Danielle Rancifer and Hailey Ross of Illiana Christian High School in Dyer describe themselves as “dreamers who like to draw and create.”
The duo decided to spend time during the holidays visiting a new contemporary comic exhibit in Munster, which allows patrons of every age an opportunity to put pen to paper to create a custom comic strip panel story to add to others on display or to take home as an artistic memory.
“The chance to transport something from your own mind and imagination onto paper, and have it live on for someone else to enjoy the same story and creativity, is pure joy,” said Ross, who eagerly brought characters to life on paper for panel by panel storytelling.
“I think everyone loves comics, no matter what age you are.”
South Shore Arts is inviting guests to start the new year by stepping inside the wall-to-wall pages of giant comic books for the new free exhibit through March 5 funded by a project grant from the National Endowment for the Arts called “A Story Like Mine” in the main gallery at The Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster.
Contemporary comic art and literature showcased include the works of Breena Nuñez, Carta Monir, Jorge Garza, Lawrence Lindell, Nate Powell, Whit Taylor and Gabe Garcia. Garcia and Micah Bornstein are the curators of the exhibit, which emphasizes comics creators with a history of distributing their comics utilizing independent presses or through self-publishing.
“The highlighted work on display reflects the complex nature of biased systems that continue to work against marginalized groups,” Bornstein said.
In addition to the “draw your own comics” interactive table station at the center of the exhibit, the surrounding space is dedicated to original work spotlighting finished pages, character studies, sketchbooks and typed manuscripts, all framed by the perimeters and floor of the gallery dominated by wall to floor reproductions of pages from the artists’ comics.
There is also a designated comic book reading area with more than 50 selections, looped videos sharing artists talking about their comic book inspirations in addition to more than 50 pieces of original comic book art on display.
“Some of the reproduced pages measure nearly eight feet in height, such as pages from northwest Indiana comic artist Jorge Garza’s ‘Tetlacatl,’ a comic inspired by Aztec culture featuring a stone robot battling colossal monsters,” said Bridget Covert, director of exhibitions for South Shore Arts.
“Another featured work titled ‘Stealth Mechanic’ by Carta Monir was originally published as a webcomic and has been printed in its entirety and is displayed on the gallery floor so that viewers can read the comic while moving through the gallery space.”
Emphasis on the reproduced page was a key element of the exhibition, according to the co-curators, Garcia and Bornstein, who agreed the inclusion of original work was important to show the process of how comics are created.
“We didn’t want the original art to take on greater importance than the printed page because with comics, the original art is only a means to an end,” Bornstein said.
“Comics are intended to be reasonably accessible and easily disseminated in their finished form, which is why comics have a powerful reach.”
The exhibit includes additional documentation with the publication of an exhibition catalog companion for the works included, and showcasing an essay by Howard Rambsy II, professor of literature at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where he teaches courses on African American literary art and comic books. Rambsy II is also the author of “Bad Men: Creative Touchstones of Black Writers.”
Covert reminds contemporary comics are created for “a broad range of audiences and ages,” and therefore, she alerts guests to the gallery that “A Story Like Mine” includes some content with mature subject matter about race, immigration, mental health, gender and sexuality.
“It was through our shared love of comics that we first connected and became friends while working for an educational arts nonprofit in Chicago,” said Bornstein, recalling how he first met co-curator Garcia.
“As our friendship continues, comics continue to be the usual subject of our conversation.”
South Shore Arts presents ‘A Story Like Mine’
When: Now through March 5; hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays, closed Sundays
Where: Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster
Cost: Free
Information: 219-836-1839; southshoreartsonline.org
Philip Potempa is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
