Not the 2020 Shrewsbury Cartoon Festival
April 24, 2020 in Events, General, News
Cancelled poster by © Roger Penwill
Glenn Marshall writes:
This weekend would have seen the main events of the Shrewsbury International Cartoon Festival but sadly, like so much else, it has had to be cancelled. One of the organisers, Roger Penwill, commented a few weeks ago when the postponement was announced “We felt that we had no choice as the nature of the event, encouraging many members of the public to come to an indoor space, ran contrary to the guidance on tackling virus spread. More importantly we did not want to put at risk the health of any member of the cartooning community or their families”
The theme was ‘twenty twenty vision’ so the organising committee should’ve been visionary and seen Covid 19 coming!
In the meantime, here for your edification and delight, is a selection of optical illusionary cartoons selected by Roger that would’ve been part of the the Bear Steps Gallery exhibition. All drawn from/by the PCO fraternity.
In alphabetical order:
Cartoon © Nathan Ariss
Cartoon © Jeremy Banx
Cartoon © Rupet Besley
Cartoon © Andy Davey
Cartoon © Ian Baker
Cartoon © Neil Dishington
Cartoon © Pete Dredge
Cartoon © Tat Effby
Cartoon © Clive Goddard
Cartoon © James Griffiths
Cartoon © Jonesy
Cartoon © Kathryn Lamb
Cartoon © Chris Madden
Cartoon © Roger Penwill
Cartoon © Glenn Marshall
Cartoon © Ken Pyne
Cartoon © Royston Robertson
Cartoon © The Surreal McCoy
Cartoon © Wilbur Dawbarn
Cartoon © Kipper Williams
Cartoon © Noel Ford
This final cartoon is by the great Noel Ford (who I should really rechristen Noel Zord to keep alphabetic consistency) Sadly Noel died last year. He had been very involved with the festival since its inception and part of this year’s events was to be a retrospective exhibition of his wonderful work.
Thanks to Roger and all the others who’d put a lot of effort into preparation for this year’s jamboree, including Sarah Knapp, Tim King, Tat Effby, Jonathan Cusick and Jill Wild. Hopefully the Shrewsbury cartoon spectacle will be able to be rescheduled in the near future.
On Saturday I’ll be off to do my self-isolated vision themed big board in the garden….
Pete Dredge said on April 24, 2020
Great shame…and the weather looked half decent too!
Lawson Bant said on April 25, 2020
Always enjoy coming along and watch the cartoons take shape definitely a highlight of the year in Market Square. Keep safe all and the people of Shrewsbury will give you a welcome as soon as you can make it!
Roy Hope said on April 26, 2020
Thanks for letting me see these & have a larf!
Sarah said on April 28, 2020
Such a treat to see all of these in a single space. Perhaps I should get the others out and have my own in isolation exhibition.
Dawn Mockler said on May 1, 2020
Thanks for the laugh- what a wonderful collection!
La pequeña oruga glotona said on June 3, 2020
This article is gold. Great job!