~KRAMERS ERGOT 7/BOOK RELEASE/DESERT ISLAND
DESERT ISLAND – ANNOUNCES – AN ALL-DAY !! BOOK SIGNING PARTY !!
FOR – THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED & HOTLY DEBATED – KRAMERS ERGOT 7 !!
SAT – DEC 6, 2008 – at DESERT ISLAND – 540 METROPOLITAN AVE – WILLIAMSBURG – BROOKLYN
L TRAIN TO LORIMER – BET UNION & LORIMER
HRS: TUES-SUN noon-9PM. closed Mondays
GABRIEL FOWLER of DESERT ISLAND writes to tell us: “Kramers Ergot 7 is the most ambitious comics anthology of the past decade. While previous issues of Kramers explored an innovative blend of art and comics, this collection focuses on expanding the boundaries of the narrative comics page. KE7’s massive 16 x 21 in. page size has allowed the artists to tell stories at a scope not seen since the expansive Sunday newspaper comics of the early twentieth century, including over 50 of the world’s most esteemed cartoonists, it draws on the talents of established cartoonists, newcomers, elegant stylists, and unpredictable innovators such as DANIEL CLOWES, GABRIELLE BELL, MATT GROENING, C.F., CHRIS WARE, JAIME HERNANDEZ, C. TYLER, BLANQUET, TED MAY, ADRIAN TOMINE, JOHNNY RYAN, KIM DEITCH, and many others.
PUBLISHED BY BUENAVENTURA PRESS, NOVEMBER 2008. 16 x 21 in. 96 pgs. Full Cover. Hardcover. $125
EDITED BY SAMMY HARKHAM – who also did the cover artwork.
IN-PERSON SIGNING SCHEDULE for SAT DEC 6, 2008
4:00 – 4:45 pm – DAVID HEATLEY & JOHN PHAM
4:45 – 5:30 pm – JAMES McSHANE & RON RAGE Jr.
5:30 – 6:15 pm – GABRIELLE BELL & JERRY MORIARTY
6:15 – 7:00 pm – ADRAIN TOMINE & JONATHAN BENNETT
7:00 – 7:45 pm – BEN KATCHOR & KIM DEITCH
7:45 – 8:30 pm – MATTHEW THURBER / JESSE McMANUS
8:30 – 9:15 pm – SAMMY HARKHAM / FRANK SANTORO
9:15 – 10:00 pm – SAMMY HARKHAM / KEVIN HUIZENGA
and yes, check out: BUENAVENTURA PRESS !!
out of OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA & with exquisite graphics on their website !!
UP-DATE: MONDAY DEC 8, 2008
THE BOOK LAUNCH at DESERT ISLAND – was an a-m-a-z-i-n-g event !!
so much creative energy – bouncing off the bookshelves, as many of the talented KRAMERS ERGOT 7 contributors sat,
and interacted – with the public, and among themselves – as they collectively inscribed a limited edition bookplate. It was really interesting to watch each artist place their own set of favorite drawing tools – on the table beside them. You can see Sammy Harkham’s small assortment – in the photo above, in his shirt pocket !! Some preferred well-worn pencils, others brought just one or two colored pencils, some brought small traveling sets with a full range a full range of hues – and some just resorted to their favorite fine point black felt tip marker/pen. All seemed to incorporate signature drawings or simple linear motifs – along with their names. They also incorporated their marks very individually into the custom-designed SAMMY HARKHAM bookplate. For example RON REGE Jr. was very contrarian and put his signature and a small figure/profile – in a bottom corner, and, not in a designated ’empty’ place – same with KIM DEITCH !! – who drew in a very charming and funny ‘signature’ cartoon figure, with colored flourishes, no less !! – in a upper right hand corner. look at the photos from the book launch – to see what GABRIELLE BELL came up with !! what the hell – there were no rules, and it was great to see how inventive and individually expressive – these guys were – right down to the very last drop !! (in fact GABRIEL FOWLER later told me – cartoonists as a group – tend to be very contrarian – yo, tell me about it !!)
The awesome cover was done by SAMMY HARKHAM !! who was there. the book was huge, oversize and super delicious to hold and to peruse !! The Table of Contents was a riot. Luckily DESERT ISLAND provided a house copy – open on a nice big table to ramble through at will. and we have to report with great delight !! – that hometown favorite – FRANK SANTORO – contributed one of the most delightful sets of pages !!.
working on the pix from the event – in the meantime – these 2 links might tide you over !!!
this is a photo of KRAMERS ERGOT 7 – PUBLISHER – ALVIN BUENAVENTURA !!
it was posted on boingboing by MARK FRAUNFELDER – NOVEMBER 17, 2008
the caption says: “I snapped this photo of publisher ALVIN BUENAVENTURA holding a copy of the latest issue of KRAMERS ERGOT, a brobdignian anthology of comic book art by cartoonist luminaries at the top of their game. Opening the book and being treated to 32″ x 42″ spreads is mind-bendingly fun. This is the way all comic books should be made.”
ONE, I think – it’s a really interesting photo, and, TWO: it’s also cool to see just how big that book – really is !!!
also – the VILLAGE VOICE recently posted an interesting review of both KRAMERS ERGOT 7 and THE GANZFELD 7 !! – both new releases !!
see: VILLAGE VOICE – NOV 12, 2008/KRAMERS ERGOT 7 & THE GANZFELD 7
from that VILLAGE VOICE post: THE GANZFELD 7 seems to have a – TAYLOR McKIMENS !! spread !!!
and also: “MAT BRINKMAN and JOE GRILLO deliver 24 pages of outrageously collaged faux cassette covers” !!
the VILLAGE VOICE article features this page of KIM DEITCH comic work – from KRAMERS ERGOT 7.
A PREVIEW OF PIX FROM: THE KRAMERS ERGOT 7 BOOK LAUNCH/DESERT ISLAND/DEC 6, 2008
KIM DEITCH – who just had a retrospective at MoCCA – MUSEUM OF COMIC & CARTOON ART, here in NYC !!
KRAMERS ERGOT 7 BOOK LAUNCH – DESERT ISLAND, BROOKLYN, NY
SAMMY HARKHAM – the editor and founder of KRAMERS ERGOT !!
KRAMERS ERGOT 7 BOOK LAUNCH – DESERT ISLAND, BROOKLYN, NY
FRANK SANTORO at the KRAMERS ERGOT 7 BOOK LAUNCH – DESERT ISLAND, BROOKLYN, NY
FRANK SANTORO – in KRAMERS ERGOT 7
FRANK SANTORO – in KRAMERS ERGOT 7
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
PHOTOS FROM THE BOOK LAUNCH JUST WENT LIVE !! – THURSDAY DEC 11, 2008/8:21 PM
see: MORE !! PHOTOS !! FROM THE BOOK LAUNCH !!
UP-DATE: THURSDAY – DEC 11, 2008 – LAST 2 STOPS !! – on THE KRAMERS ERGOT 7 – BOOK LAUNCH TOUR !!
THURSDAY – DECEMBER 11, 2008 / 7 PM – TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA – THE BEGUILING
601 MARKHAM ST.
SATURDAY – DECEMBER 13, 2008 / 5-9 PM – CHICAGO, IL. – CHICAGO COMICS
3244 N. CLARK ST.
UP-DATE: MONDAY DECEMBER 15 2008 – 1:17 PM !!
GABRIEL FOWLER has told us he did indeed sell-out his first initial shipment of 25 copies – but he has arranged for about 35 more – to become available for pre-order. you can can reach him at the DESERT ISLAND website, by phone at: 1-718-388-5087 or just drop by the shop – 540 METROPOLITAN BLVD in Williamsburg, BROOKLYN !! where you can check-out the book – in person.
He was also kind enough to hook us up to a very – in-depth – interview with KRAMERS ERGOT EDITOR and FOUNDER – SAMMY HARKHAM – that appeared in the COMICS REPORTER on AUGUST 27, 2008 !!
see: COMICS REPORTER/SAMMY HARKHAM !!
some of the technical details we found interesting ? that great shiny, but NOT too shiny – middle-heavy weight and absolutely deluxe paper the book is printed on – is called: NEW AGE !! and the small, shiny rainbow-shifting hued. almost glittery, but more subtle – book title on the front hard cover – that captured our eye so many times – is a process called: FOIL STAMPING !!
also check out SAMMY’S comic shop in Los Angeles, called: 
with a blog at: FAMILY blog
and a list of events at: FAMILY events
. . . . . as well, and I bet it’s guaranteed that SAMMY HARKHAM cringes at this link !! – (he didn’t even want his picture taken at the book launch !!) – BECAUSE … it outright calls him a ‘genius’ !! – longtime culture/vulture PAUL BUHLE, currently a senior lecturer at BROWN UNIVERSITY – offers up a very insightful take on SAMMY HARKHAM – from the perspective of someone who has seen it all – on: JEWCY !!
and, where we also found this jpeg of SAMMY HARKHAM’S comic book – CRICKETS !!
SAMMY HARKHAM/CRICKETS/COURTESY: JEWCY
in conclusion, and to make amends for providing that link, Sammy !!
here’s a peak at the MATT GROENING – contribution to KRAMERS ERGOT 7 – called ‘LIFE IN HEAVEN / THE ROAD TO SUCCESS’ …. and, don’t you just want to see it – full scale – 16 x 21 in. – big time !!
MATT GROENING/IMAGE COURTESY: BUENAVENTURA PRESS
and . . .
a page by MATT FURIE !!/IMAGE COURTESY: BUENAVENTURA PRESS
and a page by MAT BRINKMAN !!/IMAGE COURTESY: BUENAVENTURA PRESS