The San Francisco Arts Commission, in collaboration with the Cartoon Art Museum, will present a Golden Gate Comics Workshop on Sunday, January 25, 2009 from 1-4 p.m. at the Cartoon Art Museum, located at 655 Mission Street between Montgomery and 3rd Streets in San Francisco's South of Market District. The artists Briana Miller and Thien Pham will present demonstrations of comic book techniques and a hands-on silk screen workshop that is open to the public and free of charge.
Miller and Pham set out to create a comicbook story that can be read in both directions, so that pedestrians can read the story regardless of the direction they are walking on Market Street. Both the first and the sixth posters were designed as comic book covers, each with a different title: the first poster begins a story titled LOVE'S UNSUNG HERO and the sixth poster begins a story titled THE MIGHTY DEFENDER. The stories, which include a hero, a sweet romance, and an encounter with dastardly villains, both unfold in San Francisco with images of the Golden Gate and the Bay Bridges, the Ferry Building, and The Mint.
The artists worked in a style reminiscent of early comic books, with lush colors and carefully drawn details. As there is no written narrative or dialogue, the posters can be understood and enjoyed by people of any age and any cultural background.
Both artists work in comics, illustration, and design, and both teach computer arts and drawing, and Miller also teaches photography, at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland. They have previously collaborated on design work for Kearny Street Workshop in San Francisco, the Oakland Magazine, and Care Package T-shirts.
THE MIGHT DEFENDER unfolds across four repeating series of six poster designs installed in consecutive order in 24 triangular kiosks on Market Street between Van Ness and the Embarcadero from December 22, 2008 until March 19, 2009.
Information: www.cartoonart.org.
