Squishface Studio Explained

Status:Active
Founded:2011
Founders:Ben Hutchings
Sarah Howell
David Blumenstein
Marta Tesoro
Arran McKenna
Sacha Bryning
Country:Australia
Headquarters:Brunswick, Australia
Keypeople:Ben Hutchings
Sarah Howell
David Blumenstein
Chris Gooch
Jess Parker
Clea Chiller
Publications:Comics

Squishface Studio is an open comics studio, retail, and co-working space for comic artists and illustrators in Brunswick, Australia. It was founded in November 2011 by Ben Hutchings, Sarah Howell, David Blumenstein, Marta Tesoro, Arran McKenna and Sacha Bryning, and formally opened to the public on January 26, 2012.[1] As of 2019, Hutchings and Blumenstein continue to be resident artists.

Squishface is known as a community hub for comics in Australia;[2] it is the only permanent comics maker space in the country and one of few in the world that is open to the public. It also publishes comics; three editions of the anthology Squishzine Brunstown[3] have been released. The first won a Bronze Ledger award in 2015.[4]

History

In 2011, eight Melbourne comic artists were invited by the National Gallery of Victoria to spend a month in residency at the NGV Studio space at Federation Square.[5] [6] Two were Sarah Howell and Ben Hutchings, who decided, along with four other local comic artists, to establish a permanent space that would function in a similar way.[7]

Squishface Studio, located at 309 Victoria St, Brunswick, is a single room shop front in which eight to twelve artists are typically resident at any given time.[8] It was previously a bridal shop. It supports itself financially by memberships and running classes.[9]

Studio activities

The studio's major events are the Squishface Coaster Show (a parody of the Linden Postcard Show), Squishface anniversary events and the monthly drawing night (first Wednesday of each month).[10] At different times the studio has also held Ladies' Drawing Auxiliary, a showcase for the work of non-male comics makers, book launches, children's classes[11] and exhibitions.

Squishface has also been heavily involved in the Homecooked Comics Festival, which was run for several years by Squishface artists Sarah Howell and Clea Chiller and has now been passed on to Black Inc publicity and marketing manager Marian Blythe.[12]

Resident artists

The following artists have been resident in the studio.

Projects worked on at the studio

See also

References

  1. Web site: About. Tumblr. 2019-03-06.
  2. Web site: Comics and Graphic Novels. cityofliterature.com.au. en. 2019-03-06.
  3. Web site: Publications. Tumblr. 2019-03-06.
  4. Web site: 2015. The Ledger Awards. en-US. 2019-03-06.
  5. Web site: Inherent Vice NGV. www.ngv.vic.gov.au. 2019-03-07.
  6. Web site: Event – Inherent Vice – NGV - Melbourne. Facter. 2011-07-15. INVURT. en-US. 2019-03-07.
  7. Web site: Inkers and Thinkers 2014: Squishface Studio: A Physical Hub for Comics in Melbourne by David Blumenstein Inkers and Thinkers - Alternative Forms, Alternative Voices. en-US. 2019-03-07.
  8. Web site: Chris Gooch’s debut graphic novel; Monkey Grip for Millennials. 2017-12-30. Daily Review: Film, stage and music reviews, interviews and more.. en-AU. 2019-03-07.
  9. Web site: Comics and Contempt: David Blumenstein, and Tristian, on Arts Funding. The Australian Comics Journal. en-US. 2019-03-07.
  10. Web site: Squishface Comic Studio Meetup (Melbourne, Australia). Meetup. en. 2019-03-07.
  11. Web site: Classes. Tumblr. 2019-03-07.
  12. Web site: Blythe to direct Homecooked Comics Festival Books+Publishing. Mem: 32846144. en-AU. 2019-03-07.
  13. Web site: Awkwood, by Jase Harper. The Australian Comics Journal. en-US. 2019-03-07.
  14. Web site: Squishface Studio. Squishface Studio. 2019-03-07.
  15. Web site: Squishface Studio on Instagram: "Here's Annie from the Invisible War.". Instagram. en. 2019-03-07.

Sources

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Squishface Studio".

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