June 22 - July 5, 2010
Opening Reception: Tuesday, June 22 at 6:30pm

New York, NY--The Strand Book Store, School of Visual Arts, TOON Books, Drawn & Quarterly and Fantagraphics Books present an exhibition of winning images from the Strand Tote Bag Design Contest.The contest, which was held from March 1 to March 31, 2010, received over 800 unique and creative representation of the Strand Book Store from artists world-wide. A panel of judges, including Francoise Mouly, Art Spiegelman, Steven Heller, Adrian Tomine and R. Sikoryak, selected three winners whose work will be displayed along with the work of twenty finalists.

The exhibition will be on view at the School of Visual Arts beginning Tuesday, June 22 through Monday, July 5, 2010 at 133/141 West 21st Street. The exhibition space is open Monday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm and is closed on Sundays and public holidays. Admission is free.

A reception honoring the winners and finalists will take place on Tuesday, June 22 from 6:30-8:00pm at the Westside Gallery, 133/141 West 21st Street.

The grand prize winning image will be featured on a Strand tote bag which goes on sale in June. The tote bag will be available for purchase at the Strand and at strandbooks.com.

Grand Prize Winner: “Contents, color” by Zak Foster, a 29 year old from Brooklyn, NY. Zak’s other work can be viewed at zakfoster.com.

Second Prize Winner: “Rainy & Birds” by Domitille Collardey, a 29 year old who recently moved from Paris to Brooklyn, NY. Domitille’s other work can be viewed at domitille-collardey.com.

Third Prize Winner: “Strandbot Loves Books!” by Tim Goldman, a 39 year old from Jackson Heights, Queens. Tim’s other work can be viewed at timgoldman.com.

View the Images
The 3 winning images, 20 finalists’ images and the over 800 submissions can be viewed at strandbooks.com/totebagwinners.

About the Contest
In April 2006, a Japanese language financial newspaper named the Strand tote bag the #1 souvenir to bring home to Japan from New York City. In one month, tote bag sales tripled and have been at the same level ever since.

In June 2007, the Strand unveiled the first Artist Tote Bag: Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Art Spiegelman loaned his iconic Maus image for the first time ever to celebrate the Strand’s 80th birthday. Three years later, the Spiegelman tote bag is still a best seller! The Strand then partnered with artists each year, including Adrian Tomine, Seth and R. Sikoryak, creating the Strand’s Artist Tote Series.

The Strand Book Store wanted to give artists the opportunity to have their artwork featured on a Strand tote bag.

Contest Dates
-March 1-March 31, 2010

Judges
-Francoise Mouly, art editor of The New Yorker & Editorial Director of TOON Books
-Art Spiegelman, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist
-Steven Heller, co-chair MFA Designer as Author Program, School of Visual Arts
-R. Sikoryak, creator of the book, Masterpiece Comics
-Adrian Tomine, author of the bestselling book, Shortcomings

Grand Prize
-artwork on Strand tote bag, sold in store and online w/ attendant marketing--artist name on all materials
-an afternoon with Francoise Mouly and staff at TOON Books offices
-complete set of Drawn & Quarterly’s 2009 titles (value: $450)
-a selection of new and recent Fantagraphics Books releases (value: $450)
-complete set of TOON Books (value: $150)
-$100 Think Coffee Gift Card
-Family Level Membership to the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (Value: $75)
-artwork featured in slideshow on partners’ websites

Second Prize
-complimentary Continuing Education class at School of Visual Arts (value: $470)
-a selection of signed Drawn & Quarterly books (value $90)
-“I Don’t Like to Read” TOON Books basket (value: $70)
-a selection of new and recent Fantagraphics Books releases (value: $50)
-$100 Think Coffee Gift Card
-Family Level Membership to the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (Value: $75)
-artwork featured in slideshow on partners’ websites

Third Prize
-$300 DaVinci Artist Supply Gift Card
-“Beginning Reader” TOON books basket (value: $70)
-a selection of signed Drawn & Quarterly books (value $50)
-a selection of new and recent Fantagraphics Books releases (value: $50)
-$100 Think Coffee Gift Card
-Family Level Membership to the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (Value: $75)
-artwork featured in slideshow on partners’ websites
20 Finalists received a Strand tote bag filled with School of Visual Arts, Fantagraphics & TOON Books
gifts and a $20 Strand gift card.

About our Partners

School of Visual Arts
School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City is an established leader and innovator in the education of artists. From its inception in 1947, the faculty has been comprised of professionals working in the arts and art-related fields who choose to share their creative skills and experiences with students. SVA offers 11 undergraduate and 15 graduate degree programs as well as hundreds of courses through its Division of Continuing Education.

TOON Books
TOON Books is the leading publisher of high-quality comics and literature for children ages four and up. Launched in 2008 and edited by Francoise Mouly, art editor of The New Yorker, TOON’s collection includes books by award winner authors and artists, such as Art Spiegelman, Harry Bliss, Jeff Smith,
Geoffrey Hayes, Jay Lynch, Dean Haspiel, & others.

Drawn & Quarterly
With cartoonists that have been instrumental in defining the literary comics medium for the past twenty years and a focused editorial direction, Montreal-based Drawn & Quarterly is one of the most influential art and literary comics publishers in the whole world.

Fantagraphics Books
Fantagraphics Books has been the world’s leading publisher of comics and graphic novels since 1976, with authors including Charles M. Schulz, R. Crumb, Daniel Clowes, Joe Sacco, Peter Bagge and the Hernandez Brothers. In 2007, the company launched its prose division, beginning with fiction by
Alexander Theroux, Jules Feiffer, Monte Schulz and Stephen Dixon.

For more information about the contest and the partners, please contact:

Strand Book Store
Christina Foxley, Director of Marketing
212.660.6643
christina@strandbooks.com

School of Visual Arts
John Wyszniewski, Assistant Director of Communications
212.592.2209
jwyszniewski@sva.edu

TOON Books
Megan Gannon, Editorial Assistant
212-431-9106
raw.junior@gmail.com

Drawn & Quarterly
Peggy Burns, Associate Publisher, Publicity & Sales
514.279.0691
peggy@drawnandquarterly.com

Fantagraphics
Eric Reynolds, Associate Publisher
206.524.1967
reynolds@fantagraphics.com