Media: Press Release
For Immediate Release Tuesday, February 13, 2007
CCS INAUGURAL COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER ANNOUNCED: PATRICK McDONNELL, CREATOR OF MUTTS
"Patrick McDonnell possesses an elegance of line and narrative that both transcends and defines his medium. When one experiences Mutts, one experiences genius." ΚΚΚ -ALICE SEBOLD, author of The Lovely Bones
White River Junction, Vermont - This May marks The Center
for Cartoon Studies' inaugural commencement ceremony for its two-year, full-time
course of study. Patrick McDonnell, creator of daily of comic strip Mutts,
will be the institution's first commencement speaker. McDonnell's cartoons
appear in 700 newspapers in over 20 countries, including the Sunday section
of CCS's hometown newspaper, The Valley News, and are collected and published
worldwide. McDonnell has received numerous awards, including the National
Cartoonist Society's Reuben for Cartoonist of the Year (1999), Harvey Award
for Best Comic Strip (1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003), and The Humane Society
of the United States Ark Trust Genesis Award (1997, 1999). He has had a
hand in editing and writing numerous works on the subject of comic art,
and Mutts has been the subject of many authors' works. McDonnell serves
on numerous boards, including The Humane Society of the United States.
For more information about Patrick McDonnell, visit http://muttscomics.com/cast/patrick.asp
According to Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, Mutts is "one of the best comic
strips of all time." Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, agrees, calling
McDonnell's strip "smart, funny, brilliantly drawn and full of heart."
Chittenden Bank proudly sponsors The Center for Cartoon Studies' inaugural
commencement. Chittenden, Vermont's largest full-service bank, has been
proudly serving businesses and residents statewide for more than 100 years.
With assets greater than $3.2 billion and more than 50 offices throughout
the state, Chittenden is dedicated to fueling the aspirations of Vermonters
at every stage of life. Chittenden was ranked one of the top 50 banks in
the nation for 2005 by Bank Director magazine. More information about Chittenden
can be found at www.chittenden.com.
The Center for Cartoon Studies opened in fall 2005 in the historic village
of White River Junction. Each year 20 students from across the country relocate
to Vermont to attend its rigorous cartooning program. Thesis work will be
on exhibit, open to the public on Saturdays from May 19 through June 16.
For more information, please visit www.cartoonstudies.org
The Center For Cartoon Studies (CCS), located in the historic village of
White River Junction, Vermont, is a dynamic cartooning school and studio
that has been featured in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Farmer's
Almanac, and on the front page of The Washington Post. For more information,
visit www.cartoonstudies.org.
- END -
Press Contact:
Michelle Ollie
(802) 295-3319
ollie@cartoonstudies.org
The Center for Cartoon Studies
PO Box 125
White River Junction, Vermont 05001
©2008 The Center for Cartoon Studies | PO BOX 125, White River Junction, Vermont 05001 | 802.295.3319 | info@cartoonstudies.org
