McCay Day 2009!

McCay Day 2009 was tons of fun! Thanks to everyone who planned, presented, and participated. It was a wonderful, memorable day! Here are a few highlights for anyone not able to make it...

Chef Jim LaPerriere prepared Welsh Rarebit for a full room. And woah-ho-ho-nelly... was it good...


The McCay Party held for the younger set included crafts...


...and cookie decorating.
(Here's what happens when you let kids loose with frosting)


Children's book author/illustrator Aaron Zenz took everyone on wild adventures with Little Nemo and his friends.


Then all the kids were invited to create one last dream for Little Nemo to explore:




That's one CRAZY dream!


Later in the day, cartoonist Kevin Collier guided a full house through a great comic class.


And the evening held one of the events we'd been dreaming of for years: the dedication of a marker honoring Winsor McCay in his hometown of Spring Lake.

A crowd begins gathering for the unveiling and dedication...


Greeting were given by Mark Miller, chairman of the Winsor McCay Memorial Committee and the Spring Lake Historic Conservation Commission.


Some thoughts were shared by animation expert and historian, Ray Pointer.


Kevin Collier reads a letter from Winsor Robert McCay, the great-grandson of Winsor McCay.


Some of the kids in attendance were invited to help with unveiling...


Ta-da!


Here's a view of the backside of the marker, while Michigan Historical Commission member Tom Trescott gives some concluding remarks.


All in all, one great day! Stop by to see McCay's new marker... And give thought to McCay Day 2010!

Fiend-Dish

Even more McCay fun here in his hometown!



On Monday, June 15, at 7:00 pm. - (McCay Day Eve), Executive Chef Jim LaPerriere is coming to Spring Lake District Library to prepare Welsh Rarebit. Welsh Rarebit (which has nothing to do with our long-eared, cotton-tailed friends) is a savory melted cheese dish, which occasionally spawns some interesting comic nightmares, if you aren't careful. Enjoy some samples and take home some recipes. (Pre-registration required)

McCay Day Events

Join us for McCay Day 2009!

When: Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Where: Spring Lake District Library in Spring Lake, Michigan - Winsor McCay's hometown

10:30 a.m. McCay Day Party
Children ages 3 to 6 are invited to attend this fun filled party which will include cookie decorating, face painting, and a dinosaur craft. Special guest, artist and children's book author Aaron Zenz, will introduce us to Little Nemo and kick off a fun story time and art project!

2:00 p.m. I'm OK with McCay Cartoon Workshop
Artist and cartoonist Kevin Collier will highlight the art and life of Winsor McCay as well as lead a traditional cartooning and comics class. This program is designed for children in third grade and up.

7:00 p.m. Winsor McCay, Father of Animation
Ray Pointer, an animation expert and historian, discusses the many contributions of Winsor McCay to the world of animation. Currently the Creative Director of Inkwell Images, Pointer is also an instructor at the Kendall School of Design. With 40 years of professional experience in the field of animation, Pointer is a member of The Television Academy of Arts and Sciences Animation Peer Group, has worked with Nickelodeon Animation Studios and MGM Animation, and has over 300 credits to his name.

7:00 p.m. Winsor's Whimsical Creations
This fun program is designed for the kids. Boys and girls can participate in a scavenger hunt, put together their own Gertie the dinosaur puzzle, and paint a shirt.

McCay Day is on its way!

The 2nd Annual "McCay Day" Celebration has been scheduled! Join us on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at the Spring Lake District Library in Spring Lake, Michigan. The day's events are planned in conjunction with the Spring Lake Heritage Festival, held in Winsor McCay's hometown.

Details to come in the next post... In the meantime, here's a look back at some of the family fun we had last year!

























For all info regarding McCay Day - both this year and last - click HERE

Celebrity Pop Star

The Grand Haven Tribune had a nice article about McCay Day. Below are some excerpts I found very cool -- apparently our efforts to get McCay recognized in Spring Lake are working! Had no idea a second grade teacher was onboard and introducing kids to McCay! Read on:

More than 50 youngsters gathered Tuesday morning at Spring Lake District Library for the cartooning workshop, which featured McCay history and art lessons by longtime McCay fan and Tribune graphic artist Kevin Collier.

Children who were not involved in the standing-room-only event stumbled upon the library's McCay display and books as if he was a celebrity pop star.

"Winsor McCay is awesome," said Gray, 8, who will be a third-grader next year. "Our teacher taught us about him. I know all about "Gertie." I like how he makes his pictures pop out. He's a really great artist."

Rachel said she couldn't wait until the McCay books are off the library's display and available for checking out. "I looked at the author (on display) and said, 'Oh, my gosh, this is Winsor McCay stuff,'" she said. "We learned about him in school."

"I've waited 18 years for this," said Collier, who joined a local Winsor McCay recognition committee about a year ago and has been teaching cartooning in schools for almost three decades. "It's nice to see the recognition for Winsor McCay. I've been telling the story over and over again. He was raised right here."

You can read the whole article here: SL Heritage Festival kicks off by honoring animation pioneer

McCay Day 2008! (Part One)

McCay Day has arrived! All 3 events at the Spring Lake District Library drew big crowds, and everyone had a Great time. Today kicked off with tons of fun for Preschoolers as they were introduced to Winsor McCay's Gertie. Here are Gertie shaped Dino-Buddies and cookies waiting for the kids to arrive:


And someone was going to win this GIANT layered Gertie Cookie!


Let the Buddy stuffing begin!



Decorating those cookies...


Happy buddies with their Buddies...


Winners of the GIANT cookie:


Then it was time to decorate that super 10 foot Gertie...


Here's the finished product!


Thanks to the library for all the great work that went into this -- and thanks to you Spring Lake for coming!

McCay Day 2008! (Part Two)

Today's afternoon session focused on Winsor McCay's cartooning legacy. It was another full house, with folks standing in the back. Local illustrator Kevin Collier spent the session's first half introducing the audience to Little Nemo, Sammy Sneeze, and the Rarebit crew. He talked about Winsor's early drawings, made while he was a kid here in Spring Lake.


Kevin spent the second half leading everyone in a cartooning workshop, sharing hints, tips, and tricks of the trade...


Surprise, surprise... there was another giant cookie to give away!


There was also a special awards ceremony for the talented kids from Spring Lake Intermediate School. All the McCay inspired artwork that has been on display at the library was judged, and prizes were awarded for what were deemed the top three pieces of art.


They received cool Little Nemo themed art supplies from Eeboo. Kyle shows us his great cartoon and his loot!


Thanks to SLDL and to Kevin Collier for the great afternoon!