MoCCA Announces Education Director, Adult Education Program

Press releases:

DANNY FINGEROTH NAMED SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION AT MUSEUM OF COMIC AND CARTOON ART NEW YORK

(Sept. 16 2009) - As part of its mission of furthering the study and appreciation of comics and graphic novels, the Museum of Comics and Cartoon Art - MoCCA - announces the formation of its education department, headed by longtime comics writer, editor, and educator, DANNY FINGEROTH, who will serve as MoCCA's Senior Vice-President of Education.

MoCCA's first educational offerings will be “How to Write Comics and Graphic Novels,” an 8-session weekly course (Tuesdays, Oct. 13 - Dec. 8) taught by Fingeroth and “Storytelling for Comics Artists,” a three-session weekly course (Wednesdays Dec. 2 - 16), taught by legendary comics creator KLAUS JANSON.

Danny Fingeroth was the longtime group editor of Marvel's Spider-Man line and the writer of comics including Darkhawk and Deadly Foes of Spider-Man. He has taught comics writing at NYU, The New School, and Media Bistro. Danny created and edited Write Now magazine, the only how-to publication dedicated to comics writing and writers. He is the author of The Rough Guide to Graphic Novels and co-author (with artist Mike Manley) of How to Create Comics from Script to Print. Danny serves on MoCCA's board of advisors and on the board of directors of the Institute for Comics Studies.

“It's my honor to be involved with making MoCCA the go-to place for all things relating to learning how to create comics and graphic novels,” Fingeroth says. “Its the most natural fit in the world for MoCCA to be not just where people go to see incredible exhibits and presentations about the art, craft and history of the sequential art medium, but where they can also learn the elements of the artform and how to practice them. Our rollout roster of courses aims to give aspiring creators the tools to express themselves in comics form, whether their interests are in superheroes or in idiosyncratic, personal storytelling.”

MoCCA Chairman Ellen Abramowitz says: “We're thrilled to continue a focused comic and cartoon art education program and excited to have Danny Fingeroth on board to lead it. Danny's unique background as comics creator, critic, and teacher make him the perfect person to take MoCCA_s educational efforts to the next level.”

MoCCA Director Karl Erickson says: “MoCCA continues to evolve and our new adult education programs led by Danny Fingeroth are a key part of this growth. MoCCA_s programming continues to serve the cultural community of New York and promote the understanding of comics everywhere.”

For more details, go to www.moccany.org or call 212-254-3511. The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MoCCA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts education organization dedicated to the preservation, study and display of all forms of comic and cartoon art. The museum promotes greater understanding and appreciation of the artistic, cultural and historical significance of comic and cartoon art through a variety of events, exhibitions, and educational programs. The museum is located at 594 Broadway (between Houston and Prince Streets) in New York City. MoCCA is open to the public Tuesdays through Sundays from 12:00-5:00 pm. Suggested donation to the museum is $5 but free for MoCCA Members as well as for children 12 and under (when accompanied by a paying adult). For more information about the museum and MoCCA events, exhibitions and programs, visit the museum's Website (www.moccany.org).

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MoCCA ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM BEGINS IN OCTOBER WITH JANSON AND FINGEROTH NEW YORK

(Sept 16 2009) - The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art - MoCCA - is proud to announce the new offerings from its Education Department. Organized and headed by Senior Vice-President of Education, DANNY FINGEROTH, the department's initial offerings will consist of two incredible courses:

HOW TO WRITE COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS: 8 sessions, Tuesdays Oct. 13 - Dec. 8; no class Nov. 24 $495 tuition $445 for MoCCA members DANNY FINGEROTH will lead a hands-on workshop in writing comics and graphic novels. This is an eight-week class whose aim is to teach students, in a supportive atmosphere, how to structure and write comics and graphic novel stories of professional caliber. Combining lectures, assignments in class and at home, and roundtable critiquing, the class will cover writing for all kinds of comics, including
autobiographical, historical, “indy” and superheroes. [No drawing skill is required for this class.]

DANNY FINGEROTH was the longtime group editor of Marvel's Spider-Man line and the writer of comics including Darkhawk and Deadly Foes of Spider-Man. He has taught comics writing at NYU, The New School, and Media Bistro. Danny created and edited Write Now magazine, the only how-to publication dedicated to comics writing and writers. He is the author of The Rough Guide to Graphic Novels and co-author (with artist Mike Manley) of How to Create Comics from Script to Print. Danny serves on MoCCA's board of advisors and on the board of directors of the Institute for Comics Studies.

STORYTELLING FOR COMICS ARTISTS: 3 weekly sessions, Wednesdays, Dec. 2, 9, and 16 $150 tuition $125 for MoCCA members KLAUS JANSON will lead this information-packed three-session lecture and workshop class that will focus on the theory and mechanics of comics storytelling. The lectures start with the philosophy and responsibility of the storyteller, and proceed through the essential topics of page layout and design, the importance of composition, the need for clarity, the benefits of contrast, the creation of a believable environment, and end with a discussion on the merits of the various styles available to the storyteller. The classes will combine lectures, class and at-home assignments, and on-the-spot critiques. Student participation and questions are encouraged. A rare opportunity to discuss and learn from a master of the art and craft of comics.

After a short stint as assistant to Dick Giordano in the early 1970's, KLAUS JANSON went freelance, working for several comics publishers as writer, penciler, inker and colorist. He's worked on projects with John Romita Jr., Grant Morrison, Frank Miller, Alan Moore, Gil Kane, John Buscema and many more. Klaus's current projects include: inking several Romita Jr. projects at Marvel; penciling a five-part Daredevil limited series written by Brian Michael Bendis and David Mack (to be inked by Bill Sinekiewicz); and penciling and inking a two-part Spider-Man story written by David Morrel. But Klaus is most proud of the course on storytelling that he teaches at The School of Visual Arts and the annual seminars that he holds at Marvel for the editorial staff and their up-and- coming artists.


If you've ever wanted to take your ideas for comics and learn to focus them to create actual stories, then these courses are the perfect place to explore and expand your skills! And wait'll you see what courses and instructors we have coming up!

For more information and to register, call 212-254-3511 or go to www.moccany.org.