Squishface Studio

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.

StatusActive
Founded2011
FoundersBen Hutchings, Sarah Howell, David Blumenstein, Marta Tesoro, Arran McKenna, Sacha Bryning
Country of originAustralia
Headquarters locationBrunswick, Australia
Key peopleBen Hutchings, Sarah Howell, David Blumenstein, Chris Gooch, Jess Parker, Clea Chiller
Publication typesComics
Fiction genresAnthology, Autobiographical, Non-fiction
Official websitehttp://www.squishfacestudio.com/

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.[1] 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.

  • Ben Hutchings
  • Sarah Howell
  • David Blumenstein
  • Marta Tesoro
  • Arran McKenna
  • Sacha Bryning
  • Jo Waite
  • Scarlette Baccini
  • Patrick Alexander
  • Lily Mae Martin
  • Laura Renfrew
  • Scott Reid
  • Jess Parker
  • Teagan Boscia (Teags Humm)
  • Alexander Trevisan
  • Agathe de Gennes
  • Jase Harper
  • Lucy Fekete
  • Haydn Kwan
  • Natalie Britten
  • Samantha Ee
  • Danny Stanley
  • Chris Gooch
  • Grace Reeves
  • Eleri Mai Harris
  • Emily Hearn
  • Mark Ingram
  • Drew Turketo
  • Ele Jenkins
  • Ive Sorocuk
  • Alex Clark
  • Jonathan Vyssaritis
  • Lauren (Hills) Bedggood
  • Rebecca Clements
  • Andrea Crisp
  • Sophia Parsons Cope
  • Clea Chiller
  • Simon Howe
  • Marlo Mogensen
  • Verity Sathasivam
  • Simon Wall
  • Nicola Mitchell
  • Martin Nixon
  • Tom Winspear
  • Ariel Ries
  • Sam Emery
  • Sarah Firth
  • Issey Fujishima

Projects worked on at the studio
  • Jase Harper's graphic novel Awkwood[13]
  • Chris Gooch's graphic novel Bottled[14]
  • Ben Hutchings' graphic novel The Invisible War[15]

See also

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

Sources
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