News and Events

This is a spot for news of any forthcoming events, exhibitions, or works in progress that might be of interest.

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Drawing Stories exhibition, Newcastle Region Library (Australia)

August 24 - September 28

LOVETT GALLERY 2nd Floor, Cultural Centre, Laman St, Newcastle. This is a travelling exhibition of picture book illustrations by Australian creators, curated by the Dromkeen Centre for Children's Literature in Victoria, including some original drawings from The Arrival. For more info, click here.

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The Odditoreum, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney

June 27 - September 13

Come in and discover The Odditoreum, a display of strange and miscellaneous objects drawn from the deep vaults of the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. I have described the origins of some of these curiosities for museum-goers, which are hopefully convincing, if not altogether truthful, as well as creating some artwork for the exhibition. Not just an exhibition for children, just anyone who likes a weird thing. For more info, visit the powerhouse museum or click here.

There is also a small book that accompanies the exhibition, and can be previewed here, and purchased here.

Signed limited edition (of 300) prints I've created in collaboration with the Powerhouse Museum are also available. To see what that looks like, click here, and if you are interested in buying one, go visit the museum shop here.

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Radio Interview, Resonance FM, London

June 2009

I recently caught up with Alex Fitch, talking mostly about Tales from Outer Suburbia which was recently published in the UK. He asked some good questions. You can listen to our conversation by going here and following the links.

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Exhibition in Troisdorf, Germany

Museum der Stadt, Troisdorf, October 11-tbc

Plans are underway for an exhibition of about 60 illustrations at the Picture Book Musuem Burg Wissem in Troisdorf, Germany (which will coincide with the Frankfurt Book Fair). For more information about this unique museum go to:

http://www.museum.troisdorf.de/bilderbuchmuseum/

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Bologna Illustrators Exhibition World Tour JBBY

Itabashi Art Museum, Japan, July '09 - March '10

This is a large group exhibition of children's book illustrations touring Japan throughout 2009, following the Bologna Illustrators Exhibition (at the International Bologna Children's Book Fair in April). I have five original works from 'Tales from Outer Suburbia' included. The dates are;

Itabashi Art Museum, Tokyo, July 11 - August 16

Otani Memorial Art Museum, Hyogo, Auguest 22 - September 27

Kawara Museum of Takahama, Aichi, October 3 - November 1

Ishikawa Nanao Art Museum, Ishikawa, November 6 - December 6

And in Korea, Seoul Art Centre, December 22 - March 1 2010

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IBBY Regional Conference, United States

Chicago, October 2-4, 2009

I've been invited to be a keynote speaker at the IBBY Regional conference in Chicago. For more information, go to the USBBY (US Board on Books for Young People) conference site.

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National Gallery of Victoria, 'Art Chat'

Melbourne, August 6, 2009 (changed from July 23)

I've been invited to present a short talk at the NGV, Federation Square on Thursday August 6, as part of their ongoing program Late Night Thursdays @ NGV Australia. Entry is free (I think), but seating may be limited.

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Books of Wonder Booksigning

New York, Sunday May 3

I will be signing books along with authors Harry Bliss, Jason Chin and Peter Brown at Books of Wonder, 18 W. 18th Street, New York, NY, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.

http://www.booksofwonder.com/events.asp 

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PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature:

New York, 27 April - 3 May 2009

I will be appearing on two panels relating to illustrated books:

Leaps and Bounds, Fits and Starts: The Evolution of a Children’s Book Writer on Thursday, April 30 with Neil Gaiman and Mariken Jongman, moderated by Andrea Davis Pinkney. 6:30 - 8:00 pm at the Scholastic Auditorium, (in the Scholastic building), 557 Broadway, New York.      

For more information about this session, go to:

http://www.pen.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/3213/prmID/1831

1,000 Words: The Power of Visual Storytelling on Saturday, May 2 with Emmanuel Guibert, David Polonsky and Jonathan Ames. 2:30–4 pm at The Great Hall, Cooper Union, 7 East 7th Street.

For more information about this session, go to: http://www.pen.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/3245/prmID/1831

You can also visit the PEN World Voices homepage

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Books, Bytes and Beyond Bookstore

New Jersey, Wednesday April 29

I will be signing books in the store from 3:30pm to around 4:00pm; open to the public. Books, Bytes and Beyond is at 197 Rock Road, Glen Rock, NJ 07452.

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Colin Simpson Memorial Lecture

Sydney, March 28, 2009

I was recently invited by the Australian Society of Authors to present this year's Colin Simpson Memorial Lecture, on the subject of illustrated narrative. I spoke about some of my favorite picture books and graphic novels, and why I'm attracted to this medium. An edited recording of this talk can be found on the ABC Radio National's The Book Show's programs site.

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PAPERWORK: 12 December 2008 - 4 Feb 2009

An exhibition subtitled 'Works on paper from the Bundanon Trust Collection', which features a few of my drawings produced during a residency at Bundanon, the estate formerly owned by Arthur Boyd, along with the work of other recent visiting artists.

Shoalhaven City Art Centre, Main Gallery, Berry St Nowra. 02 4422 0648

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InFrame.tv: November 2008

InFrame.tv presents short documentaries about creative types, produced in Melbourne Australia. I was fortunate to be featured recently, talking mostly about the short animated film, The Lost Thing, currently in production. Watch it here:

http://www.inframe.tv/videoproject.aspx?id=10

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Lingua Franca, ABC radio: August 16, 2008

Saturday 3:45pm: I will be presenting some thoughts on visual language entitled 'Words and Pictures, an intimate distance' on Lingua Franca, hosted by Maria Zijlstra on Radio National ABC. Audio and transcript may be found here:

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/linguafranca/stories/2008/2332955.htm

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Sunday Arts, ABC TV: August 17, 2008

A story on the 'rich world of children's novels' in which I was invited to make some comments. http://www.abc.net.au/tv/sundayarts/default.htm

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Sunday Arts, ABC TV: August 10, 2008: August 17, 2008

Sunday Arts looks at the Australian Chamber Orchestra's production of THE RED TREE, video of which may be available on their website: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/sundayarts/txt/s2327197.htm

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Port Fairy Book Fair: September 5 - 7, 2008

Victoria Australia

The EX LIBRIS Literary Weekend, in Port Fairy (west of Melbourne), will feature an exhibition of my original artwork (mainly from The Arrival), some prelimiary drawings and limited edition prints. Check the site below for details:

http://www.exlibris.port-fairy.com/

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KRAZY! Exhibition in Vancouver: May 17 to September 7, 2008

Original artwork and sketches for The Arrival have been contributed to the following exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery:

KRAZY! The Delirious World of Anime + Comics + Video Games + Art

Krazy! The Delirious World Of Anime + Comics + Video Games + Art is the first exhibition of its kind, a groundbreaking project that offers unique and dynamic insight into the world of comics,animated cartoons, anime, manga, graphic novels, computer/video games and visual art. With outstanding examples of original sketches, notes, concept drawings, final production drawings, animation cells, three-dimensional models and published works, KRAZY! promises a rare insight into the mind and method of some of the finest artists at work today. With generous support from Vancouver Foundation. The exhibition is organized by the Vancouver Art Gallery with co-curators Bruce Grenville, Tim Johnson, Kiyoshi Kusumi, Art Spiegelman, Seth, Will Wright, Toshiya Ueno and exhibition design by Atelier Bow Wow.

The book / catalogue for the exhibition is also available:

KRAZY! The Delirious World of Anime + Comics + Video Games + Art, Douglas & McIntyre, the University of California Press and the Vancouver Art Gallery, 2008

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July 2007, 2008

The Australian Chamber Orchestra recently concluded their tour of The Red Tree featuring music inspired by the picture book, composed and arranged by Michael Yezerski and Richard Tognetti, with the children's choir Gondwana Voices.

Click here for a mini-documentary about this project.

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September, 2008

Australia and elswhere

The release of PIXAR's latest film WALL-E to which I contributed some concept artwork along with their usual eclectic range of artists, illustrators and designers.

The Art of WALL-E, the art book featuring concept drawings and paintings by various artists is also available.