VANDALIZED ARTWORK

In case you missed the KOMO news broadcast on TV about the Friends of the Nib mural on Broadway, click on this link:

The TV broadcast:
http://www.komonews.com/news/23965359.html

The mural was vandalized further since the initial story here.

Public art has been debated since the time of the Greeks. The debate is alive and well in Seattle, with these latest acts of vandalism. Can the public handle "art" that is not under lock and key? Should all art be locked in museums and galleries, under the watchful eyes of gallery attendants and security guards?

With the mural in shreds, we're left with an ugly, boarded-up, abandoned building. Thieves have robbed us of a chance -- a chance, not a guarantee -- of seeing something beautiful...or at least original, or challenging, or creative.

We're left with a gray strip of blight on the sad end of Broadway.

BROADWAY MURAL VANDALIZED

You won't be seeing this picture on Broadway!

Mark Campos told me the Broadway mural has been vandalized, and the segment I illustrated -- the jazz trio shown above -- was razored from the wall and stolen. The piece was an illustration of the Nat King Cole Trio, blown up to 6 x 6 feet, on a vinyl banner.

To quote Campos in the LiveJournal: "Art thieves have vandalized the Friends of the Nib mural at the old Jack In The Box location on Broadway. A segment of the mural, which is printed on vinyl banner material, was razored out of its place on the wall and removed. Below is a picture of the missing segment, which was created by renowned local painter and illustrator Robert Rini."

The missing link

"Renowned" might be going too far, Mark, but thanks for putting the word out. I participated in the mural project with my fellow Friends of the Nib (including Mark), and the project was sponsored by the city, Sound Transit, to beautify a boarded-up Jack in the Box. The artwork would have been up eight months on a highly traveled block of Broadway, in Seattle, if the vandals hadn't ruined it. Write if you know anything.

More pictures of the mural HERE.

ANIMAL ART BENEFIT FRIDAY

Come to the animal benefit -- and help us raise some dough for a good cause. Click on poster to enlarge.

WORDS & PICTURES

Jim Woodring at the KBOO studio

When we were in Portland last month for a Friends of the Nib art show at Floating World, artist Jim Woodring and I were interviewed by radio station KBOO. SW Conser and Bill Dodge have a regular show about comics and art called "Words and Pictures." Anyway, our interview airs Tuesday, March 11th at 9:30.

LISTEN to the interview here it on the home page, http://www.kboo.fm/node/6276











Bob Rini, a face for radio

Check out more of Jim Woodring's visionary artwork here. To see more of my artwork, look here. For more archives from the "Words and Pictures" radio show, click here.

THIS SATURDAY NIGHT!

This Saturday night, from 6 to 9, at the Fantagraphics Bookstore, there will be a comics featuring Friends of the Nib -- with Special Guest Kim Deitch. It should be a lot of fun -- come and bring some paper and a pen and jam with us! See you there! 1201 S. Vale Street (at Airport Way) in Georgetown. 206.658.0110

FRIENDS TRIP TO FLOATING WORLD

Friends of the Nib rides again! The notorious art gang is shown on a recent road trip to Portland for our opening at Floating World. The crew had a great time, met some wonderful Portland artists, got interviewed on the radio, and had a surprise visit from my family (that's my niece Siena, in the hoodie).
Here we're jamming in the backroom of Floating World. Afterward, we enjoyed some delicious salt and pepper prawns. Thanks, Portland!
Filmed by David "Bear" Lasky

FOTN art jam at Floating World

WE LOVE YOU!

Do you still believe in LOVE in this tired, cynical, ironic, post-modern age? I hope so. Come down to the Cafe Racer, famed clubhouse of the notorious art gang Friends of the Nib, for a Valentine's Day Party and Art Show! No white-wall gallery pretensions here, just good food, booze, and pure love. Art for sale, and artists in attendance. Leave the TV behind for some actual human interaction -- you won't be sorry!

Thursday, February 14th, from 7 till 10PM. Cafe Racer, 5828 Roosevelt Way NE.

FRIENDS OF THE NIB AT FLOATING WORLD

The Friends of the Nib, a casual artist's salon founded by Jim Woodring and myself over a year ago, and featuring some of Seattle's most talented cartoonists and illustrators (if I do say so myself) will be featured at The Floating World in Portland, Oregon. Original art will be available for sale, and artists will be in attendance. Come say hi, howareya.

"Mr. Mojito Rescues the Muse from the Pond of Despond."

Opening February 7th, from 6-10. The Floating World, 20 NW 5th Avenue, #101, in Portland

Poster by Nibsters David Lasky and Scott Faulkner. For more on the Friends of the Nib, click here

HALLOWEEN ART SHOW/PARTY!

Turn out the lights! The Friends of the Nib, a creative gang of cartoonists and wiseacres (of which I'm a proud card-carrying member), is having a Halloween Art Show/Party Saturday, October 27th. Come to the Cafe Racer, our cool clubhouse and bar, for art, music, and thrills! And pick up the latest copy of the Monocle today! Or stay home and mope, loser.