How are comics made? How are they printed? What tools do cartoonists use, and how have they changed over time? How do writers, inkers, colorists, letterers, and editors all work together?  

Cartoonists transform lines into words and pictures that tell meaningful and entertaining stories, whether they take the form of hard-hitting political cartoons, humorous comic strips, poignant animated films, or action-packed superhero comic books. The process of making comics and cartoon art of all kinds has evolved over time as technology has advanced. This exhibit provides a journey through the different techniques and methods used by cartoonists from the idea’s inception to the final published product that you, the reader, consume.  

The works in this exhibit are drawn from the permanent collections of the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, thanks to many generous donors. 

Curated by Jenny Robb, Caitlin McGurk, and Anne Drozd 

The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum houses the world’s largest collection of materials related to cartoons and comics, including original art, books, magazines, journals, comic books, archival materials, toys and merchandise, newspaper comic strip pages and clippings. This permanent exhibit features a selection of exceptional artwork and artifacts highlighting the breadth and depth of our collections.

As the first retrospective on Gordo (1941-1985), this exhibit celebrates the dazzling artistry of Mexican-American cartoonist Gustavo ‘Gus’ Arriola (1917-2008).

Gordo was a long-running syndicated comic strip in 270 U.S. newspapers and the most visible ethnic comic strip of its time. With the inclusion of Spanish words, Gordo was meant to be the Mexican Li’l Abner. At the onset, the titular Gordo Salazar Lopez, the bean farmer, reflected Hollywood’s regrettable stereotype of the lazy Mexican. In 1959, Arriola changed Gordo’s profession to a tour guide driving Halley’s Comet, a Mexican ‘colectivo’ (bus), slowly transforming the character. Later, Arriola took his first trip to Mexico where he immersed himself in Mexican culture and modernist art, influencing how he would draw the strip.

Depicting Mexico and Modernism offers the opportunity to look at the visually stunning Gordo and see firsthand Arriola’s development as a modernist Mexican-American artist who used the comics page to celebrate and share his Mexican heritage with American readers.

Curated by Nhora Lucía Serrano, the exhibition consists of animation made by Bret Olsen, and works on loan from Mark Burstein, Jim Guida, Lalo Alcaraz, Hector D. Cantú, Carlos Castellanos, and from the collections of the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum at The Ohio State University.

RECEPTION AND PROGRAM

Join us on Saturday, January 20 for a reception to celebrate the opening of this exhibition and a program featuring Hector D. Cantú and Frederick Luis Aldama.

More info is here: https://cartoons.osu.edu/events/depicting-mexico-and-modernism-gordo-by-gus-arriola-exhibition-opening-reception-program/