April 20, 2024

The Center for Cartoon Studies is heading to Ireland for the annual Graphic Medicine Conference. CCS president and co-founder, Michelle Ollie, along with several alumni and CCS fellows will be participating in the traveling conference. 

Cartoonist and comics librarian Natalie Norris ‘20 will discuss “Harnessing the Transformational Magic of Graphic Memoir to Process Trauma.” J.D. Lunt ‘16 will present, “Comics, Oral History, and Sharing the Magic of St. Dorothy’s Rest, the Oldest No Cost Health Camp in California.” Michelle Ollie will lead a design talk, “Using Design to Improve Accessibility.”

CCS fellows MK Czerwiec (2019 Applied Cartooning Fellow) will help give out awards; Nicole Georges (2013-14 Fellow) will lead, “Grief Comics Workshop: Alchemizing Loss Through Embodiment and Connection”; and Cara Bean (2018 Fellow) will present, “Pen, Pencil, Ruler, Eraser: Celebrating Difference in the Art Space” and “Narrative Eye Contact: Using Different Points of View to Talk to Kids About Mental Health.”

Held at the Technological University of the Shannon from July 16 through July 18, this year’s theme is draíocht, the Irish word for magic. According to organizers, the conference will “explore the myriad ways that comics spark imaginations and creativity to demonstrate different perspectives about health, illness, caregiving, and disability.” This year’s conference schedule offers more than 70 different talks, presentations, and workshops. The Center for Cartoon Studies and Dartmouth College hosted the conference in 2019.