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| Artworks: Jennifer Tong |
In the opera Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdink (the 19th-century German composer, not the ‘80s pop star), Hansel and Gretel’s perception of the thick woods where they find themselves has three distinctive shifts:
At first, the forest is fun and filled with adventurous possibilities, so too the music is appropriately folkish and lilting. The mood changes as darkness settles in; it becomes a scary place for the two little ones, who have found themselves lost. The flashing eyes of unknown beasts, and the musical introduction of dissonant, menacing chords quickly change Hansel and Gretel’s carefree emotions into those of caution and self-protection. But then, when things seem to be at their most bleak, the kindly sandman appears, a heavenly chorus is heard from the above, and the natural elements (both flora and fauna) envelop the pair in a protective, ecstatic womb. The woods become a transcendent space, the score climbs majestically, and the curtain slowly falls on the first act. The fantastic gingerbread house and the clever outwitting of the witch come after Hansel and Gretel’s well earned night’s rest...and after intermission.
The adventure of becoming an artist has a narrative thrust not unlike the one experienced by the adorable moppets cited above. Art-making is fun and feckless before the naïve creator considers his or her content and craft seriously. Dark moments of doubt and angst often threaten creation itself, and the artist must develop skills of intuition and clever studio practice to maneuver the tricky, weed-strewn path (metaphorical bread crumbs come in handy at this time). Ultimately, making good art should be a transcendent experience for the artist, and hopefully a bit of the glow is translated to the viewer/reader.
The anthology of comics from the class of 2006 is dark, adventurous, surprisingly mature, and at times, blessed with transcendence. I have never encountered so many bright, remarkable stars at one time, in one place. Each has a strong, untremulous voice, brilliantly singing complex tunes, sometimes with sweetness, sometimes with dissonance, often with both. They have completed their adventure through the darkened woods, and like any main character from an often told picaresque tale, they have not only emerged unscathed, but have actually learned quite a bit by the journey’s end. I speak for all of my amazing faculty (truly, a heavenly chorus) when I say that we could have asked for no more from these students.
Obviously, this is just the first act for these young cartoonists and illustrators; they are now expected to perform the artistic equivalent of incinerating evil witches and breaking spells that have turned countless children into crispy baked goods, i.e., make intelligent, amazing, challenging comics; tell important stories; and continue to elevate the cultural perception of this often maligned and misunderstood art form. No one would say these were easy challenges, but I am certain these plucky heroes and heroines are up for the task!!!
I am indebted to Walter Simonson, Gary Panter and Keith Mayerson for the editing of this volume. We’d also like to thank President David Rhodes for his ongoing support of this compilation.
Thomas Woodruff, chair
2006 |
