Center for Cartoon Studies
43°38′41″N 72°19′06″W / 43.64467°N 72.318402°W
President Michelle Ollie | | |
Director | James Sturm | |
---|---|---|
Academic staff | 9 | |
Students | 48 | |
Location | , , United States | |
Campus | Urban | |
Website | www.CartoonStudies.org |
The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) is a
History
The Center for Cartoon Studies was founded by cartoonist James Sturm and Michelle Ollie in 2004, with its first class of 18 students beginning their schooling in the Fall of 2005.[4] The first class of students were accepted less on the quality of their drawing and more on their critical thinking skills, literary merit, storytelling abilities and curiosity.[5]
The Center's first commencement took place on May 19, 2007, with roughly 20 students graduating.[3] In 2007 CCS was approved by the State of Vermont to award Master of Fine Arts degrees and certificates, which have been awarded to students from all subsequent classes.[6] It currently has a student body of 48 students with an average age of 24.[4] About 20 new students are accepted each year.[6]
The school educates students to be proficient in all aspects of graphic design and production, including self-publication and promotion. This is a notable step away from the specialized production model of mainstream comics companies such as Marvel Comics and DC Comics, wherein writing, pencilwork, inking, coloring, and lettering are most often handled by separate individuals. This inclination is in part due to many of the faculty's and significant donor Peter Laird's experience with alternative comics. The State of Vermont Department of Education approved CCS for degree granting authority and the school is also a member of Vermont Higher Education Council.
Campus
The Center for Cartoon Studies currently operates out of two buildings in the
Colodny’s Surprise Department Store
All the main operational and educational facilities of the Center for Cartoon Studies are located in the former Colodny’s Surprise Department Store Building. Built in 1929, the building is the only Art Deco building in downtown White River Junction, and is built partially with Antique Verde marble quarried from Rochester, Vermont.[8] CCS inhabits the first floor and basement of the building and includes multiple offices, a classroom, and an "open basement studio."[9]
Post Office
The Former Post office Building in downtown White River Junction was purchased by the school in December 2011. The brick building is constructed in a
Schulz Library
The Schulz Library, named after
Special collections located at the Library include collections of
Academics
The Center for Cartoon Studies offers a Master of Fine Arts degree, both one and two-year certificate programs, as well as summer programs.[2]
Each term, roughly 14 well known cartoon artists and others in the field come to CCS as visiting faculty and guest lecturers. The visiting faculty lecture, critique, and discuss with students of the school the student work and their own.[9] Past visiting faculty have included Alison Bechdel, Ed Brubaker, Ivan Brunetti, James Kochalka, Jason Lutes, Scott McCloud, Seth, Art Spiegelman, Craig Thompson, and Chris Ware.
A senior thesis is required at the Center, which usually involves the creation of a full scale graphic novel[9] or a full year's worth of work.
Notable persons
In addition to Sturm, Stephen R. Bissette, Jason Lutes and Alec Longstreth are permanent faculty. For the 2011–2012 school year, cartoonist and animator Robert Sikoryak joined the faculty.
Students and alumni from the Center for Cartoon Studies have received
- Robyn Chapman - CCS Fellowship, Xeric Foundation grant, Theater of the Meek
- Charles Forsman - 2013 Ignatz Award for Outstanding Minicomic The End of the Fucking World, 2008 Ignatz Awards for Outstanding Comic and Outstanding Series Snake Oil
- Colleen Frakes - Xeric Foundation grant, Tragic Relief, 2009 Ignatz Award, Promising New Talent, Woman King
- Alexis Frederick Frost - Xeric Foundation grant, La Primavera
- Samuel Gaskin - Xeric Foundation grant, Pizza Wizard
- Alex Kim - Xeric Foundation grant, Wall City
- Alec Longstreth- CCS Fellowship, 2005 Ignatz Award for Outstanding Minicomic (Phase 7), 2007 Ignatz Award for Outstanding Debut Comic (Papercutter #6)
- Annie Murphy - Xeric Foundation grant, I Still Live: Biography of a Spiritualist
- Gabby "Eisner Awardnominee, Best Reality-Based Work for Monsters.
- James Sturm - 2010 Ignatz Award Outstanding Graphic Novel, Market Day
- Melissa Mendes - Xeric Foundation grant, Freddie
- Laura Terry - Xeric Foundation grant, Overboard
- Tillie Walden - 2016 Eisner Nomination Best Single Issue/One Shot, I Love This Part, 2017 Eisner nomination for Best Digital Comic, On a Sunbeam
- Sasha Velour - Winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 9[14]
Documentary
CCS is the subject of a documentary film, Cartoon College, by Josh Melrod and Tara Wray.[15] The film follows a group of CCS students from the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 classes and includes interviews with notable faculty and luminaries. It has been screened at film festivals in California, Vancouver (Canada), Washington, Florida, Glasgow, Maryland and of course, White River Junction. Future shows include New York City, Atlanta and New Zealand.[16][17]
See also
References
- ^ About CCS: FAQ's. The Center for Cartoon Studies. Accessed December 13, 2010.
- ^ a b Programs. The Center for Cartoon Studies. Accessed December 13, 2010.
- ^ a b Milliken, Joe. Just Like Magic Archived 2010-08-23 at the Wayback Machine. Vermont Guardian. April 27, 2007. Accessed December 13, 2010
- ^ a b c CCS Factsheet[permanent dead link]. The Center for Cartoon Studies. Accessed December 13, 2010.
- Slate.comDiary. March 15, 2005. Accessed December 13, 2010.
- ^ a b Center for Cartoon Studies in VT Archived January 20, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. New England Cable News. January 23, 2008. Accessed December 13, 2010.
- ^ a b c Polston, Pamela. Vermont's Cartoon School Gets a New Home. Seven Days. December 21, 2011. Accessed January 7, 2012
- ^ White River Junction Historic District: Historic Tour No. 1 in the Town of Hartford, Vermont Archived May 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Hartford Historic Preservation Commission. Accessed December 13, 2010
- ^ a b c d O'neill, Maggie Severns. Meanwhile in White River Junction…Comic Students camp out Archived 2010-08-21 at the Wayback Machine. The Dartmouth. May 4, 2007. Accessed December 13, 2010.
- ^ Member: Cartoon Studies. Library Thing. Accessed December 13, 2010
- ^ a b Schulz Library. The Center for Cartoon Studies. Accessed December 13, 2010.
- ^ Schulz Library Blog Archived 2011-08-29 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
- ^ Doyle-Burr, Nora. "The Upper Valley Has Launched a Drag Star". Valley News.
- ^ a b Nett, Danny (June 25, 2017). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Winner Sasha Velour Cut From A Different Fabric". NPR.
- ^ AIVF'S The Independent, "10 to Watch in 2010" Archived September 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine accessed July 30, 2011
- ^ "Cartoon College".
- ^ "Cartoon College". IMDb. Retrieved July 30, 2011.