MoCCA Chairman Lawrence Klein declared the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art’s recent participation in the 2003 International Artexpo New York a great success.

“Although I led a very popular Animation Art seminar during last year’s Artexpo, this was the first year MoCCA appeared at the Artexpo as an exhibitor,” explains Klein. “Having our own booth at the 2003 Artexpo was not only another fantastic sign of how far MoCCA has come in the past year, but yet another great opportunity to tell people all about MoCCA and its mission.”

The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art’s experience as an exhibitor at the 2003 International Artexpo New York at New York City’s Javits Convention Center from February 27 through March 2 was marked by intense public interest and tremendous industry support.

That there is great interest in a museum dedicated to all forms of comic and cartoon art was undeniable as thousands of attendees and exhibitors made their way to the MoCCA booth to view a sampling of artworks from MoCCA’s collection, pick up free literature about MoCCA, talk to MoCCA volunteers, bid on Silent Auction items, make generous donations, sign up for Museum membership, and/or meet some of the artists who made special guest appearances at the MoCCA booth as a show of support for MoCCA and its mission.

Among the many artists who spent time working, sketching, signing autographs and talking to visitors at the MoCCA booth were: § Billy a self-taught East Village artist whose distinctive “Urban Primitive” works have appeared in Cow Parade, Delaguarda, DOGNY, Rent, Woodstock 99 and for corporate clients including the Manhattan Jewish Community Center, Epic Records, Columbia Pictures, Spike Lee/Pizza Hut, and Sara Lee/Chock Full O Nuts. § Lance Tooks, creator of the self-published comic books Narcissa, Danger Funnies, and Divided by Infinity. § Bill Plympton, Oscar-nominated, award-winning animator, author, and member of the MoCCA Board of Advisors. § Patrick McDonnell, the award-winning creator of the popular syndicated comic strip Mutts, which now appears in more than 500 newspapers worldwide. § Jamal Igle, a comic book artist who has done work for almost every major publisher (including Marvel’s Iron Fist/ Wolverine mini-series and New Warriors, DC’s Green Lantern, and Image’s Noble Causes) and whose current projects include Venture, a comic published by Image, for which Igle serves as both artist and co-creator.

Other MoCCA supporters who generously agreed to give of their time and talents during the 2003 Artexpo include the two special guests who helped MoCCA Chairman Lawrence Klein lead this year’s Sunday seminar on “Collecting Animation Art”: § Heidi Leigh, owner of Animazing Gallery (www.animazing.com) and a member of MoCCA’s Board of Advisors § Ruth Clampett, daughter of animation director Bob Clampett and founder of Clampett Studio Collections .

Among visitors who stopped by the MoCCA booth during Artexpo to learn more about and/or express their support for MoCCA and its mission were comic artist Neal Adams, pop artists Romero Britto, Burton Morris and Lisa Grubb, as well as Carolyn Solomon of S2 Art Group, Ltd. among others.

In addition to all of the wonderful aforementioned words and gestures of support, MoCCA actually received several, significant on-the-spot donations of artworks from fellow Artexpo exhibitors. During the 2003 Artexpo, MoCCA gratefully accepted: § An original “Urban Primitive” acrylic painting created by Billy especially for MoCCA during the Artexpo. Billy spent all day Friday at the MoCCA booth painting the bold, colorful work which he then immediately donated to MoCCA. § Original animation production cels including an original “Power Puff Girls” production cel donated by Acme Animation Art Galleries § Original animation production pencil drawings including a signed “Samurai Jack” production pencil drawing donated by Acme Animation Art Galleries. § A signed, limited edition Chuck Jones lithograph donated by Linda Jones Enterprises, the company founded by animator Chuck Jones’ daughter Linda.

Pledges of continued and future donations from:
Marc Segan, inventor and president of Animated Animations ,
Sculptor David Kracov of Kracov Creations
Choice Collectibles
3-D artist Charles Fazzino
Ioan Szasz of Eyvind Earle Publishing LLC

The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art would like to thank all those that helped in the planning and execution of our appearance at the International Artexpo New York.