Guest curator and collector Corey Gross has spent his life amassing a substantial and impressive collection of comic books dating from the 1960s to present day. He proudly owns almost every Iron Man issue ever created. The exhibition features the best of Mr. Gross's remarkable collection and focuses on the idea of the printed comic book cover as an art object. The exhibition displays around 250 comic books that showcase themes prevalent throughout the history of the art form including a large selection of Iron Man comics that illustrate the evolution of comics over the last fifty years.
The exhibition also features several pieces of original artwork, on loan courtesy of Western Michigan University Art Collection, that were used to print comic book covers, and that provide viewers with a greater understanding of how comic books are produced.
Opening Reception
Thursday, January 18, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Professional comic book artist Jerzy Drozd will begin speaking at 6:00 p.m.
Reception is free to the public. Complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres provided.
Comic Book Making Workshop
Thursday, March 15, 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Dearborn Gallery Rally
Saturday, April 7, 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Come view the exhibition again on its closing day and see professional comic book artist Dave Acosta demonstrate comic book, super hero drawings! Event is free to the public.
Dave Acosta is a Comic Book and Storyboard artist living in southeastern Michigan. He earned his BA in English Literature from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Dave has drawn for companies such as Dynamite Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Disney Digital.
The Alfred Berkowitz Gallery is located on the third floor of the Mardigian Library at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. For further information, see below for contact information. Anyone requiring accommodations under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact (313)-593-5087.
Prisoner of Continuity,
Scott Chaseling (b.1962), n.d.,
Blown, fused glass
Gift of Richard and Louise Abrahams, Collection of UM-Dearborn (2014.1.8), Photograph by Kip Kriigel
Australian glass artist Scott Chaseling (b. 1962) attended the Australian National University’s Canberra School of Art in 1995. In a collaborative project with fellow glass artist Klaus Moje, the two artists invented the Australian Roll-Up technique. Their process is quite similar to the traditional Venetian murrini cane pick-up method with one major difference. Chaseling and Moje’s concept involves picking up pre-fused panels of glass. This innovative approach allows artists to create carefully controlled designs that are not possible with traditional glassblowing methods. The pre-fused sheets of glass allow varying interior and exterior imagery, precise color placement, and full cross-sections of color, all seen in the skillful craftsmanship of this piece. After picking up the pre-fused panels on a punty, a glass blowing pipe, the final steps to the Australian Roll-Up technique consist of blowing, rolling and manipulating the glass form into a finished standing vessel shape.
