their problems, can’t sit still, picks fight they can’t finish, is super sweet & soft, overemotional, literally the cutest.

𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐨. knows when someone can’t be trusted, black hair, cold feet, feared, black & indigo, sensitive lips, chocolates, milk, mostly wears black, gets depressing thoughts but tries to be happy, sharp eyes, athletic, learning new languages, aces everything, blue eyes, dogs, agnostic, photo albums, focuses on details, kind, car rides, comics, soft aching hands, painting for hours, witty, protective, perfect person to cuddle with, do no harm but take no shit, tattoos, cold from outside soft from inside, piano, broken, clean white walls, extremely loyal, drinking water, headphones blasting music, draws a lot, your comfort person, amazing at sports, middle fingers, great cook, late night showers, laying down on concrete roofs to watch the stars, webtoons.

𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐭. fluffy pillows, laughs too loudly, wears pj’s anywhere anytime, moon, great cook, easily distracted, well moisturized, sunglasses, stuffed toys, noticed things that most people don’t, eye rolling, wants to stay young forever, takes pics of plants, light brown hair, sipping tea, mixes well with anyone, sarcasm, collects something, beautifully dangerous, bitch, goes with the flow, messy notes, stars, cotton candy, keeps up with trends, tips waiter generously, beautiful, cruising with the top down, grey eyes, sometimes lonely, no bad vibes, scented candles, loves gardening, great with kids, scary when angry, drinking out of painted tea cups, caring, homemade jams, pocket full of wonders.

[brillliantcorners]

++++++++++++++ Brian Donnelly is currently best known as the artist KAWS. KAWS is a New York-based artist who has made a name out of him designing limited edition toys and clothing. He is also a world-renowned artist who exhibits in museums and galleries internationally. His art stands somewhere between fine art and global commerce. KAWS moved beyond the sphere of the exclusive art market to occupy a more complex global market.
 
Brian Donnelly was born in 1974 in Jersey City, New Jersey. He graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York where he obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration. After graduating from college in 1996, Brian Donnelly worked for Disney as a freelance animator. At Disney, Brian Donnelly had the opportunity to paint backgrounds and contributed in films such as 101 Dalmatians, Daria, and Doug. 
 
While living in Jersey City, KAWS began his career as a graffiti artist. By the early 1990s he moved to New York City and began to work focus on subverting the images on bus shelters, phone booth advertisements, and billboards. Soon after his notoriety and popularity reached heights never before expected and these ads became increasingly sought after by the public.
 
In the late 1990s, KAWS had an opportunity to design and produce limited edition vinyl toys. These toys instantly became a hit with the global art toy-collecting community. In Japan, the toys were a major his since this genre of toys is well respected and widespread.
 
Most recently KAWS has designed toys and clothing for well-known companies such as Original Fake, A Bathing Ape, Undercover, Kung Faux, Nike, Vans, and Comme des Garcons. In the early 2000s he also reworked many familiar television and cartoon icons such as characters from The Simpsons, Mickey Mouse, the Michelin Man, the Smurfs, and even SpongeBob SquarePants.
 
He has also been highly praised for his work on acrylic paintings and large sculptures. One of the more popular KAWS sculpture is that of a gray scale figure based on the Mickey Mouse whose face is obscured by his both hands. This image was even incorporated into a balloon for the 2012 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. In 2013, KAWS’s company redesigned MTV’s moon man statue for their 2013 MTV Video Music Awards.
 
KAWS museum exhibitions include solo shows at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, High Museum of Art, Modern Art Museum, and the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. Other international galleries include Galerie Perrotin and Honor Fraser Gallery. His work has been seen in Paris, London, Berlin, and Tokyo.
 
KAWS currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

[soizickjaffrecomicsblog]

💥My graphic memoir about international friendships, sports, fun, the Gay Games, freedom... And the meaning of life... To be released this summer, by @stackeddeckpress

...

🌎 Https://soizickjaffrecomics.com/agoodsport

...

🏁I am a French comic artist soizickjaffrecomics.com with

🏁This book is also about my experience of the Paris 2018 Gay Games (first edition of the GG in 1982, San Francisco, CA).

🏁 Bowling : if you love bowling, you need this book

...

-------------------

❤️ A GOOD SPORT

BOOK TOUR ❤️

-------------------

🗯️

July 10: Bureau of General Services – Queer Division, New York City, NY

🗯️

July 17: Comic Asylum Bookstore, Palm Desert, California

🗯️

July 18: Desert General Bookstore, 29 Palms, California

🗯️

July 19: Nuclear Comics Bookstore, San Diego, California

🗯️

July 27: SDCC 2024 - San Diego Comic-Con, Prism Comics Booth, San Diego, California

🗯️

July 30: Page Against the Machine Bookstore, Long Beach, California

🗯️

August 1: California College of the Arts, San Francisco, California

🗯️

August 3: Cartoon Art Museum, San Francisco, California

🗯️

[zacharyja]

Monday, May 20, 2024

Kyoto International Manga Museum and the Fushimi-inari Shrine

Today began at about 8am, where we were given bento boxes for breakfast, containing gyudon, pickled vegetables and egg cubes. This breakfast was not great but was decent enough when compared to Hotel Edoya gruel. We then went to our class meeting at 9, which is now a bit of a walk away instead of in the same building. After the meeting we all made our way a few minutes down the road to the Kyoto International Manga Museum, and had an hour and a half to get food and then explore the museum. We ended up getting a quick second breakfast at a cafe and then walked back to the museum where we spent quite a while walking around. They had many displays containing an exhibition of the history of manga as well as tons of different volumes of manga dating back to its inception. This was pretty cool to see and I enjoyed learning about the history of how a Japanese man who’s name I cannot remember saw the comic section of american newspapers and thought that he could make a lot of money marketing these cartoons to children, and thus the manga industry was essentially born in Japan and has not slowed down since.

After the manga museum Luke and I went to the cafe for a light snack, the cafe was pretty cool and had lots of manga art on the walls.

After this the whole group got on a train bound for Fushimi-Inari, as we would be hiking up the mountain through the thousands of Torii gates to get to the shrine near the top. There are roughly 10,000 Torii gates here, with about 12,000 steps to climb to the top. The reason for all these gates is because those who follow the Shinto religion believe that they will be blessed with prosperity and wealth from the Inari deity, and thus many businesses will donate shrines here as a way to reap these divine properties.

After getting to the shrine a group of us decided since we were already up so high we may as well get all the way to the top, which added on another 30-45 minutes on top of our hour and a half hike. The views were amazing from the observation area and walking through thousands of Torii gates felt pretty unreal as well. The entire path to the top is surrounded by these gates, which is crazy that so many have been donated. I also saw a cat near the gates who was pretty cute and I was glad to get a photo.

After getting back down from the top, we made our way back to the hotel to chill some and we will get dinner in a bit as I am currently writing this post.

Academic Reflection

Going into the reading about Inari, I was not sure what to expect nor who Inari even really was. I mostly only really knew that Inari was some sort of deity, and I had always tied it in with foxes as they seem to be seen whenever Inari was mentioned in my experience. So naturally and like many others I had assumed that Inari was a fox, and was surprised to hear that this was not the case. Inari is definitely not a fox, but other than that there is not too much known about the deity, as they aren’t even really sure if it is a male or female and can be left to your own interpretation. It was nice after learning more about Inari, being able to see the symbols of rice, jewels, and foxes at the shrine and know what they represent. It was also insightful to understand why people donate these Torii gates, which explains why there are so many because everyone wants a piece of that sweet Inari prosperity and wealth. Though this is a really cool sentiment to why Japan has so many of these cool shrines and temples, as this is only really possible given the types of religions that exist here which are heavy on combining the physical realm to the spiritual realm, which allows for these beautiful monuments to be constructed.

[nataliehegert]

At the International UFO Museum in Roswell, New Mexico, a group of grey-skinned, silver clad extraterrestrials stand rigid under a metal flying saucer that periodically emits a cloud of vapor from its base. The ground under the aliens’ feet is made to look like rocky desert soil, with plastic cacti and yucca plants interspersed with real rocks and fake rocks, while a replica of a juniper tree partially obscures the metal stand that holds the spaceship aloft. The photo backdrop, instead of depicting the local scenery of Roswell, where the High Plains of the Llano Estacado drop off into the Chihuahuan Desert, erroneously places the figures in the Sonoran Desert, indicated by the presence of a few tall saguaro cacti.

Museum exhibits recount the story of the purported UFO crash in 1947 in a field just outside of Roswell and the subsequent theories of military coverups, alien autopsies, and actual top-secret government surveillance programs. A kind of 20th century folklore unfolds in the chronicling of close encounters of the first, second, and third kind: flying saucer sightings around the globe, reports of strange psychological effects and missing gaps of time, and (wildly) various sketches of alien lifeforms that people claim to have seen.

Outside the museum, one encounters little green men everywhere. On benches, in restaurants, on signs and lampposts.

Before the UFO Museum opened in the 90s the Roswell Incident mythology lay somewhat dormant, staying alive only in the inquisitive imaginations of the UFO obsessed. The museum now welcomes thousands of visitors a year, the linchpin of the city’s new identity as a mecca for alien tourism.

Artist Eric J. García came to Roswell for a year-long stay at the Roswell Artist-in-Residence program and found the critical mass of aliens “seeped” into his brain and started showing up in his artwork. “I started questioning, who’s the alien? Who’s from here, not from here?”

García, who is known for his graphic style and political cartoons, grew up in Albuquerque and got his BFA from the University of New Mexico with a minor in Chicano Studies, and then his MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Before that, he served in the Air Force for four and a half years.

He emerged from his service in a state of disillusionment. By that I mean he became aware of the “illusion” that the U.S. projected abroad and to its own citizenry. “Texas, the Alamo, the West, the idea of the cowboy, the frontier, [other] iconic Americana myths, these are super embedded,” he says.

The myth-building was on display in Roswell in an extremely conspicuous way: in the form of flying saucers and alien caricatures, all in service of tourism to the small Eastern New Mexico city. But it was all a grand distraction from the real truth, García found. Aliens were here, and they had in fact colonized the place.

In Roswell, I used to see these tourist shirts with an alien wearing a sombrero and serape, indicating that people from south of the border are not from here, are alien, are not human. Whereas there are many people crossing that border speaking Indigenous languages…They are from the Americas but now we’re calling them aliens.

In García’s video Alien Juxta (2021), he blends popular science-fiction images of extraterrestrials with “actual aliens”—juxtaposing Alf with Christopher Columbus, flying saucers with colonial ships. Even the language sounds sci-fi: the New World and the Old World. The Final Frontier.

Working with artist and video game designer Rafael Fajardo, García adapted the classic arcade game of Space Invaders, replacing the space aliens with cowboys, cannons, and cathedrals—symbols of American colonization. As the game player, you are an Indigenous person, shooting the invaders with a bow and arrow. “I want people to understand these perspectives,” García says, “that the colonial powers were not always here. There were a people here before you.”

To impress his message, García utilizes tactics of humor, satire, subversion, and a graphic style reminiscent of cartoons and the nostalgia of early video games. In his ink drawings, he often breaks down an image into basic geometric blocks, mimicking 8-bit graphics, a super-simplification of image and idea.

These tech-y icons, however, García renders in an ancient and Indigenous medium—cochineal ink, made from insects that inhabit the nopal cactus. When the Spanish brought cochineal back to Europe from the Americas, it became a phenomenon—carmine red. García also makes his own ink from the fruit of the nopal, the bright violet-pink of the prickly pear tuna, which is vivid and pretty, but unstable and lends itself to erasure if exposed to sunlight.

In Game Over (2023), García employs blood-red cochineal ink to depict the 1945 detonation of the first atomic bomb, the Trinity test, in the Tularosa Basin of New Mexico. Departing from the blocky 8-bit motif, a cloud billows up and away from the X on the map, indicating the lasting effects of fallout drifting across the surrounding region and up into the atmosphere. The moment the world entered the Anthropocene, according to some. GAME OVER, indeed.

During his service in in the Air Force, “working in the belly of the beast,” García came to learn the global extent of the U.S. military presence. He reflects on the pervasive myth of the benevolence and judiciousness of the U.S. empire, and how embedded the military-industrial complex actually is in our society:

I grew up completely militarized. I played G.I. Joes, I read G.I. Joe comics, I watched Rambo action movies, I played military video games, I was constantly being exposed to militarism, right here in Albuquerque with the Kirtland Air Force Base. Every day around six o’clock the Air Force chopper would fly over like clockwork. I was constantly bombarded.

His brother joined the military before him. It was understood that military service was a way out and a way to get to college. He says, “It was inevitable that I would join.”

Aim High is a recruiting slogan for the Air Force, but it also refers to García’s ultimate target when it comes to his artwork. He has his sights set on the biggest forces in the game: imperialism, colonialism, militarism, white supremacy.

With satire and wit, García exposes the construction of reality proffered by the powerful, the alien empire embedded in this land. Their narrative has evolved over the centuries, from the Doctrine of Discovery, to Manifest Destiny, to Make America Great Again or Build Back Better. But, with a blast from a ray gun, an arrow from a bow, or a stroke of the pen, García blows their cover, explodes their myths.

Eric J. García: Mythbuster, published as a fold-out gallery text on the occasion of the artist’s exhibition at Texas Tech University’s Landmark Gallery, February 17 - April 21, 2024.

[brookston]

Holidays 2.20

Holidays

Adult Support & Protection Day (Scotland)

Ansel Adams Day

Blessed Wulfric’s Day

Bean Planting Day

Bun Day (Iceland)

Clean Out Your Bookcases Day

Day of Heavenly Hundred Heroes (Ukraine)

Deadpool Day

Dogwood Day (French Republic)

Ectodermal Dysplasia’s Awareness Day

FFA Alumni Day

FFA National Day of Service

Flying Car Day

Hoodie-Hoo Day (Northern Hemisphere)

Hotel Elevator Day

Hunter S. Thompson Remembrance Day

International Cat Day (Mexico; South America)

International Day of Commemorating Air Crash Victims & Their Families

National Day of Solidarity with Muslim, Arab and South Asian Immigrants

International Lego Classicism Day

International Pipe Smoking Day

Johnny Cash Day (Los Angeles)

Kurt Cobain Day

Love Your Pet Day

Metropolitan Museum of Art Day

Missing Day

Mystery Science Theater Day

National Comfy Day

National Day of Solidarity with Muslim, Arab and South Asian Immigrants

National Handcuff Day

National Leadership Day

National Whistleblower Reward Day

Native Agents Day

No Politics Day

Orbit Day

Princess Alice Day

Psychology Day

Rih Day (a.k.a. Rihanna Appreciation Day)

Society for Psychical Research Day

Student Volunteer Day

Thank You Plant Medicine Day

Toothpick Day

Una Asteroid Day

Women in Blue Jeans Day

World Day of Social Justice (UN)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Clam Chowder Day

National Cherry Pie Day

National Muffin Day

3rd Tuesday in February

Travel Africa Day [3rd Tuesday]

Independence & Related Days

Bardo (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

Castacia (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

Chinland (from UK, 1948) [unrecognized]

Melaka Independence Proclamation Day (Melaka, Malaysia)

Prussia Disestablishment Day

Statehood Day (Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoran; India)

Festivals Beginning February 20, 2024

Singapore Airshow (Singapore) [thru 2.25]

Taipei International Book Exhibit (Taipei, Taiwan) [thru 2.25]

Feast Days

Adopt a Goblin Orphan Day (Shamanism)

Ansel Adams (Artology)

Day of Tacita (Goddess of Silence; Ancient Rome)

Don’t Think About Elephants Day (Pastafarian)

Eleutherius of Tournai (Christian; Saint)

Eucherius of Orléans (Christian; Saint)

Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto (Christian; Saint)

Frederick Douglass (Episcopal Church (USA))

I.G. Farben Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Ivan Albright (Artology)

Jan de Baen (Artology)

Levitation Day (Pastafarian)

Lucretius (Positivist; Saint)

Mr. Can You Guess (Muppetism)

Nine Waves Day (Celtic Book of Days)

Pierre Boulle (Writerism)

Sadoth (Christian; Martyr)

Scleucia and Ctesiphon, with 128 companions (Christian; Martyrs)

Tacita’s Day — Day of Silence (Pagan)

Tyrannio, Zenobius, et al., in Phoenicia (Christian; Martyrs)

Ulrick of England (Christian; Saint)

William Rimmer (Artology)

Wulfric of Haselbury (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

Africa Before Dark (Ub Iwerks Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Disney Cartoon; 1928)

The African Queen (Film; 1952)

The Barber of Seville, by Gioachino Rossini (Opera; 1816)

Candy (Film; 1969)

Cat Meets Mouse (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1942)

Columbo (TV Serties; 1968)

Drag-a-Long Droopy (MGM Cartoon; 1954)

The Duff (Film; 2015)

Euro Trip (Film; 2004)

Follow the Fleet (Film; 1936)

Follow the Swallow or The Inside Story (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 153; 1962)

Freddy the Freshman (WB MM Cartoon; 1932)

George Harrison, by George Harrison (Album; 1979)

Give It To Me Baby, by James Brown (Song; 1981)

The House That Cat Built (WB Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 2021)

How the West Was Won (Film; 1963)

Instant Karma, by the Plastic Ono Band (Song; 1970)

The Magnet Men, Parts 1 & 2 (Underdog Cartoon, S1, Eps. 41 & 42 1965)

The Milkman (Ub Iwerks Cartoon; 1932)

Moose Hunters (Disney Cartoon; 1937)

On A Roll (WB Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 2021)

Piano Concerto in E-flat Major, by Rudolph Ganz (Piano Concerto; 1941)

Playtime for Rollo or Rest in Pieces (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 154; 1962)

Robot Chicken (Animated TV Series; 2005)

Sixth Column, by Robert A. Heinlein (Novel; 1949)

So Big, by Edna Ferber (Novel; 1924)

Sofia the First (Animated Disney TV Series; 2015)

Still Alice (Film; 2015)

There You go, by Pink (Song; 2000)

Veronica, by Elvis Costello (Song; 1989)

Welcome to Mooseport (Film; 2004)

Wild Wife (WB MM Cartoon; 1954)

Woodpecker Wanted (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1965)

Today’s Name Days

Corona, Falko, Jacinta (Austria)

Lav, Lea, Leon (Croatia)

Oldřich (Czech Republic)

Eucharias (Denmark)

Ardi, Hardi, Hardo, Kardo, Meinhard, Meino (Estonia)

Heli, Helinä, Heljä, Hely (Finland)

Aimée (France)

Corona, Falko, Jacinta (Germany)

Leon (Greece)

Aladár, Álmos (Hungary)

Eleuterio, Eros, Otokars, Otomars, Silvano, Smuidra, Ulrico, Vitauts (Italy)

Otokars, Otomārs, Smuidra, Vitauts (Latvia)

Eitvydė, Leonas, Visgintas (Lithuania)

Halldis, Halldor (Norway)

Euchariusz, Eustachiusz, Eustachy, Leon, Ludmiła, Ludomiła, Ostap, Siestrzewit (Poland)

Leon (Romania)

Lívia (Slovakia)

Eleuterio, Jacinta (Spain)

Vivianne (Sweden)

Svitlana (Ukraine)

Aimee, Alaric, Alarica, Alarice, Aimee, Ami, Amy, Amya, Cyd, Cydney, Desmond, Sid, Sidney, Syd, Sydnee, Sydney, Ulric (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 51 of 2024; 315 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 8 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Nuin (Ash) [Day 3 of 28]

Chinese: Month 1 (Bing-Yin), Day 11 (Jia-Yin)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)

Hebrew: 11 Adair I 5784

Islamic: 10 Sha’ban 1445

J Cal: 21 Grey; Sevenday [21 of 30]

Julian: 7 February 2024

Moon: 87%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 23 Homer (2nd Month) [Lucretius]

Runic Half Month: Sigel (Sun) [Day 12 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 62 of 89)

Week: 3rd Week of February

Zodiac: Pisces (Day 2 of 30)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 2.20

Holidays

Adult Support & Protection Day (Scotland)

Ansel Adams Day

Blessed Wulfric’s Day

Bean Planting Day

Bun Day (Iceland)

Clean Out Your Bookcases Day

Day of Heavenly Hundred Heroes (Ukraine)

Deadpool Day

Dogwood Day (French Republic)

Ectodermal Dysplasia’s Awareness Day

FFA Alumni Day

FFA National Day of Service

Flying Car Day

Hoodie-Hoo Day (Northern Hemisphere)

Hotel Elevator Day

Hunter S. Thompson Remembrance Day

International Cat Day (Mexico; South America)

International Day of Commemorating Air Crash Victims & Their Families

National Day of Solidarity with Muslim, Arab and South Asian Immigrants

International Lego Classicism Day

International Pipe Smoking Day

Johnny Cash Day (Los Angeles)

Kurt Cobain Day

Love Your Pet Day

Metropolitan Museum of Art Day

Missing Day

Mystery Science Theater Day

National Comfy Day

National Day of Solidarity with Muslim, Arab and South Asian Immigrants

National Handcuff Day

National Leadership Day

National Whistleblower Reward Day

Native Agents Day

No Politics Day

Orbit Day

Princess Alice Day

Psychology Day

Rih Day (a.k.a. Rihanna Appreciation Day)

Society for Psychical Research Day

Student Volunteer Day

Thank You Plant Medicine Day

Toothpick Day

Una Asteroid Day

Women in Blue Jeans Day

World Day of Social Justice (UN)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Clam Chowder Day

National Cherry Pie Day

National Muffin Day

3rd Tuesday in February

Travel Africa Day [3rd Tuesday]

Independence & Related Days

Bardo (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

Castacia (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

Chinland (from UK, 1948) [unrecognized]

Melaka Independence Proclamation Day (Melaka, Malaysia)

Prussia Disestablishment Day

Statehood Day (Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoran; India)

Festivals Beginning February 20, 2024

Singapore Airshow (Singapore) [thru 2.25]

Taipei International Book Exhibit (Taipei, Taiwan) [thru 2.25]

Feast Days

Adopt a Goblin Orphan Day (Shamanism)

Ansel Adams (Artology)

Day of Tacita (Goddess of Silence; Ancient Rome)

Don’t Think About Elephants Day (Pastafarian)

Eleutherius of Tournai (Christian; Saint)

Eucherius of Orléans (Christian; Saint)

Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto (Christian; Saint)

Frederick Douglass (Episcopal Church (USA))

I.G. Farben Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Ivan Albright (Artology)

Jan de Baen (Artology)

Levitation Day (Pastafarian)

Lucretius (Positivist; Saint)

Mr. Can You Guess (Muppetism)

Nine Waves Day (Celtic Book of Days)

Pierre Boulle (Writerism)

Sadoth (Christian; Martyr)

Scleucia and Ctesiphon, with 128 companions (Christian; Martyrs)

Tacita’s Day — Day of Silence (Pagan)

Tyrannio, Zenobius, et al., in Phoenicia (Christian; Martyrs)

Ulrick of England (Christian; Saint)

William Rimmer (Artology)

Wulfric of Haselbury (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

Africa Before Dark (Ub Iwerks Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Disney Cartoon; 1928)

The African Queen (Film; 1952)

The Barber of Seville, by Gioachino Rossini (Opera; 1816)

Candy (Film; 1969)

Cat Meets Mouse (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1942)

Columbo (TV Serties; 1968)

Drag-a-Long Droopy (MGM Cartoon; 1954)

The Duff (Film; 2015)

Euro Trip (Film; 2004)

Follow the Fleet (Film; 1936)

Follow the Swallow or The Inside Story (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 153; 1962)

Freddy the Freshman (WB MM Cartoon; 1932)

George Harrison, by George Harrison (Album; 1979)

Give It To Me Baby, by James Brown (Song; 1981)

The House That Cat Built (WB Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 2021)

How the West Was Won (Film; 1963)

Instant Karma, by the Plastic Ono Band (Song; 1970)

The Magnet Men, Parts 1 & 2 (Underdog Cartoon, S1, Eps. 41 & 42 1965)

The Milkman (Ub Iwerks Cartoon; 1932)

Moose Hunters (Disney Cartoon; 1937)

On A Roll (WB Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 2021)

Piano Concerto in E-flat Major, by Rudolph Ganz (Piano Concerto; 1941)

Playtime for Rollo or Rest in Pieces (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 154; 1962)

Robot Chicken (Animated TV Series; 2005)

Sixth Column, by Robert A. Heinlein (Novel; 1949)

So Big, by Edna Ferber (Novel; 1924)

Sofia the First (Animated Disney TV Series; 2015)

Still Alice (Film; 2015)

There You go, by Pink (Song; 2000)

Veronica, by Elvis Costello (Song; 1989)

Welcome to Mooseport (Film; 2004)

Wild Wife (WB MM Cartoon; 1954)

Woodpecker Wanted (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1965)

Today’s Name Days

Corona, Falko, Jacinta (Austria)

Lav, Lea, Leon (Croatia)

Oldřich (Czech Republic)

Eucharias (Denmark)

Ardi, Hardi, Hardo, Kardo, Meinhard, Meino (Estonia)

Heli, Helinä, Heljä, Hely (Finland)

Aimée (France)

Corona, Falko, Jacinta (Germany)

Leon (Greece)

Aladár, Álmos (Hungary)

Eleuterio, Eros, Otokars, Otomars, Silvano, Smuidra, Ulrico, Vitauts (Italy)

Otokars, Otomārs, Smuidra, Vitauts (Latvia)

Eitvydė, Leonas, Visgintas (Lithuania)

Halldis, Halldor (Norway)

Euchariusz, Eustachiusz, Eustachy, Leon, Ludmiła, Ludomiła, Ostap, Siestrzewit (Poland)

Leon (Romania)

Lívia (Slovakia)

Eleuterio, Jacinta (Spain)

Vivianne (Sweden)

Svitlana (Ukraine)

Aimee, Alaric, Alarica, Alarice, Aimee, Ami, Amy, Amya, Cyd, Cydney, Desmond, Sid, Sidney, Syd, Sydnee, Sydney, Ulric (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 51 of 2024; 315 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 8 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Nuin (Ash) [Day 3 of 28]

Chinese: Month 1 (Bing-Yin), Day 11 (Jia-Yin)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)

Hebrew: 11 Adair I 5784

Islamic: 10 Sha’ban 1445

J Cal: 21 Grey; Sevenday [21 of 30]

Julian: 7 February 2024

Moon: 87%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 23 Homer (2nd Month) [Lucretius]

Runic Half Month: Sigel (Sun) [Day 12 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 62 of 89)

Week: 3rd Week of February

Zodiac: Pisces (Day 2 of 30)