Congratulations Class of 2011

Please clap where erst you might be for the fifth graduating class of the Center for Cartoon Studies! This past weekend the Class of 2011 marched right up on stage and boogied the day away.

Left to right, Top Row: Jesse Durona, Jan Burger, Ben Horak, Pat Barrett, Jon Fine, Jacob “Monty” Montgomery, Andy Christensen, Carl Mefferd, Dave Libens. Middle Row: Art Spiegelman, Carl Antonowicz, Carol CJ Joughlin, Lawrence Derks III, Josh Kramer, Ben Juers, Kevin Uehlein, Paul Swartz, Max Mose, Corey Middleton, Michelle Ollie. Front Row: Francoise Mouly, Ana Merino, Tom Casteel, Betsey Swardlick, Beth Hetland, Jesse Mead, Nomi Kane, Bailey Sharp, Lena Chandhok, Emily Sauter-Steele, James Sturm.

We were joined not only by parents and loved ones of the graduating class but by New Yorker Art Editor and the 2011 Commencement Speaker, Francoise Mouly. Mouly moved to New York in 1974 and proceeded to rocketship RAW, a hip comics anthology, into production a few years later. From publishing books to being a colorist at Marvel to being the Art Editor at the New Yorker (since 1993), Mouly is living proof of the power of print, art and hard work.

The Class of 2011 chose the deadly Lawrence Lee Derks III as their student commencement speaker and he wasn’t just shooting blanks. The whole commencement was recorded by the family of graduate, Bailey Sharp, so brew that tea and sit down for some heartfelt speeches and even a dance routine.

Each year the school creates a unique cartoonist-created diploma for the graduates. This year, Aaron Renier, creator of Walker Bean and Spiral Bound, put pen to HUGE paper and made an epic out-of-this-world diploma.

The following reception opened the doors of the Thesis Exhibition show. You can visit the CCS Gallery at 94 South Main Street in the heart of downtown White River Junction. The thesis runs from Monday through Saturday, 10am to 2pm, now until June 11. And don’t forget you can check out a daily dose of the thesis work at the CCS Summer Showcase website.

You did it! Go out into the world! Make a line! Make comics!

-Jen Vaughn