Chicago Alternative Comics Expo

June 1 & 2, 2019 - Free!

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Blick art supplies is celebrating the opening of their Evanston location with a floor to ceiling spray paint wall & live demos! More info here. We're also happy to be offering a 20% Off coupon to all CAKE friends (valid through 2/28/19) @blick_evanston on instagram

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If you’re thinking of creating your own comic, but don’t know where to start, check out StoryStudio’s “Bookbinding” course on February 4! Artist Regin Igloria will show you how to create a booklet that you can brag about at this summer's expo. Materials will be provided.

Here is the link to the class for further info: https://www.storystudiochicago.com/product/bookbinding/

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The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo is very excited to announce our 2019 poster artist, Marnie Galloway!

Marnie Galloway is a cartoonist and artist working in Chicago. Her first graphic novel, In the Sounds and Seas, was collected by One Peace Books in 2016 from a Xeric Award winning series. Other comics of note include Burrow (2016), Particle/Wave (2016), and Slightly Plural (2018).

Marnie is also a former organizer of CAKE, and championed the creation of our Cupcake Award, which spotlights upcoming talent in indie comics. This year Marnie is also serving as mentor for Cupcake recipient, Diana H. Chu.

Stay tuned for more artwork from Marnie and updates on CAKE 2019, June 1st-2nd at Center on Halsted.

[cakechicago]

The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo is very excited to announce our 2019 poster artist, Marnie Galloway!

Marnie Galloway is a cartoonist and artist working in Chicago. Her first graphic novel, In the Sounds and Seas, was collected by One Peace Books in 2016 from a Xeric Award winning series. Other comics of note include Burrow (2016), Particle/Wave (2016), and Slightly Plural (2018).

Marnie is also a former organizer of CAKE, and championed the creation of our Cupcake Award, which spotlights upcoming talent in indie comics. This year Marnie is also serving as mentor for Cupcake recipient, Diana H. Chu.

Stay tuned for more artwork from Marnie and updates on CAKE 2019, June 1st-2nd at Center on Halsted.

[cakechicago]

The Deadline to Apply for the 2017 Cupcake Award Is Coming Soon!

The deadline for applying for the 2017 Cupcake Award is coming up on July 31! Please visit our Cupcake Award page to apply.

We spoke to last year’s winner, Kelly Fernandez, about her experience:

What was the process of applying for the Cupcake award like?

The hardest part of applying for the Cupcake award was thinking of a story to submit. I spent days racking my brain trying to come up with a compelling fiction story, but I always felt like nothing was good enough. Then I thought: “Why don’t I just tell my story?” I was nervous because I had never made an autobiographical comic, but I decided to just do it!

What did you learn when creating your comic?

I learned that making comics involves taking care of yourself, too. While working on my final art, I barely ate, slept, or spoke to anyone. It wasn’t healthy. Deadlines, taking feedback, and working with others is a vital part of working in comics, so learning how to handle the pressure of these things was important for me. You need to take breaks to destress, exercise, and recharge.

How did you like working with this year’s guest judge/mentor, Caitlin McGurk?

Caitlin was great; she was so supportive and friendly. She was always there to help me not only with my project for the Cupcake award, but also to give me advice about school and my career. I’m very grateful to have had her as my mentor, and I hope we stay friends for a long time.

Do you have any other thoughts about CAKE or the Cupcake award, or any words of encouragement for people who apply? CAKE and winning the Cupcake award was an incredible experience, and I strongly encourage people to apply! I learned so much and met so many great people, and I would do it again if I could.

About the Cupcake Award

The Cupcake Award is a juried prize that supports the publication of a new minicomic by an emerging artist whose work is primarily self-published. The winner of the award receives $250 to print a new minicomic, a free half table at the next year’s CAKE (where their minicomic will debut), and the mentor support of a special guest judge.

About CAKE

The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) is a weekend-long celebration of independent comics, inspired by Chicago’s rich legacy as home to many of underground and alternative comics’ most talented artists–past, present, and future. Featuring comics for sale, workshops, exhibitions, panel discussions, and more, CAKE is dedicated to fostering community and dialogue among independent artists, small presses, publishers, and readers. For any questions about CAKE, please email [email protected].

[2dcloud]

2dcloud @ CAKE 2017

Table 515

Debuts: Kindling by Xia Gordon 100 by Nou Altcomics Magazine 4 Architecture of An Atom by Juliacks Mirror Mirror II edited by Sean T. Collins and Julia Gfrörer Sound of Snow Falling by Maggie Umber Yours by Margot Ferrick Extended Play by Jake Terrell

Artists: Maggie Umber (Sound of Snow Falling, Time Capsule, & Startled Maggie) Margot Ferrick (Yours & Sec) Tommi Parrish (Perfect Hair) Carta Monir (Secure Connect)

MMII Contributors: Simon Hanselmann Laura Lannes

[zegas]

CAKE (June 10-11) 

HEROES (June 16-18)

PATREON

COPRA 30

ZEGAS 

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Workshop: Visual Recipes: The Art of Instructional Comics June 11th, 1:30–2:30 p.m.  Visual Recipes: The Art of Instructional Comics Do you have a special skill, piece of secret knowledge, family recipe, or weird trick that just has to be shared with the world?

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Workshop: Visual Recipes: The Art of Instructional Comics June 11th, 1:30–2:30 p.m.  Visual Recipes: The Art of Instructional Comics Do you have a special skill, piece of secret knowledge, family recipe, or weird trick that just has to be shared with the world?

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Workshop: Signs of the Times: Abstracting Adaptation June 11th, 3:00–4:00 p.m. Signs of the Times: Abstracting Adaptation Ron Regé, Jr., is best known for his adaptations of mystical and esoteric texts (The Cartoon Utopia, What Parsifal Saw), but throughout his career he has maintained an interest in the here and now, reflecting on the contemporary political climate.

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Panel: Comics and Resistance

Panel: Comics and Resistance

June 11th, 11:30–12:30 p.m. Comics and Resistance This year, as right-wing extremism has produced a reality-television presidency, Brexit, and the specter of a neo-Nazi-led France, the question emerges: Can activism manifest as art? In this panel discussion, cartoonists Leila Abdelrazaq,  Ben Passmore, Isabella Rotman, and Bianca Xunise will address how comics can galvanize populations to action.…

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Special Guest: Ron Rege, Jr! CAKE 2017 is excited to welcome Ron Regé, Jr. as a special guest! Be sure to catch Ron in the Maximalism panel on Saturday, June 10th, and also leading his workshop on Sunday, June 11th!

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CAKE Sponsor Spotlight: Center on Halsted

CAKE is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization, and if it wasn’t for the support of our generous sponsors, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. We wanted to take the time to spotlight our amazing sponsors, and we encourage you to support them!

Center on Halsted

Center on Halsted is the Midwest's most comprehensive community center dedicated to advancing community and securing the health and well-being of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) people of Chicagoland. More than 1,000 community members visit the Center every day, located in the heart of Chicago's Lakeview Neighborhood.

We are open to the public every day from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

We work hard to provide a safe and welcoming environment with programs and services for the entire community. Our programs range from volleyball, dance performances and cooking classes to rapid HIV testing, group therapy and vocational training. We partner regularly with other organizations and groups from across Chicago and the nation to provide additional programming for the community.

Center on Halsted also serves as an incubator for a number of smaller LGBTQ non-profit organizations, called Resident Partners. We provide operational support, space and resources for organizations that may otherwise find it difficult to interact and grow.

In addition, there is a Whole Foods Market in the building with two levels of underground parking at Center on Halsted (note, parking is exclusively for Whole Foods customers). Free wi-fi access is available throughout the building including our lobby, reading library and our rooftop terrace. We also offer meeting and reception space, with special discounts for non-profit community groups.

For more information, please check out our programs and events pages. And check out our get involved pages to find out how you can help us advance the LGBTQ community. We hope to see you at the Center soon!

About CAKE

The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) is a weekend-long celebration of independent comics, inspired by Chicago’s rich legacy as home to many of underground and alternative comics’ most talented artists–past, present, and future. Featuring comics for sale, workshops, exhibitions, panel discussions, and more, CAKE is dedicated to fostering community and dialogue among independent artists, small presses, publishers, and readers. The sixth annual CAKE will take place Saturday, June 10, and Sunday, June 11, 2017, at the Center on Halsted, 3656 North Halsted Avenue in Chicago. For any questions about CAKE, please email [email protected].

[cakechicago]

CAKE Sponsor Spotlight: The Empty Bottle

CAKE is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization, and if it wasn’t for the support of our generous sponsors, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. We wanted to take the time to spotlight our amazing sponsors, and we encourage you to support them!

The Empty Bottle

In 1992 the Empty Bottle started out as a cat-ridden hole-in-the-wall bar in Ukrainian Village (just south of Wicker Park) where you could get any one of nine beers for a buck-fifty or less, play pool for 50 cents, and find everything from Monster Magnet to Bill Monroe on the jukebox. On Halloween of 1993, we moved two blocks up the street and threw open the doors to our new, sound-equipped, slightly larger hole with three nights of great shows, culminating with a SCRAWL performance that could have been a scene out of "Carrie." We've done a bunch of shows since then; in fact, we've been anything but empty these last 20 or so years, thanks to the same low prices, lack of attitude, and dedicated regulars that made the original bar such a success.

About CAKE

The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) is a weekend-long celebration of independent comics, inspired by Chicago’s rich legacy as home to many of underground and alternative comics’ most talented artists–past, present, and future. Featuring comics for sale, workshops, exhibitions, panel discussions, and more, CAKE is dedicated to fostering community and dialogue among independent artists, small presses, publishers, and readers. The sixth annual CAKE will take place Saturday, June 10, and Sunday, June 11, 2017, at the Center on Halsted, 3656 North Halsted Avenue in Chicago. For any questions about CAKE, please email [email protected].

[cakechicago]

CAKE Sponsor Spotlight: Blick Art Materials

CAKE is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization, and if it wasn’t for the support of our generous sponsors, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. We wanted to take the time to spotlight our amazing sponsors, and we encourage you to support them!

Blick Art Materials

Since 1911, artists have turned to Dick Blick Art Materials for dependable savings, a huge selection, and fine customer service on art supplies.

At Blick Art Materials, family owners and dedicated staff support the Visual Art Community by providing the widest selection of art supplies at the lowest prices. With extraordinary service and integrity, they strive to provide artists, educators, students, and employees with the tools, assistance, and training they need to grow, innovate, and reach their creative potential.

CAKE is extremely pleased to partner with Blick Art Materials in 2017 as our Exclusive Sponsor of Art Supplies. Blick's knowledgeable, dependable, and creative staff have supported us every step of the way. We hope you will visit them at their Chicago stores in the Loop at 42 S. State Street and in Lincoln Park at 1574 N Kingsbury Street..

Click the link below for savings from our sponsor, Blick Art Materials:

http://www.dickblick.com/stores/promotions/ChicagoMktCAKE2017

About CAKE

The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) is a weekend-long celebration of independent comics, inspired by Chicago’s rich legacy as home to many of underground and alternative comics’ most talented artists–past, present, and future. Featuring comics for sale, workshops, exhibitions, panel discussions, and more, CAKE is dedicated to fostering community and dialogue among independent artists, small presses, publishers, and readers. The sixth annual CAKE will take place Saturday, June 10, and Sunday, June 11, 2017, at the Center on Halsted, 3656 North Halsted Avenue in Chicago. For any questions about CAKE, please email [email protected].

[cakechicago]

CAKE Sponsor Spotlight: Chicago Architecture Foundation

CAKE is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization, and if it wasn’t for the support of our generous sponsors, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. We wanted to take the time to spotlight our amazing sponsors, and we encourage you to support them!

Chicago Architecture Foundation

Our friends at The Chicago Architecture Foundation recently completed a successful Kickstarter for their comics project No Small Plans. No Small Plans is a graphic novel that follows the neighborhood adventures of teens in Chicago’s past, present and future as they wrestle with designing the city they want, need and deserve.

The book was inspired by the 1911 Wacker’s Manual, which was once used in classrooms to explain Daniel Burnham’s 1909 Plan of Chicago. It is filled with beautiful illustrations and divided into three chapters set in the years 1928, 2017 and 2211. Each chapter ends with a map and a short interlude about Burnham, to give readers insight into the creation of the 1909 Plan and other urban planning challenges.

No Small Plans was launched in conjunction with CAF’s 50th anniversary and our new “Meet Your City” initiative, which aims to foster civic engagement. In partnership with Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Public Library, CAF aspires to distribute 30,000 copies of No Small Plans for free to Chicago teens over the next three years.

CAF launched a Kickstarter campaign at the end of March to raise funds for “No Small Plans” and hit our $20,000 goal in just 10 days. By the end of April we surpassed $65,000, which will result in the distribution of at least 5,000 free copies of the novel to students by the end of 2017.

You can pre-order or request copies of the book today at architecture.org/teach-learn/no-small-plans/

About CAKE

The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) is a weekend-long celebration of independent comics, inspired by Chicago’s rich legacy as home to many of underground and alternative comics’ most talented artists–past, present, and future. Featuring comics for sale, workshops, exhibitions, panel discussions, and more, CAKE is dedicated to fostering community and dialogue among independent artists, small presses, publishers, and readers. The sixth annual CAKE will take place Saturday, June 10, and Sunday, June 11, 2017, at the Center on Halsted, 3656 North Halsted Avenue in Chicago. For any questions about CAKE, please email [email protected].

[cakechicago]

What's a punch card?

What’s a punch card?

You can get free stuff at CAKE 2017 just for buying comics! What?! It’s true! When you get your program from the info booth upon entering, there will be a detachable punch card. When you buy something from an artist, have them write down their name and the price of what you bought. The more stuff you buy, the more free things you get. $15-25: A show poster and a set of CAKE buttons! $26-65:…

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