Q:yo SPX that Chris Ware poster is cool, but none of those panels are new. would you have accepted rehashed art from a less-renowned artist?

Anonymous

Actually this is not in the least bit unusual…

Diane Noomin’s poster from last year featured existing art. Likewise Bill Griffith’s from 2007. I believe Peter Kuper’s did too. Was that 2005? Not sure whether Gahan Wilson’s art was all new in 2009. Can’t recall. Craig Thompson re-used as yet unreleased Habibi art on last year’s flyer.

There are probably other examples.

We’ve also had all manner of beautiful all-original poster artwork produced for us but having been associated with the show for almost a decade I can’t ever remember an artist’s profile being a major factor in whether their poster/flyer artwork was entirely new or incorporated existing elements of their work.

At the end of the day, what we care about is whether or not a poster represents the show well.  

On that score we’re feeling pretty amazing about 2012 with Chris Ware and Becky Dreistadt putting together some beautiful work on our behalf. Not to mention Theo Elsworth’s flyer, Michael Deforge’s program cover and Andy K’s full page ad. Did I mention Jamie Hernandez’s badge art?

That’s not even getting into the sweet banner ads from Marguerite Dabaie, Carolyn Belefski and a whole bunch of other folks (that I will dutifully credit when I can recall them all - ads currently rotating at The Beat).

We’re not offering a knighthood to anyone and we don’t pay well. Frankly, none of us are even all that attractive (Ok, Kevin Panetta is a little foxy) but we’re blessed to continually get great work from great artists.

I like to think that it is because they know that we put every dime and all of our energy right back into promoting their work and preserving it for posterity.

But it could be Kevin.

Maybe.

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