The Art of Joe Staton at the Storefront Artist Project

This is something you should all check out, especially if you have kids and want to travel to the Berkshires this summer:

Pittsfield, MA…Pittsfield’s Storefront Artist Project is teaming up with the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art in New York this summer to present The Art of Joe Staton. Staton is a well-known cartoonist, and his work on Batman, Scooby Doo, Rugrats, Jonny Quest, the Wild Thornberrys, Green Lantern, E-Man and Michael Mauser will be highlighted in the exhibition. The Art of Joe Staton will be on view August 2 – 31, 2008, at the Storefront Artist Project, and a series of related free workshops and programs will also be offered.

With a career spanning over three decades, Staton is a legend in the world of comic book art. His career began in 1971 with Charlton comics where he worked with Nicola Cuti to create E-Man and Michael Mauser, two popular characters still published today. Staton is the former artist for the most successful crime comic book of our time – Scooby Doo and is currently the artist on Jughead’s new look from Archie Comics.

The Art of Joe Staton is curated by Lawrence Klein, chairman emeritus and founder of the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art. A resident of Pittsfield, Klein founded the New York based museum in 2001. “When I founded the museum, it was a way to set an example on how people can give back to the community. Similarly, I became involved with the Storefront Artists Project to give back to the community in which I now live,” said Klein.

A series of related events and workshops begins with an opening reception on August 2. On August 3 Staton will conduct a free, day-long workshop including a drawing demonstration, sketch-a-thon, and discussion. All programs are free of charge and held at The Storefront Artists Project, unless otherwise stated. For more information, including pre-registration contact the Storefront Artist Project at 413-442-7201 or visit www.storefrontartist.org.

On August 23, Event with Jim Salicrup, Editor-in-Chief, of Papercutz, the youth-friendly publisher of Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Tales from the Crypt, and the Classics Illustrated library with author Stefan Petrucha (Nancy Drew Graphic Novels) will talk about writing, art, publishing and review the artwork and writings of those attending.

Educator and author Tim Callahan leads a session of superhero splendor on August 17 when participants can create their own super-powered characters and draw stories about their exploits. During this two-hour workshop, participants will learn how to put characters into trouble and get them out alive.

On August 9, local cartoonist Todd Casey will conduct a drawing workshop that emphasizes the use of individual style. During the workshops, participants will learn how to create characters and move them through a series of panels to make the comic strips come to life on the page.

Hey, look. I'm involved! See you this summer.