Cartoonist Adam Griffiths has spent the past couple years carving every nook and cranny of his Silver Spring home into a space for making or appreciating art. What was once a furniture staging area for the realtor who previously lived in the house has become a gallery that’s shown 13 exhibits to date. Out back is a garage that’s being converted into a screen printing studio. The basement contains a video vault culled from Griffith’s former job at Video American in Takoma Park; there he hosts screenings of obscure films and B movies. On the main floor is a gathering space for workshops and readings, where the walls are also often littered with drawings, and an ’80s vintage boutique run by Griffith’s sister-in-law in the front sitting room. Upstairs is the artist’s studio space, lined with shelves of comics, graphic novels, and magazines. There’s even a secret tiny gallery in an alcove.
“There’s always something to do at the compound,” Griffiths says. “I just want the artists of the area, especially the cartoonists and comics makers, to feel like there’s some sort of entity that is cheering for them and continuously inspiring them.”
The 14th exhibit in the main gallery, Unhealthy Obsessions, features D.C.-based cartoonist Dana Jeri Maier, known for her syndicated comic The Worried Well and New Yorker comics. “I studied video production at Maryland Institute [College of Arts] and Dana was an illustration major there, so we’ve known each other since [then],” Griffiths says. It’s been a boon to see a hometown hero comic artist gain a national platform. “I love that she’s from D.C., and so there’s less of the augustness of New York daily life and trying to reduce that to something mundane for city dwellers up there,” Griffiths explains. “She has seeded into something very universal about wanting to be creative or just wanting to feel inspired and facing all the pitfalls of that interspersed with her daily life.”
At the exhibit’s opening, Maier will also discuss her new book, Skip to the Fun Parts: Cartoons and Complaints About Creativity, which covers the anxiety and frustration that can accompany the creative process. The book talk and gallery opening starts at 7 p.m. on Sept. 27, at DWIGHTMESS Cartooning & Comic Arts, 805 Silver Spring Ave., Silver Spring. Unhealthy Obsessions runs through Oct. 31 by appointment.
Here are some other events coming this fall that Griffiths is excited for:
Small Press Expo at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel on Sept. 14 and 15
“It’s so crazy that, like, the biggest indie comics convention is here in the D.C. area, and nobody knows that it’s here,” says Griffiths. “It’s been here for years, and all of the best artists, who are from the nationalized indie comic scene are there, and some of the best indie publishers. So you can keep aloft with all of the new books that are coming out, and see what’s being made across the board.” The expo runs Sept. 13 through 14 at Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Rd., Rockville. $15–$30.
Astro Boy and the God of Comics at Silver Spring Black Box Theatre opens Oct. 19
I don’t know what to expect, but I’ve heard great things. It’s about the creator of the manga Astro Boy, Osamu Tezuka,” says Griffiths. “Astro Boy was a comic that was created in the ’50s. He’s a robot boy, and there’s a lot of intelligent emotional narratives going on.” (From Oct. 16 through 18, folks can attend the preview shows for $15). Astro Boy and the God of Comics opens Oct. 20 and runs through Nov. 3 at Silver Spring Black Box Theatre, 8641 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. $30.
DC Riso Print Fair at Eastern Market on Nov. 23 and 24
“Risograph printing has kind of exploded on the art scene. You have a lot of people who are making zines or prints, stuff like that, with RISO machines,” says Griffiths. We had one here for a little bit. It was a quirky machine, so we’re looking for another one. I really don’t know what to expect with this—it’s run by Philip Hutinet, who is the administrator of East City Art, which is a great portal for the gallery events in the area—but I’m looking forward to seeing what’s being made.” The fair runs from Nov. 23 through 24 at Eastern Market, 225 7th St. SE. Free.