This deserves its own post, a graphic novel symposium and 24-Hour Comics Festival Oct 5-8 at the Portland Northwest College of Art, with Mark Siegel, and other cartoonists including David Chelsea and Neal Skorpen.

I’m about to fly off to Portland — a trip I always look forward to — to give some talks at PNCA… Here’s the info for their programs this Thursday and Friday, October 5 & 6th, which are open to the public.

PNCA is at:

Pacific Northwest College of Art
1241 NW Johnson
Portland OR 97209

You can e-mail mail@firstsecondbooks.com to reserve a spot or for more information.

PROGRAM

Thursday, Oct 5th:

3:15 – 4:30: Workshop, Going Narrative

Story-telling is one of the most important–and most underappreciated–elements of the graphic novel. This workshop gives artists and authors a chance to examine the importance of narrative through words and pictures in a story.

5:00 – 6:15: Discussion, The Rise of the Graphic Novel

A roundtable discussion, led by Mark Siegel, about the evolution of the graphic novel from _Maus_ and _Astroboy_ to where it is today.

Friday, Oct 6th:
3:15 – 4:30: Workshop, Your Great American Graphic Novel

Insight, coaching, and tips on your personal projects from :01 Editorial Director Mark Siegel.

5:00 – 6:15: Discussion, Graphic Novels as Art, Graphic Novels as
Literature

A roundtable discussion, led by Mark Siegel, about the interplay of the two essential elements of graphic novels: the art and the story.

7:00 – 8:00: Keynote lecture, The Graphic Novel Today and Tomorrow

Graphic novels are the hottest properties in publishing today, and the art form is maturing in response to widespread interest in the medium. Mark Siegel discusses what’s changing in today’s graphic novels, and what will change in the future.