Ursa Major: Decade of Doodles (2016 - 2025)

Join us this first Friday (January 3rd, 3-9pm) down at the distillery for the first - and last - show of the new year, as in 2024 I did a record-breaking run on a total of seven different gigs (these six + Pakalolo), and all that time + energy is now gonna get funneled into some fun and challenging new directions. There’ll be a few more irons in the proverbial fire, so probably no net loss on overall stress esp. what with the full-time teaching load. But there's long been a big backlog with more than a few back-burner projects I’ve been ignoring for years now, mainly books (graphic novels, collections, children’s books), and it’s long past time to start getting it together - in more ways than one - and putting stuff out again.

Not just the last show of the new year but also a great spot to totally tie it off at ten years. In retrospect, a decade (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024) of retrospectives covers a lot of ground, with some notable changes (ratio flip between color panels versus grayscale, color theory), and some notable works (The Lodge, the BLM artist-in-residency at Eagle, Road Safety Nuggets, 24 Hour Comics, the Baked Alaska feature, literacy fundraisers and so many freelance gigs). There’s a whole missing area in the show that another 9-12 panels would normally appear, but was bumped on account of two tentpole pieces (Rush Hour + Spruce Moose). So it’s a bit stronger of a show after all the pruning, as I’m always telling students to edit, edit, edit. Similarly only one editorial, and not really any “edits” per say – just a coupla borderline tasteless ones.

Thanks one more time to the fine folks down at Dateline Digital Printing, Sticky Brand and Great Alaska Shirt Company for doing their usual great jobs with the merch + gig. Went all out on some special limited edition tshirts, sporting a tag logo that’s a throwback to the very first Ursa Major showcard/poster design, and will also adorn several hundred complimentary stickers commemorating the gig. There’ll be extended opening hours from 3pm – 9pm, lots of original art on sale, some books, and of course the traditional Ester Caucasian will be on tap as the special. So stop on by – it’ll be good to see you, and share a laugh & a libation. CHEERS!