Posts Tagged ‘Desert Island Comics’

Seeking Submissions for Wonder Women Zine! Deadline April 18, 2022!

Black and white illustration of a fist holding a coiled rope and wearing a dark armband
Wonder Woman-inspired illustration by Leslie Lanxinger

The City Reliquary Museum, in collaboration with Desert Island, is conducting a call for submissions of artwork and creative or academic writing related to or inspired by the popular icon, Wonder Woman.  

Submissions will be considered for inclusion in a 32-page comic book, edition of 2000 titled “Wonder Women: NYC’s Heroes of Heterodoxy.” Edited by Desert Island founder, Gabe Fowler and City Reliquary founder, Dave Herman; it will serve as a companion piece to the museum exhibition of the same name on view at the City Reliquary Museum beginning in June 2022. The comic book will be distributed free to supporters of the City Reliquary and Desert Island, and to select comic book dealers throughout NYC. Selected contributors will receive 10 free copies of the publication.

Other contributors to the museum exhibit and limited edition comic book include:

  • Trina Robbins; artist and author, The Legend of Wonder Woman, and It Ain’t Me Babe
  • R. Sikoryak; artist, The Unquotable Trump, and Constitution Illustrated 
  • Robyn Smith; artist, Nubia: Real One, and Wash Day Diaries
  • Tim Hanley: author, Wonder Woman Unbound, and Betty and Veronica: The Leading Ladies of Riverdale
  • Noah Berlatsky: author, Wonder Woman, Bondage and Feminism in the Marston/Peter Comics 1941-1948
  • Karen Green; Curator for Comics and Cartoons at Columbia University
  • Andy Mangels; author, editor; Gay Comix, founder/curator; Wonder Woman Museum 

The publication and exhibition will address additional themes integral to the Wonder Woman comics and their surrounding NYC history including:

  • Early 20th century birth control pioneers
  • Underground and Gay Comix 
  • 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-generation feminists 
  • BIPOC representations in comic art 
  • NYC protest activities including women’s suffrage parades, pride parades, the BLM movement
  • Women’s, Transgender, and Queer liberation.    

More about the museum exhibition:

For over a century, all across New York City, the women behind the fascinating evolution of Wonder Woman have rejected social norms and fought tirelessly to break the chains of orthodoxy in its many forms. Beginning with the suffrage movement in Greenwich Village and the nation’s first birth control clinic in Brownsville, the character’s unique history grew to span a polyamorous triad at Columbia University, a mental health clinic in Harlem, a Lower East Side bohemian boutique, the United Nations Building, and Black Lives Matter protests throughout the city. Explore the remarkable women who inspired the triumphant and troubling journey of America’s favorite female superhero in the City Reliquary Museum’s exhibit: Wonder Women: NYC’s Heroes of Heterodoxy. 

Submissions should be received by Friday, April 18th 2022.

Email submissions to: [email protected]

Text: No more than 500 words.

Artwork: Single page or 2 page spread. Final artwork should be 6”x9” per page 300 DPI resolution, black and white or CMYK, pdf or jpg format.


Beyond Patience and Fortitude: A Series for Celebration and Political Action

Beyond Patience & Fortitude:
In Protection and Celebration of New York’s Diverse Cultures

civicny-pin-copy

On Friday, January 20th, The City Reliquary Museum & Civic Organization will inaugurate Beyond Patience & Fortitude, an event series designed to educate and empower New Yorkers in the current political climate. From January to March, we’ll host presentations and performances that inform and inspire us to civic action. It’s time to move #beyondpatience! Ticket on sale through Artfully.

Admission includes access to:

  • Materials for protest signs and button-making materials for making your own Civic New Yorker pin (or feel free to bring your own design)
  • Posters, stickers, and informational “Know Your Rights” flyers provided by Interference Archive and the ACLU
  • Copies of RESIST!, a newspaper of political comics and graphics, many by female artists. The paper presents a powerful collective female voice and an affirmation of unity, diversity, and creativity. RESIST! is guest-edited by Françoise Mouly, art editor of The New Yorker, and writer Nadja Spiegelman. It is published by Gabe Fowler of Desert Island Bookstore.
Performance of Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait” by Loud Box and screening of Bill Santen’s nostalgic, wistful treatment of Barack Obama’s 2008 inauguration.

Get your tix ahead of time through Artfully!


Pt. I (Jan. 26-Feb. 16)
Tickets are on sale through Artfully. All admission is $10/$8 Reliquary members:

Jan. 26: Screening of United In Anger: A History of ACT UP and a discussion with Jim Hubbard. Drag queen, writer, and activist Miz Cracker will perform before the screening and participate in the discussion.

Feb. 2: Dan Lenchner presents his collection of snapshots capturing daily life of Nazis in the 1930s and ’40s. His collection illustrates Hannah Arendt’s idea of the “banality of evil:” The photos present shockingly relatable, human experiences of those who supported or perpetrated one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century.


Feb. 9 Rescheduled to March 8: Gabe Fowler of Desert Island will discuss RESIST! a tabloid newspaper of comics mostly by women artists that comment on a Trump presidency. With a performance by Alana Amram.


Feb. 16: Speak Out! Rise Up! Podcast Workshop w/Keisha “TK” Dutes of Bondfire Radio. Guests will learn the basics of developing a podcast, and then will have the opportunity to record their own 30-minute podcast.


Pt. II (Feb. 23-March 9)
Tickets are on sale through Artfully. All admission is $10/$8 Reliquary members:

Feb. 23: Redefining “Native New Yorker”: For many people, the term “native New Yorker” refers to someone born and raised in one of the five boroughs. Three special guests will offer a broader and more inclusive look at native culture in NYC:

  • Matt Levy, a Brooklyn-born New Yorker and co-owner of the Levy’s Unique New York! tour company.
  • Ryan Victor “Little Eagle” Pierce, a member of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation and Founder and Artistic Director of The Eagle Project.
  • Kaina Quenga is a native Hawaiian, from Hawaiʻi and lives in New York City.  She will share a performance of traditional Hawaiian Hula and chant.

March 2: American Life Through Muslim Eyes: Perspectives From Mother & Son: Author Sabeeha Rehman will read from her memoirs, Threading My Prayer Rug. This highly acclaimed book relates humorous and poignant moments from her life as a Muslim woman who immigrated from Pakistan to the US. The evening will include a discussion with Sabeeha and her son, Asim Rehman, about their experiences and perspectives as Muslim-Americans living in the US.


March 9: FREE LIKE OSCAR: Resistance Through Afro-Latino Culture: Melinda González, co-founder of BombaYo, discusses how traditions in Latino culture from the African diaspora can teach resistance and resilience. With a community healing drum sharing by Jose L. Ortiz, aka Dr. Drum, director of BombaYo.


We hope these events inspire civic action and greater understanding. The need for community is especially important at this moment. Look out for news on Part II of this series in the next few weeks.

Stay Civic!