MOSEYING TO MOCCA. Yesterday I saw two interesting little shows at the Museum of Comics and Cartoon Art. If they interest you too, be sure to see them soon!

The exhibit that drew me to the museum offers a sampling of Cartoons Against the Axis that were displayed in a 1942 war bond contest at the Art Students League. The MoCCA exhibit continues through Monday, but today is the last day to see the full show before the packing begins. Among the artists represented at the museum are Charles Addams, Saul Steinberg, Ad Reinhardt, Peter Arno, Rea Irwin (creator of Eustace Tilley), Crockett Johnson (creator of Harold and the Purple Crayon), and Mary Stewart (a talent also known as Jimmy Stewart's sister). The online exhibit includes essays by Art Spiegelman and Walt Reed as well as work by Gregory d'Alessio and other artists.

The other show is Irwin Hasen: Heroes to War Orphans, featuring samples of work by the artist who co-created the war orphan Dondi as well as powerful covers for Justice Society and Green Lantern comic books. I was impressed not just by Hasen's works but also by the frames around some of them. Festooned by comic art and (in at least one case) action figures, the colorful frames are attractions in themselves. This exhibit closes February 20, 2006.

While at the museum, I enjoyed a reunion with archivist-cartoonist-writer-editor-web presence Bill Roundy (pictured), a former work associate of mine. I'll post more about him soon; in the meantime feel free to check out his website, The Amazing World of Bill Roundy.

MoCCA is located at 594 Broadway, Suite 401 (between Houston and Prince Streets). It is open Fridays-Mondays, from Noon to 5:00 p.m, and "by appointment only" on Tuesdays-Wednesdays. You can probably get through both shows in an hour. Admission is $3.

Self-Portrait of Bill Roundy courtesy of Bill Roundy