Buy a ticket, get to listen to me talk. Mercifully, I’m limited to five minutes so the pain will be fleeting. Ear plugs available at extra cost. All the other talent on the bill will make it worth the five minutes of suffering.
Mell Lazarus 1927 – 2016
May 25th, 2016Mell Lazarus, creator of the comic strips “Momma” and “Miss Peach,” Reuben award winner, former National Cartoonist Society President, novelist, playwright and great friend has passed away. Mell joined me for trips to the cartoon festivals in Rathdrum, Ireland and St. Just Le Martel in France. Mell, a born and bred New Yorker, took some light-hearted ribbing about staying at a B&B on a farm. A true professional, kind and full of humor, we’ll all miss him.
The National Cartoonists Society page has more.
The Berndt Toast Gang’s Fiftieth Anniversary!
January 12th, 2016We’re the Long Island Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society. The Berndt Toast Gang started in 1966 when some L.I. cartoonists were working on an animation for Hanna Barbera. Named in honored of Walter Berndt, the creator of the long-running strip, “Smitty.” We’ve been raising a “Berndt Toast” to past members at every lunch since.
The Berndt Toast Gang’s 50th Anniversary exhibition is on display at the Society of Illustrators from January 5th through February 27th, 2016 in the MoCCA Gallery on the second floor. Many of the pieces have never before been displayed. Cartoonists from the Golden Age of comics through today are included. The show is dedicated to our late, great friend and colleague, Jeff Fisher.
Join us for the opening reception!
On Wednesday, January 20th, from 6-9 p.m. the Berndt Toast Gang will be at the Society of Illustrators for the opening reception of our 50th anniversary exhibition. It’s $25 and includes a buffet and live music supplied by our own, incomparable, Roberta Fabiano! There will be a cash bar available.
Click here to reserve your space!
$25 per person (if you are using a credit card with Paypal, please include an additional $1.06 for each ticket to cover their fees).
Happy New Year!
January 6th, 2016In Ireland, January 6th is “Little Christmas.” The day the three kings arrived with their gifts. So, here’s my Christmas card for 2015, technically still on time . . .
May you all have a wonderful, healthy and prosperous New Year!
Click the image for a larger version.
The Original Batmobile
October 31st, 2015October is Spooky Drawing month at the Berndt Taost Gang, the Long Island chapter of the National Cartoonists Society. Everyone brings in a drawing on a Halloween theme. This is mine for 2015.
Click on the image for a larger view.
Over the Alps in a Triumph TR4A
June 11th, 2015My alter ego is a classic car enthusiast. So much so that I have a number of cars in various states of disrepair. One, a 1967 Triumph TR4A, I use daily (until it snows) and have owned it for 40 years. I’m also fortunate enough to own a very rare Triumph Italia. This is a Triumph TR3 with a hand-made Italian body. You can read all about them at my site for the Italia: http://www.triumph-italia.com
Recently, I was invited to the 2015 meet of Triumph Italia owners in La Morra, Italy. One owner, Paul Harvey, has Italia #215 and also owns a TR4A. Paul graciously offered to let me drive his 4A from Norwich in England all the way to La Morra. I thought about it, for a second or two, and said, “Yes, please!” So, Patti and I were off to England just a day after returning from the annual National Cartoonists Society Reuben Awards. All told, we put almost 2200 miles on the 48 year old Triumph. We shared the driving duties with Paul on the long section across France. Paul’s Triumph Italia, a very original example of which he is the second owner, was transported as far as Chambéry in France by another Italia owner, Graham Andrews. Graham’s Italia is undergoing one of the most extensive restorations I have ever seen and he used his Ford Ranger to transport Paul’s car for the meet. Once there, it was taken from the trailer and driven over the Alps along with a Guy Viel’s Italia #244 and the TR4A. Beautiful scenery, a classic car and a very special someone (just after our wedding anniversary) to share it with, it was an adventure of a lifetime.
We covered just about every mode of modern transportation, jet to the UK, car to Portsmouth, overnight ferry to St. Malo in France, across france and over the Alps to La Morra, Barolo and Turin. On the return we went under the Alps through the 8 mile long Fréjus Road Tunnel, among other shorter ones, and across France to Calais and the Chunnel train for our return to England.
Me, Graham Andrews and Paul Harvey setting off from the UK. Photo by Patricia Sinnott
Peter Johnston, Graham Andrews and Guy Viel. We met up with Peter and Guy at Rennes in France. Photo by Patricia Sinnott
Graham, Peter and the TRs. Photo by Patricia Sinnott
From our room at Château des Comtes des Charmes, 247 Montée du Château,
73190 Challes les Eaux Photo by Patricia Sinnott
Overnight at Château des Comtes des Charmes, 247 Montée du Château,
73190 Challes les Eaux Photo by Patricia Sinnott
Drive over that? Photo by Patricia Sinnott
Photo by Patricia Sinnott
Photo by Patricia Sinnott
Photo by Patricia Sinnott
Mt. Cenis pass, 6827 ft. Photo by Adrian Sinnott
Mt. Cenis pass, 6827 ft. Photo by Patricia Sinnott
Mt. Cenis pass, 6827 ft. Photo by Patricia Sinnott
Photo by Patricia Sinnott
Photo by Patricia Sinnott
Photo by Patricia Sinnott
La Morra, Italy Photo by Adrian Sinnott
The Vignale factory, home for the Italia! Photo by Adrian Sinnott
The Vignale factory, home for the Italia! Photo by Adrian Sinnott
The Vignale factory, home for the Italia! Photo by Adrian Sinnott
The Vignale factory, home for the Italia! Photo by Adrian Sinnott
By Default: The Work of Jeffrey K. Fisher
March 24th, 2015
Missing the Man, the Myth, the Legend.
Click for a larger image
My good friend and fellow Society of Illustrators/Berndt Toast Gang member, Jeff Fisher, passed away suddenly late last year. Gallery North in Setauket is hosting a posthumous one man show of his work. Come on out on Friday March 27th, from 5-7 p.m. for the opening reception. The show runs through April 17th.
Jeff’s work appeared in many books and publications. Here’s a chance to purchase an original of Jeff’s while supporting the gallery. Some of the funds raised will go towards naming the new printmaking facility in the Community Art center in honor of Jeff.
Members of the Berndt Toast Gang have also graciously donated original art for sale to help sponsor the new facility.
gallerynorth
90 North Country Rd
Setauket, NY 11733
631.751.2676
www.gallerynorth.org
Tues-Sat 10 am-5pm
Sun 12pm-5pm
Je Suis Charlie
January 7th, 2015
Happy New Year
January 1st, 2015It’s a time for new beginnings! Best wishes to you for a wonderful, creative, and funny New Year.
Click for a larger version.
Jeff Fisher Tribute
December 25th, 2014
From Left: Jeff Fisher, Joe Giella, Joe Vissichelli, and Karen Moy.
My good friend and fellow Berndt Toast Gang member, Jeff Fisher passed away suddenly last month. Jeff was unforgettable, he had a presence that few could match. Not the least because he was 6′ 4.” He would still have been force to reckon with no matter how big or small he was. Jeff has left a legacy of students that both love and cherish their time with him. A big, frightening man with the kindest of hearts. His students have put together a touching tribute video: http://thedailyblu.com/video/art-fashion-tribute-to-jeffery-fisher