FLOATING WORLD COMICS & ORANGE SUNSHINE PRESENTS:
“THE LAND OF BROKEN HEARTS”
A RARE EXHIBITION OF ARTWORK BY AL COLUMBIA

Floating World Comics presents a rare and exclusive opportunity to view new work by the acclaimed and elusive artist Al Columbia. September’s first Thursday will see the debut of “THE LAND OF BROKEN HEARTS,” marking the first public exhibition and appearance by the enigmatic artist in over a decade. The exhibition will feature a large collection of limited edition prints, original artwork, handmade books, and other ephemera from his Orange Sunshine Company, much of it created especially for this show. The artist will also participate in an informal Q&A during the event.

“THE LAND OF BROKEN HEARTS” is a new series of illustrations that serves as a preview for a new collection of work that Columbia will release in 2008 from Seattle’s Fantagraphics Books. Floating World will have all of Columbia’s published works to date on hand at the event, including The Biologic Show, Blab!, Mome, and Zero Zero.

The opening night reception will be documented on film by Kevin Belli, a Boston filmmaker who has been creating the documentary “Whatever Happened to Al Columbia?” over the last four years.

LISTING INFORMATION:

WHO: Al Columbia and “The Land of Broken Hearts”

WHAT: Opening Reception & Book Signing with the artist

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 6th, 6-10PM

WHERE: Floating World Comics
20 NW 5th Ave suite 101
Portland, OR 97209
(503)241-0227

“The Land of Broken Hearts” runs through Oct. 2

Floating World Comics is greatly honored to host Columbia, who will be visiting from his home in Connecticut. “I’ve been a fan of Al Columbia’s since I first read his groundbreaking masterpiece, ‘The Trumpets They Play’,” says Floating World Founder Jason Leivian. Published in the anthology Blab! Vol. 10 in 1998, “The Trumpets They Play” has been hailed as one of the great short stories the comics medium has ever produced, retelling the story of the apocalypse from the Book of Revelations in a style that looked like stills from a 1930s Max Fleischer cartoon. The story caused an instant stir, and comics fans couldn’t wait to see what Columbia would do next. Unfortunately, after “Trumpets” was released, Columbia more or less disappeared from the comics scene. This show will end a 9 year silence for him and offers his fans a very rare opportunity to meet him in person.