AAEC annual convention

From The Daily Cartoonist.

The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists (AAEC) is holding its annual convention this weekend. We are relying on the cartoonists’ social media platforms to inform us of what is happening.

When MAGA censorship hits home

From Felipe Galindo's Facebook page.

The White House published the article: "President Trump Is Right About The Smithsonian", to my surprise, an artwork of mine, displayed at the Smithsonian American History Museum is on a “list” of objectionable artworks (selected by The Federalist, a conservative publication,) stating that the image is "promoting open borders by depicting migrants watching fireworks through an opening in the US-Mexico border wall."

AI is Killing Illustration Art

From The Daily Cartoonist.

There she was: a woman in a pose that suggested she was either about to sell me shoes or ask me to subscribe to her OnlyFans. Her legs spread in a way that made me wonder if Skechers had pivoted from athletic footwear to gynaecological equipment. The shoes—ostensibly the point of the advertisement—were an afterthought.

But this wasn’t just bad advertising. This was the death of commercial illustration happening in real time, one algorithmically-generated subway poster at a time. It isn’t new. I’ve written about it before— but this time it’s getting even more ubiquitous. More companies are doing it, and it’s getting gross.

Jason Chatfield discusses the passing of an art form: Death of Illustration by a Thousand Prompts.

Cuban cartoonist LAZ dies at 64

From The Daily Cartoonist.

 

Cuban cartoonist Humberto Lazaro Miranda Ramirez, better known as LAZ, has passed away at the age of 64 on August 4.

On a personal note, I will always cherish the caricature he did of me when the ACC held its' convention in Havana in May 2015.

Quebec Cartoonist Christian Daigle Passes

Roger Waters presents « The Wall » on the Plaines of Abraham in the summer of 2012.

It is with sadness that we learned of the passing of Christian Daigle, better known by his pseudonym Fleg.

He died yesterday from grade 4 pancreatic cancer, which he had been suffering from for the last year.

Our thoughts are with his family and his partner Chantal.

Cartoonists Under Threat

From Cartoonists Rights Network International and Cartooning for Peace.

MALAYSIA – Fahmi Reza

Malaysian cartoonist Fahmi Reza, who was due to travel to Singapore for a few days on June 7 to attend a concert, was unable to board his flight at Kuala Lumpur international airport. 

The immigration authorities informed him that he was banned from leaving the country by the police, without specifying the reason for this measure. On May 29, Fahmi Reza had been banned from entering the State of Sabah by the local authorities.

These restrictions come four months after Fahmi Reza was arrested in Sabah after publishing cartoons critical of the State’s governor, who has been accused of corruption. He has since been investigated, notably under the Sedition Act.

In the local press, the police denied the existence of a travel ban, but claimed that Fahmi Reza was on a watch list because of the ongoing investigation into his case.

United States Postal Service’s 250 Anniversary stamps

From The Daily Cartoonist.

In celebration of two and a half centuries of continuous service, the U.S. Postal Service unveiled last week two stamp releases at its headquarters building. 

The two stamp designs capture the essence of USPS, one features the first U. S. Postmaster General Ben Franklin.

The other highlights its ubiquitous presence in everyday life with a Chris Ware-designed 20 stamp pane.