In an age of online living and digital social currency, the importance of up close and personal connections is greater than ever. Whether you’re an independent comic artist looking for like-minded peers, a collector of unique comic books you won’t find anywhere else, or a fan of weird comic art looking to meet your favorite artists from Instagram, it’s more than worth it to visit Short Run on Saturday, Nov. 7th. For 14 years, Short Run Comix Festival has been a confluence of professional artists and casual hobbyists who look forward to a community gathering not watered down by corporatization (please do not call us a “comic-con”!!) Come join the DIY takeover of the Seattle Design Center in Georgetown!
We’ll be hosting 200+ small press comix and book artist-exhibitors from 27 states and 5 countries. Special festival guests include both established and up & coming artists Patrick Kyle, Raquelle Jac, Roberta Gregory, James Spooner, M. Yaxam, and Jesse Moynihan. Notable returning exhibitors include Gemma Correll, Tara Booth, Nicole J. Georges, Whit Taylor, and Fred Noland. We’ll also welcome Swedish alternative comics publisher Lystring.
On the hour, we’ll feature “The Short Talk” 40-minute creative conversations on the skybridge, and “The Long Talk”, which features presentations with an AV-component at our venue neighbor, the Friends of Seattle Public Library conveniently located across the parking lot.
We’re excited for a special collaboration with the Applied Cartooning Lab at the Center for Cartoon Studies, joining forces with them to promote What We Stand For and Against, an educational comic adapted from Army Talk 64: Fascism!, a publication distributed by the U.S. Army during the closing months of World War II. CSS Director and The Stranger original co-founder James Sturm will be present, along with community leaders, to discuss the potential impact of the project.
Other presentations will be made by a reference librarian from the Library of Congress, who will tell us about our nation’s largest comic collection, and Robin McConnell, who will talk about his countrywide search for lost underground Canadian comics. Artist talks with Jesse Moynihan, Gemma Correll, James Spooner, and a panel discussion with Shout Your Abortion about distributing informational zines in this political climate.
Other audience activities include a YOUTH ZONE on the 2nd floor balcony with hands-on activities including comics and zine making, letterpress printing, screen printing, and the Manga pop-up Strange Library with almost 2,000 titles to be read onsite. Next door neighbor Seattle Artist League will also have an open house from 12-3 pm.
Visit community tables from Seattle Public Library, Seattle/King County Public Health, Shout Your Abortion, Common Area Maintenance, SEAT/Nova, and “Talk with a Mom” – when you need to talk to a mom who’s not your mom!
The Seattle Design Center has a beautiful atrium with high ceilings, skylights, and 20 ft tall fiddle-leaf plants. Street parking is free, along with their 90 car parking lot. El Pirata food truck will be out front, and nearby Conscious Eatery will be open for lunch!
Swag bags for the first 50 people through the entrance. Admission is free as always.
Take Metro Bus #131/132 from the SODO light rail station and get off at 4th Ave. S/Mead St.
Additional Programming
Wednesday, October 21st
7:00 – 8:30 pm FREE
Keum Suk Gendry-Kim book release
D&Q artist Gendry-Kim comes to Seattle in support of her new book, “My Friend Kim Jong Un”. She is the incredible Korean artist behind the Cartoonist Studio Prize-winning graphic novel “Grass”!
mam’s books
608 Maynard Ave S (C-ID)
Friday, Nov. 6th
6:00 – 9:00 pm FREE
Marathon Art Show and Pre-Fest Reception
feat. artwork by Raquelle Jac, M. Yaxam, Amelia Miller, D.B. Williams, Sadie Levine, Benny Johnson, James Spooner, Roberta Gregory, Jesse Moynihan, and more. Join us for this casual mix & mingle, a tradition for comic artists arriving in town. Light refreshments provided by Stoup Brewing.
Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S Vale St. (Georgetown)
6:00 – 11:00 pm Tickets Required
James Spooner Book Release with Kimya Dawson & Blvck Hippie
“It Starts With Anger” book release, interview and musical performances.
Black & Tan Hall
5608 Rainier Ave. S
Saturday, Nov. 7th (after the festival ends)
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm FREE
Night Two at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
Decompress and check out the art show before you leave town. Phil Elverum signs Fancy People Adventures Book, a hardcover, linenbound collection of comic gags and strips from a long-running comic zine. Artist interviews to follow with special guests Roberta Gregory and Raquelle Jac at 7 pm. Light refreshments.
8:00 pm – 9:00 pm FREE (ages 21 & up only)
Pencil Test: underground animation curated by Portland artist Mannie Murphy featuring Jesse Moynihan, Evan Cohen, Amonda Kallenbach, Lauren Armstrong, Jane Yohnson, Clyde Petersen, and more! Optional Bacon Strip anniversary drag show to follow (tickets required).
Jules Maes
5919 Airport Way S (Georgetown)
Sunday, Nov. 8th
2:00 – 3:30 pm FREE
The Public Life of Comics presentation & panel discussion
Join us the Sunday after the festival to hear from 4 artists using comics to communicate, educate, and move the needle on our biggest issues. With James Sturm, Whit Taylor, Meredith Li-Vollmer, and Kelly Froh.
Seattle Public Library – Central Branch
Level 4, Conf Room 1
1000 4th Ave. (Downtown)
Programming schedule is still evolving, check out our social media in October/November for the most up-to-date information!
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