Marquette University
e-Publications@Marquette
Philosophy Faculty Research and Publications
Philosophy, Department of
3-11-1971
Cartoons Make Unique Show [A review of a
caricature and cartoon exhibit, Milwaukee]
Curtis Carter
Marquette University, [email protected]
Carter, Curtis. 1971. Cartoons Make Unique Show. Bugle American, March 11-17, Second Section,
Vol. 2 No. 10 (No. 23).
:·-·e·arto·6iis · ·ma-K~e~;l!niql1(r7show~.
By Curtis L. Carter ,
tical personalities and events of the
to classic forms of caricature. It
Hisexcellentdrawingis sometimes
day. Accordingly one finds portrayals
achieves, its, effect almost entirely
marred by rather useless and unor-iginThe secre~ of a good caricature
of the preSident, the vice president,
through highly imaginative uses of
al inversions ', of letters. They add to
is that it offers a visual interpretation governor Regan, 'the mayor of Milwauphysio go oml c pi ctorialcon ven tions.
intell ectual, confusion but do not enof its s1,Jbject "which we can never
kee, as ~ell as international figures
Accordingly, it relies much less on
hance, the artistry' of the works.
forget and which the victim will alsuch as 'Jsraeli premier Golda Maier.
verbal accompaniments to make its
Of the non-professional entries;
ways seem to carry around with him
His "American gothic" places
point.
,two showed 'particular promise.
_ like a man bewitched."
Martha and John Mitchell with tele- ,
"School T'e acher" by sixteen year old
Whether at social commen tary as
These 'words of E.H. Gombrich
phone an~ tape recorder respectivel~
high school student James L. Kern
iIi
the
"Laos"
piece
and
the
antiare sufficient warning to any critic.in the place of the familiar fanner and
potlution work, or when attending to picttu-es the v~olent character o( a
Let him who 'presumes to comment on
wife of Grant Wood's famIliar work..
hostile teacher. The style ~ 'undevmore universal human situation'S ,a s
the works of a caricaturist--much ress
The portrayal of Agnew in ,the playeioped but promising,' '~Who is the
in ."Smile," Mitchell's superior masa whole~'legion"of them, such ,as are
room contains a splendidly draWn
Slayer?"
by Michael MaerSch is, a
tery
of
line
and
his
subtle
and
humorassembled in 'the exhibit at the home
hobby hors~ which reveaJs som'e of
well rendered statement concerning '
ous
insight'
s
are
evident.
My
main
Qf Ml.a.nd--Mrs. Max Taglin of Shorethe graphic talent '-supporting his
Kent State. -,criticism of his social commentaries
biting social comment.
,
is
that
they
tend~to
spell
out
too
much
Don GlassfordJs "Hey Fella" is
for the viewer. But this obj ection will
admirable for fine detailed draftmanno dqubt be corrected by experience.
ship, especially in the texture -of the
hooded figure, the feet, and rope. His
Wendel Pugh's entries in this
exhibit lead in <a, direction opposite
"Commies are' Comin' " is, for me,
one of the funniest covers yet to ap",that suggested in' Mitchell's work.
Pugh uses a mixture of verbal and
pear in the Bugle.
,
pictorial elements in his composition.
The , clear and direct style of
Verbal elements are not auxilliary
Dermis Kitchen leads to fast percepare
but integral elements. The ,outcome
tual
impact.
It
is
alway
s
claar
in
its
T~e exhibit Iresents relati,{ely
isa highly complex structure which
point.
If there is a lack of depth in
polished works of such artists as Bill
Autobiographical vitas accomhis Umessage," it is ,certainly com- invites the viewer to explore the reSanders of the Milwaukee JoUrnal;
panying works in' the show are kltersulting pictorial puzzle.
_'
pensated
for
by
surety
of
skill
with
TomCuftis of the 'Milwauj{ee Sentinel;
esting for their own sake. Written by
Every detail is significant and
expressive lines. I, especially Don Glassford, Denis Kitchen, Jim highly
the artists, they reveal success, strugliked his _':Card Players" fo! its' ex,,-- _ possible multiple le'vels of response
Mitchell, , and Wendel Pugh of _the
g,1e, tragedy, and hope characteristic
are suggested. I have trouble reading
and distinc,ti ve character
,,;Bugle-American; and John P. Schmel- pressive
of artists "making it," or 'not.
some of the symbols in Pugh's ,work.
portrayals.
'
zer oY'Madison.lt also includes works
'-The eXhibit is unusual in several
Perhaps it is because they are not
, Jim Mitchell's comic strip
of college and high school students
'
,
respects. First" the show was devoted
meant to be 'public.
"Smile"
is
in
some
respect~ close~
with ranging levels of achievement;
exclusively to caric~ure and cartoon. ,
The--form of caricature is totally
'Phis is rare, if not unique, in itself.
abstract. Its vocabulary con'sists Of
It occurred in a 'private home, organhighly expressive lines and shapes,.
ized by two teachers, Mrs. Thelma
Milwaukee's, Theatre X will pre- ' J~uary. The second half of the pro- Taglin and Mrs. Rona Steingart.
,'These are selectively applied to
gram includes new, original material
sent a program of original plays and
personalities and ,situations in such
Also it provided a " ,forum" for
a manner as to bring out the ironies, sketches, "The Zipper is Stuck," in addition to pieces from last year's ' young and lesser known artists, as
Thursday through Saturday. The' pro- , ",x Communication."
absurdities, and the humor , that is
well as for SOme seasoned ones. Not
inherent in Ufe's ,moments. The result , ~ gram will begin at 9 p.m., I!t the
the least important was the attempt
is non-realist but highly personal inFallowing the pertormance. the on the part of the sponsors ~to bring
Coffee House, 631 N. J9th St.
sight into the person or event being
audience is invited ' to participate in together ,artists, working in a common
,
lUlled ,as ~~an evening of social
satire" The Zipper is Stuck will indiscussion and"informal improvisation area of art.
explored.
-,' Sanders, as an editorial,'cartoonclude a revival of' ',The People vs •. The. with the company. Admission is $1.,. .
(Curtis L. Carter Is assistant
ist, concerns himselfwith major po11- ' People" which was performed in
tickets available at the door.
professorof aestbeticsat M_arquette.),
!
Theatre X orig inals
.'
!.
--+
Additional images from the exhibit reviewed in this article are provided below, courtesy of the artist Jim
Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell is pictured at the exhibit in the first image.
MariJuana found to cause mental illness? "'~..
3
How to save money on groceries
(see story Inside )
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