Jan – jul 2012

Society of Illustrators 2012 – Winter and Spring Schedule of Events

ILLUSTRATORS 54:  SEQUENTIAL-SERIES, MOVING IMAGE AND UNCOMMISSIONED
(now – January 21)
The first of the three-part “Annual Exhibition: Illustrators 54,” the Sequential/Series, Moving Image and Uncommissioned Exhibit features works by leading contemporary illustrators worldwide, selected by a prestigious jury of professionals.  Sequential/Series work includes multi-image projects for which a sequence of images is necessary to fully convey an idea or story.  Examples include work produced for comic books, art journalism or graphic novels.    In its first year as a new category, work featured in the Moving Image section feature animation for commercial purposes such as TV or online advertisements, short or feature length movies, ebooks, apps.  Uncommissioned pieces include all self-generated work.

COMIC WORKS FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION
(now – January 28)

SHADOW KNIGHTS, THE ART OF JEFFREY SMITH
(Now – January 28)

In January 2009, Jeffrey Smith was contacted by David Talbot, founder and former editor-in-chief of one of the first web magazines, Salon.com to work on a new project; a book titledShadow Knights.  The book tells the story of Winston Churchill’s SOE, an acronym for Special Operations Executive, and the courageous men and women who fought a secret war against the Nazi’s and Adolf Hitler.  The scope of this project was important enough to travel, so Jeffrey decided to take a trip to Paris to visit the real places where the events took place.  It took seven and a half months to complete, to research thousands of photographs from the internet, books, and magazines, to shoot 567 photographs of models and myself, produce 22 photographic comps, many more sketches, 22 full page paintings, and 2 covers. The Society of Illustrators is pleased to present the entire series of illustrations for Shadow Knights, now part of the Permanent Collection, on display in the Hall of Fame Dining Room from January 3 – 28th, 2012.

SPECIAL EVENT:  BRUNCH AT THE SOCIETY
(January 14, 11:00am – 3:00pm)
Please join the Society of Illustrators for a pre-fixe brunch buffet after viewing the first part of our annual exhibit, Illustrators 54: Sequential/Series, Moving Image and Uncommissioned.
$30 per person.
Space is limited so please make reservations now by emailing john@societyillustrators.org

ILLUSTRATORS 54:  BOOK AND EDITORIAL
(January 25 – February 18)
The second of the three-part “Annual Exhibition: Illustrators 54,” the Book and Editorial Exhibit will feature works by leading contemporary illustrators worldwide, selected by a prestigious jury of professionals.

SPECIAL EVENT:  COMICS OUT LOUD
(January 28, 1:00pm – 5:00pm)
Top comic book creators—one from each discipline of the medium—demonstrating and discussing their work processes as attendees circulate around the room and watch the process of “sequential art” (as the great Will Eisner dubbed it) being made.  Featuring artists: Louise Simonson, Walter Simonson, Bob Wiacek, Chris Sotomayor, and John Workman.
Tickets: RSVP@societyillustrators.org or call 212-838-2560

FILM SERIES:  BILL PLYMPTON presents THE RESURRECTION OF WINSOR MCCAY’S ”THE FLYING HOUSE”
(February 8, 6:30pm – 8:00pm)
Winsor McCay is considered to be the ”father of animation”.  He is probably best known for his newspaper comic strip, Little Nemo in Slumberland (1905-14 and 1924-27), and the animated short film, Gertie and the Dinosaur (1914).  Shortly before publishing magnet William Randolph Hearst put an end to his animated films, McCay created one of his greatest shorts, The Flying House.  Independent animator Bill Plympton has restored the film by digitally retouching and coloring each frame.  This version also includes voice overs from actors Matthew Modine and Patricia Clarkson. On February 8th, Bill will be premiering the newly restored The Flying House at the Society of Illustrators.\
Ticket:  $20 non-members, $15 members, $10 students

ILLUSTRATORS 54:  ADVERTISING AND INSTITUTIONAL
(February 23 – March 17)
The third of the three-part “Annual Exhibition: Illustrators 54,” the Advertising and Institutional Exhibit will feature works by leading contemporary illustrators worldwide, selected by a prestigious jury of professionals.

”ICE AGE” TO THE DIGITAL AGE: THE 3D ANIMATION ART OF BLUE SKY STUDIOS
(March 21 – May 5)
Presenting Scrat the prehistoric squirrel, along with fellow stars from the blockbuster Ice Agefilms and more. Don’t miss this exciting interactive exhibition exploring the art of animation in the digital age. Take a lively look behind the scenes at Blue Sky Studios, where their unique creative and technical process brings imaginative characters and stories to life.

STANLEY MELTZOFF: OCEANS AND OTHERS WORLDS
(June 6 – July 28)
Universally acknowledged as the first and still finest artist ever to paint the world’s apex game fish, Meltzoff was commissioned by Sports Illustrated in 1960 to create heretofore unimagined renderings of fish in their natural habitats, amazing the critics and turning the entire category on its head. An avid and experienced diver, Meltzoff’s thousands of hours spent underwater combined with a supremely gifted hand to create some of sporting art’s most memorable imagery. His subsequent paintings of tuna, billfish, and other species provided landlubbers everywhere a unique glimpse into a bluewater world filled with movement and drama. Widely honored throughout his career, including election in 1999 to the Society of Illustrator’s Hall of Fame, Meltzoff’s death in 2006 stilled a brush that will never be equaled.  Now the Society of Illustrators is delighted to announce an upcoming exhibition of the largest Meltzoff collection in decades. Almost 90 original works of art have been gathered from around the world, including formative sketches, preliminary studies, unfinished paintings, and a spectacular array of signature finishes.