From rfernand@chuma.cas.usf.edu Mon Jul  7 12:55:51 1997
Date: Mon, 7 Jul 1997 12:36:10 -0400 (EDT)
From: Robert Fernandez 
To: rfernand@chuma.cas.usf.edu
Subject: getdoc.xp?recnum=115507&server=db95q4&CONTEXT=868293745.11645&hitnum=9


   [1] [Previous] [2][Next] [3][Current Results] [4][Get Thread]
   [5][Author Profile] [6][Post] [7][Post] [8][Reply] [9][LINK] [LINK] 
   
     _________________________________________________________________
   
  Article 10 of 12

Subject:      [10]Attack of the Killer Comix Reviews!
From:         [11]"No guru, no method, no teacher" 
Date:         1995/10/02
Message-Id:   <44pueb$cja@sulla.cyberstore.ca>
Newsgroups:   rec.arts.comics.info,rec.arts.comics.strips
[12][More Headers]

  Article Segment 1 of 2
  [13](Get All 2 Segments)



Attack of the Killer Comix Reviews!             no. 14

***********************************************************

Mudslingers (The Art of Clay and Cheryl Bennett)
Gallery Mido, Belleview Mido Resort Hotel
25 Belleview Blvd, Belleair/Clearwater, FL 34617


The Belleview Hotel is one of those buildings that makes you say they
don't build them like they used to. It's a sprawling Victorian hotel,
built around 1896 by Tampa area tycoon Henry B. Plant. It's had plenty of
new owners and additions, but it's still a resort for people with money to
burn. Basically, it's a place where I expect to get thrown out of. :)

The Gallery Mido is a cramped, almost (but not quite) charming room tucked
away down a wing of the hotel lobby. The gallery staff of two completely
ignored us, except to glance over their shoulders to make sure we weren't
stealing any jewelry from the gift shop.

Clay Bennett is one of my favorite political cartoonists. Part of that is
admittedly regional bias; I'm happy that a cartoonist so incisive and
liberal can survive, and nearly thrive, in the retirement belt. He was the
cartoonist for the St. Petersburg Times for a good number of years, until
he was suddenly fired, allegedly because the editor-in-chief was unhappy
with his left-of-center views.

His drawing style is very clean and sharp, not in the least bit muddled,
and he, unlike many other political cartoonists, makes quite a bit of use
of grays and shading. Seeing his originals, however, didn't provide me
with any insight into his work, other than that he draws at pretty close
to the size the cartoons are printed. But I'm no artist, so value of
seeing the originals may be lost on me. (I'm assuming they were the
originals; they were selling them for about $100-$250.)

Naturally, I laughed quite a bit, though I didn't think there were nearly
enough cartoons exhibited. Some had already been sold, I think, but the
space was small to begin with. It didn't strike me as a "best of"
collection - more like a "whatever's for sale" collection, which is, of
course, what it was. Not to say there wasn't some hysterical pieces there.
The best lampooned dog intelligence rankings, featuring the dumbest dog,
the Afghan hound, watching Rush Limbaugh.

His wife Cheryl Bennett is a ceramic sculptor. Her work is small and very
colorful. It's interesting, but it didn't interest me enough to buy one
of her moderately priced clocks.

On the way out, we stopped in their "historical museum" (almost more
interesting than the gallery), featuring old knick-knacks and photographs
from the hotel's history. There was a huge piece of steampunk Americana:
a monstrous movie projector from the 1920s or 30s.

A far more interesting (but even farther off topic) visit was the Florida
Gulf Coast Art Center, a place we chanced upon on the drive back. We
hadn't even heard of it, but it's got the coolest sculpture garden I've
ever seen. Highlights were John Olsen's "Alachua Vista", which looked like
a giant Buck Rogers death ray painted by the Grateful Dead, and one of
those things that tourists pop their heads in and get their pictures
taken, modeled after Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon".

After Chinese and a trip to the record store, in a used bookstore I found
a copy of The Smithsonian Collection of Newspaper Comics in perfect
condition for only fifteen bucks. Days just don't get any better than
this...

***********************************************************

Attack of the Killer Comix Reviews is posted on rec.arts.comics.misc,
rec.arts.comics.info, and any other appropriate newsgroups whenever I feel
like it. Feedback is welcome and encouraged.

Comics and zines and stuff sent to me will be reviewed here. Send me
e-mail and I'll give you my address. If you sent me something and have not
received a review or a response, please notify me.

I've started an Attack mailing list. To have these reviews pop up in your
mailbox, simply send me a message asking to be put on the list. The
e-mail address you want them sent to must be in the header of the message.

   [14](Get Next Article Segment)
   
   [15][LINK] [LINK] 
   
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   [16][Previous] [17][Next] [18][Current Results] [19][Get Thread]
   [20][Author Profile] [21][Post] [22][Post] [23][Reply] 
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   [24]Home   [25]Power Search   [26]Post to Usenet   [27]Ask DN Wizard  
   [28]Help
   [29]Give us feedback!  |  [30]Advertising Info  |  [31]Press Releases
    |  [32]Jobs  |  [33]Policy Stuff
   Copyright © 1995-97 [34]Deja News, Inc. All rights reserved.