by Mike Rhode
A never-before-seen piece of Richard Thompson's original artwork, rarely seen even in publication, is about to go on display in Columbus, Ohio.
Upcoming exhibitions at The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library &Museum
DRAWING BLOOD: COMICS AND MEDICINE
&
FRONT LINE: EDITORIAL CARTOONISTS AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT
On display April 20, 2019 – October 20, 2019
DRAWING BLOOD: COMICS AND MEDICINE: This
exhibit traces the history of comics’ obsession with medicine from the
18th century to today. The earliest cartoonists frequently satirized a
medical practice dominated by bloodletting, purging, and other largely
ineffective treatments. Over the next two centuries, modern medicine
would go through remarkable transformations. Comics were there for the
good and the bad, helping to rebrand the doctor from quack to hero, but
also critiquing a medical system that often privileged profits over
patients. Drawing Blood highlights the sometimes caustic eye of
cartoonists as they consider doctors, patients, illness, and treatment
in the rapidly changing world of medicine—one which continues to present
new possibilities and new challenges. The exhibit features work by a
wide array of creators, from pioneers of cartooning like James Gillray,
William Hogarth, Thomas Nast, and Frederick Opper to
contemporary greats like Richard Thompson, Carol Tyler, John Porcellino, Alison Bechdel, and Julia Wertz.
Curated by Professor Jared Gardner, OSU Department of English
I received the above notice the other day and have already pointed out that the
second exhibit is co-curated by Ann Telnaes.
I also reached out to ask my friendly acquaintance Dr. Gardner what
piece of Richard Thompson artwork he was including in the show. Curator
Caitlin McGurk and the Billy Ireland did a very nice show of Richard's
artwork a few years ago, and he donated material to them before he
passed away, so I was curious what Jared had chosen.
The press release says you have a piece by Richard Thompson in it. Can you tell me what it is?
The
piece by Richard is a loan from Kevin Wolf— it a small cartoon he did
for an actuarial magazine he regularly did spot-illustration and cover
work for over the years.
What spoke to you about the art? Were you previously a fan of Richard's?
I’ve
long been a fan of Richard’s work, and getting to meet him briefly
during his visit to the exhibition of his work at the Billy Ireland
Cartoon Library & Museum was an incredible honor.
How did you select it for the exhibit, especially since it wasn't in the pieces he donated to the Billy Ireland?
Kevin
Wolf, the owner of this particular piece, shares my interest in
comics and medicine and is a regular attendee at the Graphic Medicine
conference. He shared the cartoon with me, a really fun gag cartoon of a
knight trying to figure out insurance policy options, and he
generously offered to lend it for the show. It will be featured in a
section dedicated to medicine and humor, a section that will also
include an early doctor’s visit by Bill Watterson’s Calvin and an page
from
Mad Magazine poking fun at doctors.
I know the piece. As you note, it was done for Contingencies Magazine, art-directed by Richard's old friend Bono Mitchell. We considered it for The Art of Richard Thompson book but it didn't make the final cut. There was too much to choose from. Below is a scan we made for the book.
Anything else you'd like to add about the exhibit?
I
guess the only other thing to add is that the exhibit begins in the
18th century with Hogarth and co. and ends with the modern “graphic
medicine” movement that was kicked off with Justin Green’s
Binky Brown and which is today a veritable flood of remarkable graphic memoirs and other comics about illness and healing.
(published simultaneously on ComicsDC and Cul de Sac blogs)
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