The gallery is the first of its kind in San Diego to focus on the comic book as an art form.
Located in Barracks 3, the gallery's inaugural exhibit featured the work of Kevin Eastman, the creator of the famous Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...
Admission is free (yay) and although the exhibit was listed online as ending on July 13th, I believe the exhibit is still up since it is noted on IDW's website as the 'current exhibition'. The gallery is owned and operated by IDW Publishing and is designed to educate the public about comics and graphic arts.
I hate to be sexist towards myself, but as a female, I never grew up interested in the TMNT. I hardly watched it and while I thought they were amusing, thought it was just an annoying boy-thing. Well the joke's on me since the TMNT have been around for 31 years now! They are firmly entrenched in pop culture. My nephews (who are all now teenagers) love the TMNT (they even have their favorites) and of course, Bert liked them as well. I did think it was clever that Eastman named the turtles after his favorite Italian artists - Michelangelo, Leonardo, Donatello and Rafael. I actually have TMNT Pez (because they're green and can be placed on shelf in March for St. Patrick's Day, ha ha).
The space features TMNT artwork by Kevin Eastman and it's fascinating to see the process of how the storyboards come to life through drawing, inking, penciling and coloring (all separate processes by different people). In the back room is a recreation of his own studio which is includes the artist's work space and a plethora of TMNT memorabilia throughout the decades plus a velvet Elvis painting thrown in for good measure. There was also a robot in the back near their bathroom facilities (which are very nice and clean and if you are ever in dire need, go here!)...
View from the windows outside:
For your viewing pleasure, ALL of the intros of the TMNT cartoon from 1987 - 2014. That first one is the one that I remember the most.
"Heroes in a half shell...turtle power!"
"Back, back to the sewer! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!"
Articles & blurbs:
"Turtle power fuels opening of San Diego Comic Art Gallery" SDNews.com, May 2015
"IDW Publishing opens doors to San Diego Comic Art Gallery" KPBS, June 6, 2015 (it also has an embedded video)
"Visit the San Diego Comic Art Gallery to see Kevin Eastman's TMNT Work" www.bleeding coom, July 3, 2015
"In the Studio with Kevin Eastman" SD Union Tribune, July 8, 2015
San Diego Comic Gallery
2741 Truxton Road (Barracks 3)
San Diego, CA 92106
(858) 271-1315
sdcomicartgallery.com
I'm so glad there is a gallery like this that exists. I am looking forward to future exhibits.
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