Erlangen Comic Salon 2018

Erlangen 

Comic Salon 2018

This year saw cartoon fulfilling a commitment to hit the international stage and sell comics at an international convention. Luckily Stoke-on-Trent is twinned with the Germany city of Erlangen which also boast the largest comic convention in Germany.

The student were to sell their work in the international youth forum, and I was invited to run a comic workshop for budding artist. 

Setting up the the stand at the convention in Erlangen

We would be part of the Youth Forum and I was asked to do a comic workshop 

The students had to set up the stand area and they set about setting it up.

The first thing was to come up with an interesting eye catching idea.

This is supposed to be an ink splatter. In the end using red made it look like we had blown our brains out, especially when we sat in front of it.

This is the group who went to Erlangen, from left to right - Ben Bloss, Rob, Drew Hird, Olly Ball, Kemo and Akka.

First Taste of Erlangen 

So after setting up the stall we heading off for some well earned food. Happily we had some money to allow the students to have a slap up feast at a local brewary.

For a few of them it was their first time in Germany and so sampling the customs and food was very important. 

Some took to the beer better than others and Kemo develop a particular taste for the festival beers. 

Olly liked the food and was impressed with what you could get!

Even Akka, was able to find a substantial meal for a vegetarian . 

I like my meat. 

First Day of the Convention Comic Salon 

I was lucky enough to get right to the front of the opening ceremony.

Here is the opening ceremony and the cutting of the ribbon

Here is the workshop I ran for people at the convention. 

As the first event, it was relatively well attended and the people who took part seemed to enjoy it .

Meanwhile the students were selling their work at the table, while others went to have a look around the convention.

The event was very well attended!

The work from the people who took part in the workshop was displayed on the wall to encourage people to look at it and have a draw.

  

Spirou et Fantasio

Spirou et Fantasio (Spirou and Fantasio) is a book I picked up while visiting Erlangen Germany for the Comic Saloon. At first I thought It was a Tintin book, but on closer inspection I discovered a whole different history behind this bellhop. The character is considered a popular in Franco- Belgium and one of Europe's most iconic comics and has been running since 21 April 1938. The interesting thing about the character, is that it has been drawn by a succession of artists, where as Herge Drew Tintin and Albert Uderzo drew Asterix and Obelix. Contrary to common practice in Europe, the creator of the comic sold the rights to the strip to the publishers Dupuis.

The comic strip was originally created by the Parisian artist Robert Velter (who signed his work Rob-Vel) for the first issue of Spirou magazine (Le Journal de Spirou) April 1938. The main character was an elevator operator in the Mostique Hotel and remains mainly dressed in his red bellhop uniform to this day. The main character has a pet squirrel called Spip, who was also the series first supporting character, though he was introduced a year after the series originally started. 

The first new artist/writer to take on the role of Spirou was Joseph Gillain (Pen name Jije) in 1943. By 1944 Jije had introduced a new character Fantasio who would become Spirou's best friend. Because Jije had so many artistic commitments by 1946, he ended up handing the work to his understudy Andre Franquin midway through "Spirou et la Manison Prefabriquee."

Above is the book I brought while in Erlangen and started off this blog.. The mysterious machine in the background and the woman dressed in a leopard skin costume a top a roof.

Above shows how the character had developed in the hands of other artist over the years

The image above is a fairy modern take on the 2 characters, though once again drawn by a different artist and this is one of the few images where the Spirou Character isn't seen in his traditional Bell Hop wear.

Trip to Erlangen

Trip to Erlangen

Below is a selection of the photographs I took while in Erlangen to sort out the Comic Salon and the possible visit to the area of Staffordshire University. It's hoped that a few of the other BA Hons awards from the FACT (Facility of Arts and Creative Technology) would also be able to participate in a few of the ventures out line by Peter Steger while I was doing my trip there.

Above is my first meal in Germany, a shoulder of Pork with Sauerkraut and one of the biggest potato dumpling I've ever seen.

Some on must have told Peter about my love of real ale as he booked me in a Hotel just down the road from one of the areas many micro breweries. This one in the Kitzmann Brau.

This pub was to become my local as it had the full range of beers Pilsner, Wheatbeer and Dark beer. It also had pretzels. Not a million miles from the Staffordshire University Logo

This is what the place looks like from the inside, the big ceramic thing on the left of this picture is the oven where they cook the food.

          

 

Above is some artwork I found on the streets of Erlangen.

Just to reassure everyone, they have their own comic shop 

Just to reassure Students, they also have McDonalds as well

Erlangen Town

Above is a bar I walked past call Bogarts

Some of the inspiring architecture in and around the Erlangen town Centre.

Siemens Museum and Archive Store 

The Following Beneath is the Siemens Museum, which our following conversation reveled there might be an opportunity for the Medical Illustration award at Staffordshire University.

Erlangen Council Offices

 Below is the View while walking to and from the Erlangen Government building 

This is a view from the 6th Floor of the Government building over looking Erlangen. The big building in the back is the Siemens main building.

The image above is the entrance to the  government building, it is also the place where the Comic Saloon takes place.

Erlangen University 

Above is the administrative centre for the Erlangen Universities. I bet our Vice Chancellors and the other staff would loved to be housed in here. It was originally the home to the Duke who founded the Universities.

The fountain in the park behind the University Administration building

Below is the theatre that Peter managed to get me exclusive entrance to 

Below is a Franconian bar as you would expect to see Bavaria 

We also discovered another Micro Brewery, This one had a special guest nesting on the Chimney, a pair of Storks.  

 Nuremberg

Below is a series of photographs taken while I was around Nuremberg. I met a chap called Frank Gillard on the train station, similar in the way spies must meet in Bond movies. Below are some images from St Lorenz's Church.

 


below is what used to be the hospital. It is now a restaurant.

Our Ladies Church in the centre of Nuremberg square which also offers one of the largest Christmas markets in Germany.

 
 

Above is the old fort which over looks Nuremberg and the view which you can see from the top. 
Below are some images back across the river having a look some sites.

Above is the hangman's bridge. The hangman use to live in the hose at the end of the bridge hence its name. Nothing as shocking as this was the place they hung people.

Above is my first venture into a proper German Beer Kellar.

The entrance to the Nuremberg National History Museum. Each of the pillars has one of the fundamental Human rights written on them and underneath there is a translation in a different language.  

The national Museum was initially founded in a monastery in the centre of Nuremberg. Since then it has grown and grown.  With additional buildings being added through out the years 

 

The museum boast an impressive array of artwork from the Bauhaus collection 

Ended up in an Irish bar in Erlangen

Did I mention that once a year, Erlangen threw the second biggest beer festival in Germany outside the Oktoberfest. This is where it takes place and below is an indication of how big it really is.

Erlangen also has its own Sculpture Park which celebrates a local sculptor by putting his work on permanent display to the people of Erlangen.