A marathon for the artistically inclined, 24 Hour Comics Day is a global event that unites and challenges comic book artists to create a 24-page comic in 24 hours. From its beginnings in the U.S., the event has spread around the world and made its way into the heart of the Kingston community.
Next Friday, artists will gather at The Artel to begin work on their 24-page project. The stipulations for the event are flexible. Participants aren’t required to stay in the space for the whole duration of the event nor are they required to forgo sleep. Rather, the day aims to bring artists to an accessible, inspiring space full of other creative minds. Work can be done at home but refreshments will be available for the artists. “There are multiple other countries participating in this in terms of providing event spaces for people to come in and just to expand their creativity and make comics together,” said Nick Csnerak, co-organizer of the event in Kingston.
Csnerak discovered the 24-hour comic phenomenon on the internet and wanted to participate.At the time, the event wasn’t available in Montreal, Ottawa or Toronto. He and friend Kevin Merritt decided to get it going in Kingston so artists in the area could meet and make their comics. Last year marked Kingston’s first 24-Hour Comics Day with 30 participants. This year, more aspiring comic book artists are expected to sign up and in the event the participant list expands, a secondary space may be set up as well.
The provided space also exists to encourage those who are interested but need that extra push to try their hand at producing comics and expanding the idea of what a comic is.
“I think a lot of people in the artistic community have this misconception that it’s just this pen and ink,” Csernak said. “I’m trying to reverse the impression of comics. It should tell a story as long as there are 24 sequential images. It could be anything.
“It should be a blossoming of creativity for people. I do hope that people that are inside the area, even people who have difficulty communicating their ideas … may consider comics as a way of expressing [themselves] … as a secondary language.”
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Sign-ups for the event can be done at Minotaur, 165 Princess St. or can be e-mailed to thekitschen@hotmail.com The event begins Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. at The Artel.
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