Art of comics on display in Gannett Gallery

SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s “Comic-Con” art exhibit kicked off with a series of events celebrating the more than 75 year history of the comic book industry.

A form of storytelling using a series of words and pictures in a sequential manner that originally followed in the footsteps of pulp magazines (pulp, because they used the cheapest possible paper available for inexpensive, mass distribution), comic books have made their way from the newsstands of the 1930s to specialty stores, the internet and mobile devices, and some of the biggest retail chains in the nation. The medium of comic books have evolved in almost a century from children’s literature to a form of entertainment spanning kids and adults, with art and storytelling that has inspired and built some of the largest and most profitable forms of entertainment in film, television, and video games.

The gallery exhibit opened January 20 and runs until March 17 in the Gannett Gallery with two interactive opportunities that offered a chance to learn more about the pop culture phenomenon that is comic books.

On Tuesday, January 31, a Lunch and Learn session was held from Noon – 2 p.m. in the Gannett Gallery, with guests invited to bring their lunch and discuss just what it takes to create a comic book.

The following day, Wednesday, February 1, the Breaking the Panel Podcast recorded their latest installment live from Noon to 1:30 p.m. in a Student Center Multipurpose Room #2, with special guests SUNY Poly Assistant Professor Ibrahim Yucel and Instructional Technologist Kevin Volo. Breaking the Panel is a radio talk show, blog, and YouTube segment featuring Charles McFall, Brian Ibbott, and Paul Klotz who talk about all properties comic based (tv, books, games, etc) with humor, passion, and above all honesty.

Later that day on February 1, an opening reception was held in the Gannett Gallery from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.