In the News-Joel Pett

Joel Pett Returns from China Trip and Gives a Presentation on Editorial Cartooning

Joel Pett, editorial cartoonist for the Lexington Herald-Leader, recently traveled to China on a low-level diplomatic mission. You can read about his trip in an article entitled "A Not-So-Innocent Abroad Recounts His China Tour, Connects with Fellow Cartoonists," dated July 8, 2012, on the website Kentucky.com, here.

A couple of weeks later, Mr. Pett gave a presentation on editorial cartooning at the Danville (Ky.) Community Art Center, where he gave thanks for having "two of the best senators for cartoonists," Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul. You can read more about it in the article "Editorial Cartoonist Has Tongue as Sharp as His Pen" by Todd Kleffman, dated July 19, 2012, on the website of the Central Kentucky News, here. 

Copyright 2012, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

In the News-Bob Englehart

Bob Englehart, Indiana-born cartoonist for the Hartford Courant, has channeled another Bob--Bob Kane, co-creator of Batman--for an editorial cartoon published earlier this week. The cartoon shows Batman with tears in his eyes in response to the massacre at the first showing of the newest Batman movie in Aurora, Colorado. The massacre took place on July 20, 2012. Mr. Englehart's cartoon is dated two days later. You can see the cartoon on the website of the Hartford Courant, here.

Copyright 2012, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

In the News-David Horsey

Editorial Cartoonist Weighs in on the Aurora Massacre

David Horsey, Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist formerly with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and now with the Los Angeles Times, has weighed in on the recent shooting at an Aurora, Colorado, movie theater. Mr. Horsey's cartoon and editorial, "Despite Colorado Theater Massacre, a Discussion of Guns Is Off Limits," dated July 24, 2012, appear on the website of the Los Angeles Times, here. We should note with some irony that David Horsey's most recent collection of cartoons is entitled Draw Quick, Shoot Straight (2007).

By the way, David Horsey, who was born in Indiana and drew cartoons for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer for many years, moved from that paper to the Los Angeles Times in January 2012. You can read a press release about the move, dated December 19, 2011, on the website of the Northwest Progressive Institute Advocate, here.

Copyright 2012, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

In the News-Joel Pett

Joel Pett in China

Joel Pett, editorial cartoonist for the Lexington (Kentucky) Herald Leader and a native-born Hoosier, is in China for a visit with the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai. The Global Times, a daily Chinese newspaper, has posted a profile of Mr. Pett on its website. You can read the article, "Quick on the Draw" by Li Yuting, by clicking here.

Copyright 2012, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

In the News-Steve Sack

Steve Sack, editorial cartoonist for the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune, recently posted a cartoon about the Republican primary defeat of Indiana Senator Richard Lugar. Those who follow the political scene in Indiana might be interested in Mr. Sack's take on the development. Fans of Hoosier cartoonists should know that Steve Sack, a native of St. Paul, cartooned for the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette for three years before returning to his hometown. You can view the cartoon, dated May 11, 2012, by clicking here.

Copyright 2012, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

In the News-Joel Pett

Kentucky Basketball--The Cartoonist Responds to the Response

Cartoonist Joel Pett of the Lexington Herald-Leader has responded to outraged fans who have cancelled their subscriptions, fired off angry emails, and voiced threats over his May 8 cartoon about Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari. In his response, released on May 13, 2012, by the website of the Herald-Leader, Mr. Pett discussed the issue, then closed with an irony:

For all the demands that I apologize, what I really regret is that of all the subjects we cover--in news, editorials and cartoons--UK basketball is the only one, with the possible exception of the you're-with-us-or-the-terrorists Iraq war, that has inspired this level of genuine outrage and passion.

A further irony: Joel Pett issued his response following his return from Washington, D.C., and a meeting with the Cartoonists Rights Network International. Attendees at the meeting discussed cartoonists who have been beaten and threatened with death by foreign dictators and about newspapers that have been bombed by terrorists, all because of drawings on paper. The website of NBC Sports' College Basketball Talk also weighed in on the controversy, attempting to put it all in perspective by writing, "As much as we all love the games and the bragging rights that come with them, at the end of the day they’re just that: games." You might similarly say that cartoons are just funny pictures, yet time after time they have shown themselves to be a powerful force and a continuing threat to those who would practice violence, oppression, corruption, and graft.

Text copyright 2012, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

In the News-Joel Pett

Cartoonist Joel Pett Involved in a Basketball Brouhaha

Joel Pett, editorial cartoonist for the Lexington Herald-Leader, has landed himself and his paper in hot water over one of his recent cartoons. Entitled "Coach Cal's Trophy Case," Mr. Pett's cartoon displays the meager trophy case of University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari. Sure there's a trophy for the March 2012 NCAA championship, but flanking it are two vacated spaces (for vacated Final Four appearances at the University of Massachusetts and the University of Memphis) and a deflated basketball representing the coach's desire to play basketball arch-rival Indiana University on a neutral court. Kentucky basketball fans, angry over the cartoon lampooning their coach, have threatened to cancel their subscriptions and otherwise boycott the Herald-Leader.

Joel Pett walks a fine line as an editorial cartoonist. Born in Bloomington, Indiana, home of Indiana University and its storied basketball program, Mr. Pett attended IU and cartooned for his hometown Herald-Telephone before landing a job across the river at the Lexington Herald-Leader. He has tackled difficult and controversial issues before and was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 2000. Many of those issues may pale in comparison to the subject of Kentucky basketball, though. In any case, you can read more about the controversy and see the offending cartoon in the following articles:

"Cartoonist Courts Ire of Kentucky Fans" by Lynn Zinser at The Quad: The New York Times College Sports Blog, May 8, 2012

"Editorial Cartoon Blasting John Calipari Angers Kentucky Fans" by Jeff Eisenberg at Yahoo Sports, May 8, 2012

Text copyright 2012, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

In the News-David Fitzsimmons in Indiana

Arizona Daily Star Cartoonist to Speak at Hammond Event

Humorist and editorial cartoonist David Fitzsimmons will the be keynote speaker at the the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority's annual Tourism Week luncheon next week. The event will take place on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond, Indiana. The theme is the future of tourism in northwest Indiana. Mr. Fitzsimmons is the staff cartoonist for the Arizona Daily Star and a popular speaker at conventions and meetings. You can read the full story on the website of the Northwest Indiana Times, here.

Copyright 2012, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

In the News-Abby Gross

University of Indianapolis Editorial Cartoonist Wins Award

Abby Gross, a cartoonist with the University of Indianapolis student newspaper The Reflector, has been awarded first place for her editorial cartooning in a recent competition sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards. The awards were for the society's Region 5, which includes colleges and universities in Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. The Reflector staff came away with ten individual and group awards all together. You can read more at the website of the University of Indianapolis News, or UIndy News, here. For a look at Ms. Gross' cartoons, see the opinion section of the online Reflector, here.

Copyright 2012, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

In the News-Nikko Elliott

Cartoon Controversy at Purdue University Calumet

A recent editorial cartoon by Nikko Elliott, appearing in the Purdue University Calumet Chronicle, has become part of a larger public discussion on the subjects of religious tolerance, racism, free speech, professor-student relations, and the point at which personal opinions, when expressed in a public forum, cross the line. If it sounds complicated, that’s because it is. To learn more about the issues inspiring the editorial cartoon and the larger controversy of which the cartoon has become a part, follow these links:

"PUC Professor Calls Cartoon Anti-Semitic" by Carmen McCollum, Northwest Indiana Times, March 8, 2012.

"Professor's Facebook Comments Draw Protests from Students" on NBC Chicago.

"PUC Students Protest Professor's Comments, Facebook Page” on Hammond Community.net.

Written by Bridget Hanley, Proficient Pen.

Copyright 2012, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

In the News-Editorial Cartoon Exhibit in Chicago

SOFA Chicago 2011

SOFA Chicago 2011, an annual art fair held in the Windy City, begins tonight, Thursday, November 3, 2011, at the Navy Pier Festival Hall, 600 East Grand Avenue. Among the events is "Cartooning in Conflict," an exhibition of editorial cartoons. SOFA Chicago 2011 runs through Sunday, November 6. For more information, see the website of Chicago Now. And to find Chicago, just drive west out of Indiana and look for the signs.

Copyright 2011, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

Hoosier Cartoonists Today

Dave Sattler

Dave Sattler is a newspaper cartoonist, illustrator, author, speaker, and long-time resident of the Lafayette, Indiana, area. He started cartooning for the Lafayette Courier and Journal in 1969. According to his website, he's still at it. You can read more about him and his see his work at his website, Dave Sattler Cartoons, here.

Copyright 2011, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

Hoosier Cartoonists Today

Dee Bonner

Dennis J. "Dee" Bonner drew cartoons for the Shelbyville News for thirty years, retiring in 2008. Now his career has taken a new turn on the Internet. Mr. Bonner has his own website with more features than you can shake a stick at. It includes his own cartoons, cartoons submitted by readers, political commentary and more. You can read and see it all at Dee Bonner.com by following this link.

Copyright 2011, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

In the News-Bob Englehart

Bob Englehart's Cartoons on Display

In the category of "better-late-than-never-news," Bob Englehart, editorial cartoonist for the Hartford (Connecticut) Courant, recently (May 10, 2011) commented on art education on the occasion of graduation season. A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Mr. Englehart worked for an advertising agency and a Chicago newspaper, drew cartoons for his hometown paper, the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, and cartooned for the Dayton Journal-Herald before signing on with the Courant in 1980. Despite receiving what he called "an excellent commercial art education" at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, Mr. Englehart offers this advice to new graduates: "Remember, we all have to overcome our education," adding, "Colonel Sanders [another Hoosier, by the way] didn't cook his first chicken until he was 65." The veteran cartoonist concluded his comments with a plug for an exhibit of his work, entitled "Drawing Fire: Bob Englehart's 30 Years at the Courant," which took place at the Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford, Connecticut, during May 2011. You can read the entire article at the Courant's website, here. Mr. Englehart's page on the Hartford Courant website is here.

Copyright 2011, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

In the News-Gary Varvel

Gary Varvel Wins Reuben Award

Gary Varvel won the 2011 Reuben Award for his editorial cartoons, presented by the National Cartoonists Society (NCS) at its 65th annual banquet in Boston last weekend. Varvel, who has been the editorial cartoonist for the Indianapolis Star since 1994, was one of fourteen cartoonists recognized at the banquet, held at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel on Saturday, May 28, 2011. Varvel joins a list of other Hoosier cartoonists who have won Reuben Awards, including Dick Moores (Gasoline Alley), Bill Crawford (editorial cartoons), Frank O'Neal (Short Ribs), Jim Davis (Garfield), and Dale Messick (Brenda Starr). You can find photos and other information about the event at Gary Varvel's blog.

Copyright 2011, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

In the News-NCS Awards

Two Hoosiers Nominated for Awards by the National Cartoonists Society (NCS)

The National Cartoonists Society (NCS) has announced its nominees for awards to be presented at its annual banquet to be held in Boston on May 28, 2011. They include at least two Indiana cartoonists. Gary Varvel, cartoonist for the Indianapolis Star, is nominated for his editorial cartoons. Jared Lee is nominated for book illustration for The Three Wise Guys by Mike Thaler. You can read more about the awards at the website of the National Cartoonists Society. Gary Varvel also has a blog, here.  You'll find the website of Jared Lee here.

Copyright 2011, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

In the News-Joel Bustamante

Wabash College Student Wins Editorial Award

The Indiana Collegiate Press Association awarded Wabash College student Joel Bustamante first place for an editorial cartoon in a small college newspaper at its annual convention, held April 1-2, 2011, in Bloomington, Indiana. The award was for a cartoon depicting President Barack Obama and an injured elephant representing the GOP.  "A classic cartoon treatment of a national topic," judges wrote. "Clear caricatures and few words make this the most powerful of the bunch." Mr. Bustamante's award was one of twenty-two awards, including ten first place awards, picked up by The Bachelor, the Wabash College weekly newspaper. Wabash College, located in Crawfordsville, Indiana, is the alma mater of several other Hoosier cartoonists, including Allen Saunders (Mary Worth), Dave Gerard (Citizen Smith), Frank Beaven, Bandel Linn, Tom Henderson, and Don Cole.

Copyright 2011, 2024 Terence Hanley

In the News-David Horsey

Editorial Cartoonist David Horsey Holding a Cartooning Marathon for Election Day

Originally posted Nov. 2, 2010

In an attempt to keep up with fast-breaking Election Day news, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist David Horsey is holding a twelve-hour cartooning marathon, from noon until midnight, today, Tuesday, November 2, 2010. You can read more about it on Mr. Horsey's blog, on the website of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, here.

Mr. Horsey has weighed in on the controversy over depicting the prophet Mohammed in cartoons. Soon after Seattle cartoonist Molly Norris announced plans for an "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day," she received word from the FBI that she should go into hiding to avoid reprisal. In response, Mr. Horsey wrote a brief essay which begins: "There is no sane or humane creed that would justify putting Seattle cartoonist Molly Norris on an execution list, but there is little that is sane or humane about radical Islam." You can read the entire essay and more about the controversy on the website of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists.

Copyright 2010, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

In the News-John McCutcheon

John T. McCutcheon Featured on Moment of Indiana History

Originally posted Nov. 2, 2010

Indiana Public Media recently featured a Hoosier cartoonist on its radio program, Moment of Indiana History. The subject was John T. McCutcheon (1870-1946), onetime dean of American political cartoonists and longtime front-page cartoonist for the Chicago Tribune. Born in South Raub, Indiana, McCutcheon graduated from Purdue University in 1889. That's where he met his fast friend and sometime collaborator, humorist George Ade. In addition to being a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, McCutcheon was also a foreign correspondent and adventurer. He even owned his own Caribbean island. The full story can be found on the website of Indiana Public Media, here. You can find more art by John McCutcheon on my blog, Indiana Illustrators, at www.indianaillustrators.blogspot.com.

Copyright 2011, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

In the News-Ron Rogers

Ron Rogers Laid Off at the South Bend Tribune

Originally posted Sept. 20, 2010

Ron Rogers, believed to be the only black editorial cartoonist on staff with an American newspaper, recently lost his job with the South Bend (Indiana) Tribune. As a teenager, Rogers dreamed of being the nation's first black editorial cartoonist. His dream became a reality in Aug. 2005 when he hired on with the Tribune. His last cartoon was published in the Sept. 3, 2010, issue of the paper. Look for the full story at the website of Editor and Publisher, here.

Note: Ron Rogers is now working as a freelance editorial cartoonist. You can see his cartoons at the website of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists (AAEC), here.

Copyright 2011, 2024 Terence E. Hanley