Chickaloonies

Calling all aspiring comic creators! Learn the secrets of the sequential arts with this week long class at the Nave on Spenard in Anchorage.

Instructors dimi macheras and Lee Post will be teaming up to bring you an accessible entrance into the world of visual
Storytelling!

Mighty Melissa Shaginoff will round out the teaching trio with culture and language classes, so don’t miss out on what will be the hottest week in Anchorage!

All info and sign up instructions can be found at https://www.thenavespenard.com/sukdu-lab

Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to remind you of the progress you’ve made in the video game of life. While relaying to a teenage student in Utah last month what we do for our living, her response was, “So you guys get to go travel around the country, hang out with kids, make art and generally go on adventures like your characters. We looked at each other, smiled and said, “Yeah…I guess so.”

It’s these kind of sentiments that keep us going during long stretches on tour and as I write this, we just finished up a six week stint on the road. Your weary Yokai wanderers had a quick two day respite in Seattle before getting back on the plane and heading for the final frontier that has become our second home—Alaska. This time we ventured south of Anchorage to visit the Kenai Peninsula School District once again for a whirlwind week of workshops. Including a few gigs in Anchorage for ASD and Chickaloon, we set a new record for ourselves—21 workshops in 7 days—with close to 1,000 students reached (and 21 characters created!)

For anyone who has ever been on a tour of some nature, it quickly becomes apparent that one can only control so much and the rest is one giant Geronimo leap of faith. Thankfully, we’ve become well versed in how to tango with chaos and were able to dip, strut and take the rose out of the black beak of this capricious entity. We survived exploded tires, tiny a$$ planes, sub par air mattresses—but as always, the creative energy of the students we collaborate with makes every early morning worth it.

Thank you to all the teachers who welcomed us into their classrooms and to the students who shared their ideas, imagination and artwork with us—we are truly humbled. Thanks to those behind the scenes who help us make these tours possible and finally HUGE thanks to Rachel Pioch, without whom none of this would have happened. You have been our supporter since day 1 and we can’t express what that means to us.

Now it’s head down, finish book 3 time—coming in AUGUST at the AK State Fair!

Like the allegory of the cave, high school is a transformative experience. For some, it’s a journey of exploration. For others, it’s a bitter struggle of survival. But no matter which path you take, it begins the same and requires a courage that most don’t even realize they possess. To willingly walk into a cave, to plumb the depths of darkness and take that step into the unknown is a titanic feat.

But the students of American Fork High school carry within them a spark. Growing from a flicker to a flame—fed by creativity, community, imagination, love and faith—this spark becomes the torch to illuminate the choices of your future.

The painting of this mural was one such cave, and embedded in every brush stroke is the bravery of each contributor. Trudging through the darkness until they emerge victorious like our conquering cavemen. This story, your story, will live on for generations to come and help inspire those who in the darkest of times, need a spark.

Our most tremendous thanks to Heidi, the students of American Fork, the faculty and Anna for making this all happen. We also very much appreciate the time admin took to check out the unveiling and it’s our pleasure to announce that the mural will be hung right in the main entrance for all to see for years to come.

Great way to end the tour!

Big thanks to Rachel Pioch at KPBSD for making this tour happen! We can’t wait to visit again soon