Headlines and Deadlines

Hey reader, Justin here. So the 31st has arrived, but many of the submissions we were expecting for the next installment of Good Minnesotan have not. The reasons for this vary: some are simply not done yet while others have committed to submitting at later dates. Due to this paucity of finished material and the amount of work required to get the Xeric grant application in by the end of September, we have decided to get rid of deadlines altogether and instead have just an open submissions policy. If things have congealed enough by early 2010, we'll apply for the Xeric then. Given that we had agreed to post a list of contributors today, here's what we know will be in GMN4 thus far: Raighne & Meghan's first GMN (first ever?) collaboration, a story by Nic Breutzman, and a new story by Luke Holden, who will also have cover duties. There are other submissions we are leaning towards for the next issue, but we don't want to commit to anything just yet since Luke's piece will be what helps set the tone for the rest of the issue and his is still incubating. Just so we're not leaving those who have submitted already in the lurch, we will be contacting each of you individually to give you an update on where your submission stands.

More to come in the following weeks regarding Fallcon...
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Book Arts on 3 Minute Egg

"3-Minute Egg is “The Twin Cities arts seen,” created and produced by Matt Peiken, former staff arts writer at the St. Paul Pioneer Press and managing editor of the Walker Art Center’s magazine." --3minuteegg.org

Anybody who attends art events in the Twin Cities has bumped into Matt Peiken and his video camera at some point. I recommend watching his video-reporting on his website. It's a neat way to be find out what's happening in the local arts community.

I'm happy that he's taken notice of the Book Arts in Minneapolis!


Here is the Multiples Mall 3 Minute Egg video. My favorite part is the Sean Lynch interview. His stuff is so amazing!



This 3 Minute Egg report from Nov 2008 highlights some of the Minnesota Center for Book Arts Book Arts Fest. Justin and Raighne had a table there, but aren't in the video. However the immensely talented and wonderful Tom K. and Sarah Morean are interviewed!

Now go visit 3minuteegg.org!
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Walker's Multiples Mall: A Bookish Fair REPORT

In Attendance
Thank you to everyone who made it to the Walker Art Center's Multiples Mall: A Bookish Fair on Saturday! It was wonderful opportunity to catch up with friends and family, to network with local book artists, and get more of our books read. Thank you for buying our comics!!!

We saw many Good Minnesotan contributors at the Fair. Fellow guests Abby Mullen and Ed Choy Moorman had their own tables. Abby wore a pen drawn mustache, red sweater, and found name tag and stayed in character as the lead from her latest mini-comic throughout the afternoon. Ed had his latest mini-comic Scenes from the Life and Death of Jim Henson. GMN Contributors Justin Skarhus, Luke Holden, Toby Jones, and Maddy Queripel also attended.


Highlights
Raighne built a 3D house with a clothes line to hold his mini comics. It was very popular. One woman even wanted to know if it was for sale. We were just glad anyone noticed our house, because the table next to us had a much bigger house in their table display! We plan on building more of these 3D sets for future shows and possibly a whole town for Art-A-Whirl 2009.


Trades
Sarah Morean traded us 3 mini comics "MAN UP", "CRIMINAL", and "Stuff in a Book". Sarah will be starting the Make Better Books podcasting series in March for bookmakers and self-publishers. Bookmark it!

Sean Lynch traded us an untitled (?) mini-comic. I would promote it more but it isn't anywhere to be found on the internets. Let's just say that it gets a prize for the best villianous name (Skully McShootface) and most ingenius format of video game play as mini-comic. Plus it comes with a hand-drawn love note.

Eric Brandt & Elisabeth Workman traded us an Opolis book and a_city_a_cloud poster. "Opolis" was printed on phonebook paper and both it and the poster were printed in Doha, Qatar. Gorgeous.


Press
Nick Busse took the photos of us included in this post. He and his wife Patty are an amazing couple and also talented political writers. And they're beautiful. Last summer Nick was nominated for the 2008 Most Beautiful People at the Capitol Awards by Rake Magazine.

Matt Peiken of 3 Minute Egg was roaming around with his camera so check next week for a video about Multiples Mall. We shan't be on it, because he wanted to cover artists he hasn't interviewed previously. We did make the cut for his "2008 The Year in Eggs" DVD for sale on his site.
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Mail Art + New Review on Optical Sloth

I've been a little confused as to what to work on of late...SO I made some mail art for a hopefully new online retailer to carry Good Minnesotan. I think I am going to get back on track though...
We have yet another review up at Optical Sloth. "This one can go right on your bookshelf", Kevin Bramer follows that with "what with the spine and all." HA! He then alludes to GMN#4 having a gold foil cover. Perhaps a dare? Hmmm...
It's a very solid review with the highest praise saved for Anna Bongiovanni, Nic Breutzman, Luke & John Holden, and a funny image capture of Toby Jones' "Its Much Worse". Mr. Bramer, gives us our highest praise and recommendation by telling his viewers to send us some money! Why, that would be lovely, thanks!

With that, I'd advise all contributors and mini-comic lovers and lumbers to check out Kevin's updated and re-vamped review site. Easier on the eyes and thus far he appears to be keeping his promise to reviewing them mini's like mad. I know I now unfortunately have more comics on my "do want" list.
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FART-A-WHIRL 2008!

For those that missed our fART-A-WHIRL COMIC BOOK SHOW, Enjoy! Awesome music borrowed from Mux Mool, thanks Brian!

The following contributers were able to stop by Luke Holden, Alex Witts, Joe Nixon, and Gail Kern.

I had home brewed Kombucha tea at the show for folks who attended the first day. It was the colour of a very unhealthy persons piss. I would end up refilling it in back as that is where the mini-fridge was to comical effect.

It was a fun show, but also exhausting. In fact our studio is still a mess. Meghan and I will be cleaning it today after consuming tasty vegan BLT's!

adios!
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Holden Brothers in GMN #2

Animation by Luke Holden | Music by Sunsblood

We were lucky enough to get stories by the brothers Luke & John Holden in GOOD MINNESOTAN Episode 2. The pair does make the DETRIMENTAL INFORMATION mini-comics together, but that's hardly the tip of the 'berg. In addition to writing, John performs spoken word and is an avid video blogger. Luke does not only illustration and lettering, but he plays drums in a band and creates animations, paintings, and tattoo designs. Look for them in the next episode of GOOD MINNESOTAN (release date May 16, 2008 at ART-A-WHIRL)!

Web Links:
> Total Vom Show website: Luke & John's website which includes their animations, video blogs, albums and mini-comics.

> In November 2007, John was interviewed by Curtis Gilbert for the Minnesota Public Radio story: Video blogger learns YouTube stardom has a price.
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