Tag Archives: kutztown university

Tara Hannon’s ‘BIRTLE’ Graphic Novel for Kids

Tara Hannon, a Kutztown University grad, is celebrating publication of her first graphic novel for kids, Birtle. Supportive communities like SCBWI and 12×12 helped Tara refine her writing and led to her finding an agent. Despite initial rejections, Tara persisted and her novel Birtle, a story of belonging, is set to be published in 2024.

JOEY STRAIN, Illustrator, still in College.

I bought a copy a new kid’s book illustrated by Kutztown University student Joey Strain. The Little Wolf Who Howled at the Moon is written by Dr. Curtis Herr of the KU English Dept. Not every college student can illustrate a high-quality hardcover children’s book, but Joey pulled it off with distinction. I wrote toContinue reading “JOEY STRAIN, Illustrator, still in College.”

NEW NORMAL SCHOOL

Kutztown University of PA was founded in 1866 as Keystone Normal School. Throughout the U.S. colleges that educated teachers were known as “normal schools.” When KU shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic we had to abruptly adjust to a New Normal. CDE 253, Illustration 2: The class is making zines this semester. We gotContinue reading “NEW NORMAL SCHOOL”

MoCCA Fest 2019

Kutztown Grad is Featured Artist… Kutztown University students will be selling their work at the 2019 MoCCA Fest in NYC. MoCCA stands for Museum of Cartoon and Comic Art. This will not be the first time KU illustrators have participated in the festival, but this year Kutztown has another reason to be proud. One ofContinue reading “MoCCA Fest 2019”

Scatter Joy Illustration Show

Kutztown University has produced some amazing illustrators: Tom Hallman, Stephen Kroninger, Renee French, Kathi Ember, Kevin Cornell, Tom Warburton, Tom Whalen, Simeon Wilkins.   An exhibition at the Scatter Joy Center for the Arts will showcase artists likely to be added to that list. Elham Ataeiazar, work pictured above, came from Iran to work on her MFA at Kutztown. ‘Ellie’ has already illustratedContinue reading “Scatter Joy Illustration Show”

NEW KUTZTOWN U ZINE LIBRARY

Zines by Kutztown students will form the beginning of a new Zine Collection at Kutztown University’s Rohrbach Library. Other academic institutions have famous Zine Libraries including Barnard College and Hampshire College. Kutztown is starting small. A zine, rhymes with seen, is a small book or pamphlet. Merriam Webster defines a zine as “often homemade orContinue reading “NEW KUTZTOWN U ZINE LIBRARY”

1st MFA’s at Kutztown U

Emma Brooks and Al Bronokowski made history as the first MFA’s in Communication Design. This MFA is the first terminal degree offered at Kutztown University. I, myself, was once in a first MFA class at another college, so I know it takes a leap of faith to embark on something so new. Emma and Al areContinue reading “1st MFA’s at Kutztown U”

Kutztown Welcomes Jersey Students

Kutztown University gets a lot of students from New Jersey. Why so many? We are in Eastern PA, less than an hour west of the Delaware River. I grew up in New Jersey and must admit I always resented this sign: Welcome to Pennsylvania: America Starts Here. I suppose it wasn’t meant as an insult. The otherContinue reading “Kutztown Welcomes Jersey Students”