Windows Trail art by the talented young Doodle Gang

This year’s Windows on Comic Art Trail – organised by the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, whose annual event took place last weekend – made an incredible impact across Kendal, involving local business, clubs and schools as well as local and national artists. The collaboration created a unique art trail displayed in windows across the town and provided a unique way to explore the town and tell the story of Kendal, comics and our participants.

We are pleased to announce the “winning windows” of the Art Trail, chosen by both popular vote and top comic creators and publishers…

And the Winners Are…

The People’s Vote

Buzz Club window at Café Nero

Buzz Club at Café Nero in Kendal’s Market Square are the 2016 winners and they receive a golden Poblin with a limited edition Festival Gicleé for Café Nero.

Best Artist Window

@MassDecoration at Williams Wools

The winner is @MassDecoration at Williams Wools. The judge was Joe Decie, who was commissioned to draw and paint a mural in Yard 2 in Kendal live during the 2015 festival.

The prizes are £150 vouchers for @MassDecoration to spend in Iridium and a limited edition Festival Gicleé for Williams Wools.

Best School or Group Window

Sponsored by Russell Armer

St Marys School at The Oaklea Trust

The winner is St Marys School at The Oaklea Trust and the category was judged by James Stacey, owner of Yokohama-based art and comic publisher Black Hook Press.

The prize for this category is signed original artwork by Jonathan Edwards of Lakes Gang in Kendal plus a selection of comic books and a limited edition Festival Gicleé for The Oaklea Trust.

Next year, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival is looking to expand and develop the Windows Trail and would love to hear from you if you would like to be involved. Contact Sandra@comicartfestival.com for more information.

Windows on Art Trail Exhibitions 2015

This year the trail extended to include exhibitions in three businesses in the town centre:

• Brew Brothers exhibition by Andy Poyiadgi whose comic Teapot Theory was shortlisted for the Observer/Jonathan Cape/Comica Graphic Short Story Prize and was coloured with genuine English Breakfast tea.

Mike Medaglia decorated the windows for White Stuff, who also hosted an exhibition of his work

• White Stuff exhibition by Mike Medaglia, a comic artist, illustrator and Zen Buddhist, whose book One Year Wiser was launched at the festival by top British publisher SelfMadeHero.

All the artwork in this exhibition is for sale and the proceeds go to the charity that White Stuff regularly supports, the Bendrigg Trust.

The Windows on Art Trail is funded by Kendal BID businesses and North Country Leisure and is supported by, Russell Armer, Costa Coffee and Iridium.

• The Lakes International Comic Art Festival returns in 2016, with its Festival weekend announced for 14th – 16th October. For the latest nes visit www.comicartfestival.com

• For more images of this year’s Windows on Art Trail visit the LICAF Flickr Page

• About the Author
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John Freeman

John  is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of  comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.

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Categories: Comics Competitions, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Exhibitions

Tags: @MassDecoration, Andy Poyiadgi, Black Hook Press, Brew Brothers, Buzz Club, Cafe Nero, downthetubes News, James Stacey, Joe Decie, Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Mike Medaglia, St Marys School, White Stuff, Williams Wools, Windows on Comic Art Trail