Announcing SAWs 2021-22 In Person Instructors

Jun 2

The in person year long is back in 2021 and we’re excited to announce an unbelievable line up of cartoonists and educators who will be joining our regular local instructors for a great year of comics. Introducing Andi Santagata, Casey Nowak and Melanie Gillman.

Between the three of them they have decades of comics-making experience and expertise in traditional and digital media, as well as a broad storytelling tradition. They will be leading six to twelve week classes focused on storytelling and practice.

To find out more about our in person year long program click here. To read more about each of these incredible artists, continue reading below.

Session 1 - September 6 to October 15

ANDI SANTAGATA

Andi is a cartoonist, writer, and artist who makes funny jokes and makes you sad at the same time, like a sandwich made of real human tears. They grew up in Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, and the Southwestern US (and lived most of their adult life in Los Angeles). They have a graduate degree in Comics from the Center for Cartoon Studies (class of ‘18!).

You might know them from their (critically acclaimed!) webcomic Trans Man Walking, the Jed the Undead universe, and/or enthusiastically talking about cartoons and ska music at barcon at 2AM. INSTAGRAM @suiteddevil.

Session 2 - October 25 to December 10

CASEY NOWAK

Casey Nowak is a multiple Ignatz Award-winning and Eisner-nominated cartoonist best known for their popular graphic story collection Girl Town (2018). Their work focuses on the delicacy and power of human thought, mystery, identity and intimacy. They are currently writing and illustrating two different sci-fi epics, one titled Bodyseed, the other, Bravo. In 2018 they were proud to join the newly-founded independent comics label Diskette Press, where they assist with logistics, production and fulfilment.

TWITTER and INSTAGRAM: @IGNATZHADERACH

Session 3 & 4 - January 3 to April 1

MELANIE GILLMAN

Melanie Gillman is a cartoonist who specializes in LGBTQ books for kids and teens. They are the creator of the webcomic and graphic novel As the Crow Flies, published in 2017 by Iron Circus Comics, and winner of the 2018 Stonewall Honor Award. They are also the author of Stage Dreams, published by Lerner/Graphic Universe in 2019. In addition to their graphic novel work, they are also a senior lecturer in the Comics MFA Program at the California College of the Arts.

Join us!