Too Soon? A cartoon retrospective of 9/11

Too Soon?: A Cartoon Retrospective of 9/11

An exhibition featuring comic strip and editorial cartoon reflections on and responses to 9/11.

Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, marks the 10th anniversary of one of the darkest days in American history. It was also marks a day of remarkable bravery and courage. In honor of the occasion, the major comic syndicates have rallied their cartoonists to dedicate their strips on that day to those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks.

All the participating comic strips will also be appearing in the September 11th, 2011 Sunday comics pages across the country. These iconic strips, all illustrating the “Remembering 9/11” theme, demonstrate a wide range of response from patriotic to deeply emotional.

With the help of King Features, The ToonSeum in Pittsburgh, along with the Newseum in Washington, D.C., the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art in New York City, and the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco will host special exhibits featuring the cartoonists’ commemorative works. Each museum will have a different selection of 15 original strips from Beetle Bailey to Mutts.

The ToonSeum will expand upon this exhibit by displaying editorial cartoons that ran shortly after 9-11. These powerful and sometimes controversial pieces were created by editorial cartoonists from the three areas hit by the terrorists: New York, Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh (Shanksville, flight 93). Garry Trudeau of Doonesbury fame and alternative cartoonist Ted Rall represent New York, Matt Wuerker of Politico represents Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette cartoonist Rob Rogers represents the Pittsburgh area.

The exhibition will run from September 10th-September 25th.

As part of the exhibition the ToonSeum will also present a panel discussion on September 9th, entitled "Too Soon?: Humor, Art and Media in a Post-9/11 World."

The panel will discuss the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the effect it had on humor, art and the media. Everyone from artists to comedians to cartoonists struggled to find their way in the days and weeks following the devastating and tragic events of 9/11. Was it OK to laugh? Was it OK to criticize those in power? Or was it too soon?

The panelists include former Warhol director Tom Sokolowski, WDVE Morning Show host Jimmy Krenn, nationally-syndicated alternative cartoonist Ted Rall, and nationally-syndicated Post-Gazette editorial cartoonist Rob Rogers.

The panel will be moderated by Chris Potter, editor of The Pittsburgh City Paper

Panel will take place September 9th, 7pm at Bricolage Theater.

Event is free to attend by donations are welcome and reservations are encouraged. Tickets at www.toosoon.eventbrite.com

The Exhibition and panel are made possible through the generous support of the R K Mellon Foundation.



September 9th, 2011, 7 PM

Bricolage Theater

937 Liberty Ave

Pittsburgh, PA 15222



Exhibit Preview

September 9th, 2011, 5pm-7pm

ToonSeum

945 Liberty Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15222