What I love about cartooning is that I have access to two different kinds of communication. There is verbal language. I love writing. I love putting sentences together. But language remains symbolic. It has to be filtered through our brains, whereas drawing is right there. It’s immediate, you just assimilate it without having to think about it. I love having access to both kinds of communication when I tell my stories.
— Cartoonist and Graphic Memoirist, Alison Bechdel, creator of ‘Dykes to Watch Out For’ and 2014 MacArthur ‘Genius’ Grant Recipient. In two video clips, she discusses her motivations and the affirmation of the MacArthur Foundation award (3:23) and she shares her creative and technical process (5:05).
PRH allowed me to merge two things that have always been personally valuable, which is community activism and empowerment and art. It allows those things to come together very naturally; it’s not forced.
— Social sculptor Rick Lowe, founder of Houston’s Project Row Houses (PRH) and 2014 MacArthur Fellows Genius Grant Recipient. A video clip (2:20) that lets you witness the transformative potential of art.
Forensic Friday #1: Grandma Moses meets Quincy, M.E.
Dr. Eleanor McQuillen: Grandma Moses meets Quincy, M.E. Like many children, I was raised by parents who said that they would prefer I made, rather than bought… Read More
Forensic Friday #2: A Hanging at Halloween
Dr. Eleanor McQuillen’s Crime Scene Painting A Hanging at Halloween This was the first crime scene painting my mom made. It shows a very literal depiction of… Read More
Forensic Friday #3: Murder and Man’s Best Friend
Dr. Eleanor McQuillen’s Crime Scene Painting Murder and Man’s Best Friend Like her first crime scene painting, this painting shows a very literal depiction of what my… Read More
Forensic Friday #4: A Memorial to Lives Tragically Unrealized
Dr. Eleanor McQuillen’s Crime-Scene Painting A Memorial to Lives Tragically Unrealized “Oh great. Another birthday, another crime scene painting. What the????” These were my thoughts as I… Read More
Forensic Friday #5: Haste Makes Waste
Dr. Eleanor McQuillen’s Crime Scene Painting Haste Makes Waste “MVA while passing farm vehicle” is the only note my mom provided with this painting. As the fourth… Read More
Forensic Friday #6: A Bad Day for a Goodfella?
Dr. Eleanor McQuillen’s Crime Scene Painting A Bad Day for a Goodfella? I referenced this painting when I launched the Forensic Fridays series. I reintroduce it here… Read More
Forensic Friday #7: Dying in a Winter Wonderland
Dr. Eleanor McQuillen’s Crime Scene Painting Dying in a Winter Wonderland For those who love the where’s-the-dead-guy motif, this painting is a treat. The clues are there… Read More