"Slinging Satire: Political Cartoons and the First Amendment"

Illustration by Rob Rogers, editorial cartoonist of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The ToonSeum, in Pittsburgh, is proud to announce the opening of Slinging Satire: Political Cartoons and the First Amendment.



This compelling exhibition of current editorial cartoons was formed in conjunction with the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists and the San Francisco Cartoon Art Museum and showcases the work of today’s top political cartoonists.

Featured artists include a dozen Pulitzer Prize winners, five Herblock Award recipients and a host of celebrated cartoonists from the publishing industry’s most prominent newspapers, websites and magazines.

This exhibit gives political junkies and cartoon fans a rare opportunity to see both original ink on paper and digitally created editorial cartoons side by side in a museum setting.

Slinging Satire is divided into two parts. The first half of the exhibit contains political cartoons that address current issues like global warming, racism, guns, gay marriage, and the 2016 presidential campaign.

Australian cartoonist David Pope

The second half of the exhibit is dedicated to cartoons that were created in response to the January 7th terrorist attack on the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. During that attack 12 people were killed, including 4 cartoonists.

In the wake of the horrific Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris, satire is being reexamined. Some fear political cartooning and freedom of speech are under threat. Others say cartoonists need to be more sensitive about drawing images that offend certain religions and cultures.

The cartoons in this exhibit examine free speech from the perspective of the cartoonist while furthering a dialogue about what constitutes “fair” satire.

This provocative commentary forces us to consider important questions. Do some forms of satire cross a line and if so where is that line? When does free speech become hate speech and should they both be protected? If not, who decides what is acceptable and what isn’t?

One thing is certain. Love them or hate them, political cartoons represent free speech at its most transformative and provocative.

The opening reception is free to the public. Donations encouraged. The exhibit runs through September 20th.

Slinging Satire: Political Cartoons and the First Amendment
Opening Reception:
July 17th, 7-10 PM
The ToonSeum
945 Liberty Ave.
Pittsburgh

PA 15222