Here's some of his ORIGINAL ARTWORK that he was kind enough to let me purchase! The black and white sketch is my favorite (okay ... one of my favorite) scenes in the book. Turns out, it was one of his, too! The watercolor is not a scene from the novel, but involves the characters from the book in a scene that, to me, describes in so many levels the marvel of all graphic novels -- "It's an ART book!"
Recently on the ALSC listserv, there has been discussion concerning the purpose and practicality of the Newbery Award. As always, it's interesting to have a national discussion on library related issues. I am always presented with new thoughts.
Personally, I think the Newbery Award still has its place and importance as libraries support literary quality and innovation in conjunction with pairing people with information for education and entertainment. I also support the idea of ALSC creating a "Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers" list which would also be practical in reaching and "hooking" those non-readers.
When I went back to reading Moon Over Manifest, Sister Redempta's statement on page 112 caught my eye: "Start with the word manifest. It's a verb as well as a noun. Look it up." I experienced a bit of an impulse to explore this idea and its presence throughout the novel in an academic way -- similar to how I had explored Tuck Everlasting as an undergraduate student. This wasn't necessarily a negative reaction. However, when I began to read the next chapter which flashed back to 1917, I decided it was time to start another book.
There are so many stories and so much information to explore, that I decided to put it down for awhile and explore something else. There's a place for hooking up the right person to the right story or right information, and for me, this wasn't the right match at the moment.
I've switched gears and began The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan -- Pura Belpre Author Award Winner. I am loving Sis's illustrations and the concrete poetry ...
The Mazza Museum awards the Mazza Medallion for excellence in artistic diversity.
Jerry Mallett introduced the breadth of Kevin Hawkes' work as well as followed his consistent use of shadow and acrylics. One of Hawkes’ previous awards includes the 1994 Golden Kite Award for By the Light of the Halloween Moon, published in 1993. Mallett noticed the significance of the award because it is voted on by other artists.
In his acceptance speech, Hawkes acknowledged the Mazza as “the center for creativity and inspiration.” He compared one’s handwriting to one's art style; one’s personality comes through though the media may be different. He also mentioned some of his other (diverse) artistic interests including rock carving and, at one time, hand-knotting a rug.
“[I think about] when it should be words and when it should be pictures.”
During the Mazza Museum: International Art from Picturebooks Fall Weekend Conference, graphic designer Carin Berger talked about the book as an art object, noting the elements of design in each facet of the book -- book jacket, endpapers, typography ...
As a collage (and stencil) artist, she referred to the “resonance” and mystery from using ephemera and mentioned her love of antique Sears catalogs which have block print art. She demonstrated this influence by showing digital collage/collage illustrations from her work on Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant and Other Poems written by Jack Prelutsky. She also noted that this work came at a time when she was thinking about the “exquisite corpse” method and how to “collage the collage.”
Her newest artistic endeavor involves a diorama technique, which worries her only because of the storage issues in her small New York apartment. Her creative interest also reaches toward a space outside of the book world and into the performance art arena.
When asked about creative blocks, she answered that this was part of the process, “Every process has an arc.”
The last augmented reality feature in Tony DiTerlizzi's Search for Wondla.
Once Wondla Vision started, I pointed the webcam at the computer screen. This creates a mirrored effect of the map of Orbona, particularly noticeable are the doubles of the clouds.
Page 277 of Tony DiTerlizzi's Search for Wondla in augmented reality.
I tried to capture the whole computer set up this time and let myself be in the background.
I haven't received much feedback from the listservs regarding reactions to DiTerlizzi's Search for Wondla. The few I did receive, however, have made me reflect on my initial enthusiasm.
The work is, in my opinion, "distinguished" or "individually distinct" though I must admit that the "excellence in quality" of the augmented reality artwork is questionable. I still give him mad props for "providing the child with a visual experience" that incorporates the viewer and his/her environment.
One librarian brought up the point that the augmented reality pieces don't seem integral to the story ...
TECHNOLOGY (not) ASIDE: I've definitely become more aware and interested in technology this year, starting with the creation of my YouTube account on January first and continuing with exploration in screencasting, touch screen art, pbwiki --> pbworks, and google docs. This fall, I finally took the advice of one of my Kent State library professors and subscribed to Wired. Yesterday, I started playing around with an (old) ipod ... The cassette player in my car is defunct which means I can't even hook up my CD adapter!
LIBRARIES and TECHNOLOGY: Check out this video, and follow the implications...
More and more I am seeing and accepting how this "information age" boom is tied to technology -- the ability to store, access, and share information in ways not used before.
I do believe that the future of Libraries is entwined with technological advances and understandings as well as the need to be a special, physical community location.
Depending on the day and branch in my library system, I already experience many technology questions in conjunction with information needs.
I wonder what other librarians are experiencing? (Next listserv post!)
If Brian Selznick's distinction as the first illustrator to skew the norm of a 32 page picturebook with his Caldecott Award Winning The Invention of Hugo Cabret: A Novel in Word and Pictures in 2008, then surely the distinguishing first attempt at a digital pop-up book exemplified in Tony DiTerlizzi's The Search for Wondla (the first installment in the Wondla trilogy) would be considered in 2011.
I've noticed that more and more of the people (that I help at the library) have tattoos. Perhaps my awareness has increased with my interest in them, or perhaps more people are getting them.
Whatever the reason for this observation, I have a positive outlook on body art that is akin to my love of picturebook illustration ... and I recently stumbled on a thought which brings value to body art as a conversation piece.
With any form of artistic expression (remember my brief cell phone/ring tone post?) or striking diversity, there is opportunity for sharing ... or listening to ... a story. There is potential for learning something new or finding a commonality.
At the very least, dialogic reading shows us that an illustration provides a platform for bonding and conversation.
Conversation and communication (as I explored in my recent article) are keys to fostering unity.
My Summer Conference experience was phenomenal, but I was not prepared for the opportunity to share my writing and illustration aspirations. In addition to my Flickr photostream, above is the digital version of the physical portfolio I am now prepared to share with the Mazza conference goers and speakers.
Tony DiTerlizzi, one of the illustrators who inspires me, will be there, and I would love the chance to learn from him, show him my work, and get his innovative The Search for WondLa (to be releaseed September 21) signed. I'm curious to see how he integrates written and visual storytelling with technology: "DiTerlizzi is pushing the envelope in his latest work, nearly creating a new format that combines a traditional novel with a graphic novel and with the interactivity of the computer." (Review by Connie Tyrrell Burns in School Library Journal.)
"Just as important to the art of coming up with ideas is the art of whittling them down to their essence."
from page 20 of The Illustrated Voice.
Craig Frazier's picturebooks include: Alphabet Critters (1992) = 14 years before Gone Wild by David McLimans (2006) won a Caldecott Honor, Frazier created letters from animal shapes. Tiny Brown Seed (2003) There is a Monkey in My Drawer (2003) Stanley Goes for a Drive (2004) Stanley Mows the Lawn (2005) Stanley Goes Fishing (2006) Trucks Roll (2007) Hank Finds Inspiration (2008) Lots of Dots (Sept 2010)
July 13
"Picture Books Worth Noting" with Floyd Dickman
July 14
"Behind the Scenes" with Jerry Mallett. Learn about what a curator does and how the artwork is processed and stored.
July 15
"Dimensinal Illustration and Marionettes" with Shaun Gentry
This session explores techniques in creating characters 3-dimensionally. Learn what's involved in producing simple figure in clay and even a fully articulated marionette.
While reading the Winter/Spring 2010 issue of OJELA: The Ohio Journal of English Language Arts (a publication of OCTELA, the Ohio Council of Teachers of English Language Arts), I came across an article by Jessica Fries-Gaither. Here are the digital storytelling resources she lists:
Here are some of Fries-Gaither's quotes that speak to illustration and story's ability to transfer learning:
"Image selection sets digital storytelling apart from the traditional writing process because illustration is often an afterthought or only part of the publishing step when writing traditionally." (11)
" 'Stories' in all content areas provide opportunities for students to make connections and synthesize information, two important thinking strategies for reading comprehension." (11)
Calef told Mazza Summer Institute participants the story of how a monkey mugged his mango and inspired this illustration. He has traveled to India and is inspired by the culture's color schemes:
"The Mazza Museum: International Art from Picture Books is the world's largest museum devoted to literacy and the art of children's picture books. Founded in 1982, the Mazza Museum now contains nearly 5,000 original artworks." (http://www.findlay.edu/offices/resources/mazza/default.htm)
I will attend three days (July 13-15) of their Summer Conference with the generous support from the Floyd and Stella Dickman Endowment.
Visiting the museum has been a goal of mine since I was an undergraduate, "Penguin Story Teller" at Youngstown State University. While the club is no longer active, the club and its advisor were key in leading me to where I am today...
