MEET JOHN ROMITA 1 LAST TIME THIS FRIDAY! FIRST EVER "ART OF SPIDER-MAN MUSEUM EXHIBIT OPENS JUNE 9TH! 1 1

[romitaman]

Hi Folks.... I'm proud to be helping the Society Of American Illustration with a great event with opening night happening this Friday June 9th at 730pm in New York City where John Romita Sr himself (and  a few other iconic comic book artists will be present)

John Romita will be present for his final public appearance Friday (most likely) as he doesn't do comic conventions anymore.

I loaned the museum well over 200 of my most prized pieces from my private collection to show for this great 2-3 month long event to honor nearly all "AMAZING" Spider-Man artists who drew the book from Spidey's first 25 years (1962-1987)!

The exhibit runs from June 6th through August 26th, 2017.

I look forward to being there this Friday June 9th at 730pm to see my very very dear friend John Romita and hopefully many other Spiderman fans

Mike Burkey

(PS we just had a great website update today with some sweet art also..LOL)

Here is more info for the show from Bill Cox and the COMIC ART FANS website:

NEW YORK, NY (April 20, 2017) – The first ever exhibition of original Spider-Man artwork by John Romita and other significant artists including Steve Ditko, Todd McFarlane, John Buscema, Ross Andru, Gil Kane, Ron Frenz, Keith Pollard, John Romita Jr. and others. The exhibit runs from June 6th through August 26th, 2017.

An opening reception to the public will be held on Friday June 9th at 7:30PM.

Spider-Man is the well- known signature character of the Marvel universe; created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko at the nadir of the comics field in August of 1962 in the last issue of Amazing Fantasy #15. Fan reaction was promising and Lee decided to take a chance and published Spider-Man as a stand- alone comic. Unlike the fun, yet two dimensional super heroes of the 1930's and 40's, Lee scripted his new characters with flaws, insecurities, and nuanced personalities. These new style comics proved to be popular with fans, and readers as old as college age began to follow the exploits of these famed but awed super heroes.

Ditko soon left Marvel and Spider-Man fans wondered who would take over his quirky and awkwardly drawn hero. Enter artist John Romita. Romita, a graduate of Manhattan’s School of Industrial Art was already a veteran of comics and had worked in the industry since 1947. Overcoming his initial trepidation from taking over a strip that was drawn by the idiosyncratic Ditko, Romita soon ‘stopped trying to mimic Ditko’ and gave Spider- Man and his cast of characters his own warmer, friendlier, appealing and more elegant portrayal which would propel Spider-Man and his cast of well- known characters and villains to worldwide fame and multi-media acceptance as ‘the’ super hero symbol of the ‘swinging ‘60s’ pop culture.

Romita’s lush and appealing artwork was also significant as his style soon became the blueprint for what would become the Marvel house look. Indeed, a few years later, in 1973, Romita would become the art director for the entire line of Marvel Comics. Romita’s impact on Marvel Comics in general and on Spider-Man in particular cannot be overstated; much like Walt Disney's nurtured mouse and a house look into a powerhouse brand, Romita assisted Lee in doing much the same, Lee on the words, and Romita on the look of both the spider and the house line. No wonder Disney would acquire Marvel Comics some years later. Romita would be recognized for his contribution to his industry by being inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2002.

This exhibition features art from throughout Romita’s initial Spider-Man run. Featured are (‘twice up’) pages from early in the run and their large size and clean presentation are a joy to behold. Significant pages are exhibited here for the first time, including Spider-Man’s battles with the Green Goblin, the Rhino, Doctor Octopus and many others. ere are many pages featuring Romita’s beautiful presentation of Mary Jane Parker and Gwen Stacy, including the original early finished drawings. Also featured are the first 2 weeks of John Romita’s amazing Spider- Man strip run as well as several of his earliest larger Sunday strips.

There are select pages from Steve Ditko, the quirky creator who gave Spider-Man his oblique beginning with fantastic and detailed layouts and cinematic pacing. Other featured Spider-Man artists will include Todd McFarlane who rebooted Spider- Man’s look in 1988 to much fan acclaim, and notable artists such as Ross Andru, John Buscema, Ron Frenz, Gil Kane, Keith Pollard, and John Romita Jr, who all contributed their considerable talents in illustrating this iconic character.

Thee exhibition also includes rare art from the original Spider-Man newspaper strip, advertising and other illustrative work. It is the largest, and most comprehensive exhibition of Spider-Man art ever seen anywhere in the world.

The art is on loan from the collection of Spider-Man and Romita expert Mike Burkey, and the show is arranged and curated by Comic Art Specialist Rob Pistella. 

About the Museum of Illustration at the Society of Illustrators

Founded in 1901, the Society of Illustrators and its Museum of Illustration together comprise America’s longest-standing nonprofit organization dedicated to the art of illustration  to promote the art and appreciation of illustration and its history and evolving nature through exhibitions and educational programs.

GENERAL INFORMATION

SI is located at 128 East 63rd Street between Lexington and Park Avenue in New York City.

SI is open to the public:

Tues: 10am to 8pm
Wed to Fri: 10am to 5pm Sat: 11am to 5pm
For admission costs and additional information please call 212.838.2560
or visit our website at: www.societyillustrators.org

PRESS CONTACT

Kate Feirtag kate@societyillustrators.org

Society of Illustrators
128 East 63rd Street

New York, NY 10065 212.838.2560 www.societyillustrators.org

Edited June 5, 2017 by romitaman

[Unca Ben]

WOW!     Wish I lived on the east coast.   Mebbe a boardie that attends will provide some pics, after the fact 

[otherworldsj331]

I am going to try and make it.

[romitaman]

I will take lots of pics and video to share....i'll try to upload the video on youtube afterward as this for me will really be the very VERY last time the great John Romita will ever attend a comic book related event in public....

And what better way for him to finish his great art career with a great art museum exhibit that honors HIS (Spidey) MARVEL CAREER!

Mike

Edited June 6, 2017 by romitaman

[otherworldsj331]

Great job for lending so much of your fine Romita art Mike. Who organized this event; got it going?

[1webslinger]

I'm planning on coming Friday night, any information on tickets would be helpful,

[trimpehulk]

On 6/6/2017 at 4:04 AM, romitaman said:

I will take lots of pics and video to share....i'll try to upload the video on youtube afterward as this for me will really be the very VERY last time the great John Romita will ever attend a comic book related event in public....

And what better way for him to finish his great art career with a great art museum exhibit that honors HIS (Spidey) MARVEL CAREER!

Mike

Mike , I went on Tuesday really enjoyed the display. Great stuff from the Steve ditko selection on up . I really loved those romita sr sundays . Your large romita sr splash pages also really were superb. Great job of loaning your art for all to see. Hope Friday is a knockout

[Steven Ng]

Mike, I really loved seeing your art on display at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco years ago. Thanks for continuing to loan out the art for public viewing.

Best,

Steven

[romitaman]

hi everyone..... i think its 12 bucks or so to get in tonight at 730... and every night...i'm not exactly sure how much it costs to get in regularly ..i'm sorry bout that..but it should be on the home page for the museum.

 

i'm leaving in 15 minutes for new york city and my 8 hour drive....woo hoo......

[romitaman]

ALSO... i'm bringing some VINTAGE older spiderman toys from the 1960s-1970s and props from the original 2002 spiderman movie TODAY to the museum to have for Friday's opening night festiviities......As  well as the VERY FIRST and EARLIEST non comic book related Spiderman item every produced........  The 1963 BEN COOPER SPIDERMAN KIDS COSTUME.. I believe this is 1 of only 4 in existance and my costume has never been warn and it still has the box with it for you toy collectors out there.    and 3 GREAT statues of MJ (2)  and GWEN1)where John Romita signed and drew images of the gals on EACH STATUE!!!

[gumbydarnit]

Mike, thanks so much for documenting this event for those of us who can't make the trip! I can't wait to see the video. I'd love to hear what Mr. Romita has to say -what a great contribution he made to the field of comics!

Steve

[1webslinger]

Hopefully it's not too crazy at the show tonight, 

[tv horror]

Webs away! Good luck at the event and remember I will be with you in spirit...You lucky members.

[BCarter27]

The house was packed and the line was down the block. I've never seen a Society event that well attended. I don't know how the word got out... maybe the Society newsletter.

The collection is unreal. Page after page, splash after splash. Two floors worth! And the Ditko sequence got its own corner by the bar. And some impressive Kane pieces as well.

I can't speak to Mr. Romita's experience, but I think this was a very special tribute that Mike Burkey put together.

And one that was really only possible due to his singular collecting focus over the years. Otherwise, I imagine this art would have been scattered to the four winds.

I think someone has posted a few pics to CAF already.

[wurstisart]

I saw some of the pictures. Incredible! And a very very nice way of showing appreciation to the wonderful work John Romita produced over the time.

good luck with the exhibition.

[ComicArtPage.com1]

Posted a few photos from last night, will post more as they get sent to me…but so far here’s what's up in my CAF gallery: 

 

http://www.comicartfans.com/galleryroom.asp?gsub=103214

 

Turnout exceeded expectations, there was a line going down 63rd St and around the corner down Lexington Ave  —wow! The only negative was that not everyone got in before the Romitas had to take their leave.

 

Kudos to The Society of Illustrators with Rob Pistella curating for putting on a great exhibit of Spider-Man Original Art & vintage toys!

 

Bravo to Mike Burkey for providing highlights of his collection for all to view and for John & Virginia Romita staying an extra hour to greet as many fans as they could! Always good to see the community support it’s own —collectors, dealers, fans and even colleagues (Joe Giella) came out for this spectacular event !

 

Best regards,
Will Gabri-El
www.ComicArtPage.com
 

p.s. --I had a great time, always good to see friends and familiar faces! 

[NelsonAI]

Good to see Mike, Will, Albert and a few others at the show.  The art of course was amazing to see in person.

Albert made a great recommendation by letting everyone know that the gallery was selling a catalog at the front receptionist desk when you walk in.  It costs about $22 and has pics of most of the art on exhibit.  The money goes to help support the society of illustrators.  I'm not an autograph hound and John Romita Sr. was technically not there to sign autographs.  However, he was sitting on the couch with a sharpie in his hand.  If he saw you with a catalog, he offered to sign the cover.  Mike was also there to help some fans take selfies with John in a non-intrusive way.  I may actually have been the last person to get my catalog signed before he had to leave.

His wife Virginia commented to me that she couldn't believe the amount of people that showed up and expressed their love for John.  I met her many moons ago.   Although she did not remember me, she never let on.  She was polite as ever and made you feel like you were friends of the family.  Always a class act.

I met a few familiar faces there.  Not all attendees were OA collectors; just comic book fans.  I had an extensive conversation with a very nice, knowledgeable fan.  I swear he looked just like Pee Wee Herman.  He had the long hair, which I believe is how Paul Reubens actually has his hair.  Super nice guy  but provided another name when I introduced myself.  Pee Wee, was that you?  Lol.

The gallery is the original unrenovated townhouse from 100+ years ago.  Only 3 floors.  Stairs only, not for the handicapped.  the 2nd floor is just a long narrow hallway.  

Overall, a great experience if you are in NYC.  Stop by if you can.

Cheers!

N.

    

 

Edited June 10, 2017 by NelsonAI

[AnkurJ]

Couldn't make it last night! Thanks for posting pics everyone. Looks like a great turnout to honor the Romita family!

One of my favorite pieces in the society is the Rockwell painting hanging above the bar.

[stinkininkin]

9 hours ago, ComicArtPage.com1 said:

Posted a few photos from last night, will post more as they get sent to me…but so far here’s what's up in my CAF gallery: 

 

http://www.comicartfans.com/galleryroom.asp?gsub=103214

 

Turnout exceeded expectations, there was a line going down 63rd St and around the corner down Lexington Ave  —wow! The only negative was that not everyone got in before the Romitas had to take their leave.

 

Kudos to The Society of Illustrators with Rob Pistella curating for putting on a great exhibit of Spider-Man Original Art & vintage toys!

 

Bravo to Mike Burkey for providing highlights of his collection for all to view and for John & Virginia Romita staying an extra hour to greet as many fans as they could! Always good to see the community support it’s own —collectors, dealers, fans and even colleagues (Joe Giella) came out for this spectacular event !

 

Best regards,
Will Gabri-El
www.ComicArtPage.com
 

p.s. --I had a great time, always good to see friends and familiar faces! 

Great pictures Will!  Wish I could have been there to see the art for sure, but more importantly to give my regards to John Romita whom I've never met.  I hope he was impressed enough by the turnout to grasp the level of affection and regard his many fans have for him and his work.  Excellent work by everyone who made this show possible and especially to Mike Burkey for sharing his love of Romita through the sharing of his art.

Scott

PS--Nice to see you posting here Will.  Don't be a stranger!

[1webslinger]

I arrived at about quarter after seven and the line was just around the corner. I had first heard that John wasn't going to be signing so I didn't purchase a catalog on the way in,(I hate carrying stuff around, Get one when I leave) By the time I got back upstairs and in line to see John is when Mike said the guy in front of me was the last, then he noticed that there was only me and two others so he let us thru. Things were going so well that they let a few more after us . I talked with John briefly (to keep the line moving )  I said hello to his wife Virginia ,it was good  to see her again. I meet and talked with her years ago at the Baltimore shows when she attended with John.  Scott Hanna was there, he and I were talking in line while we were waiting to get in. The art is just amazing, Mike said he loaned them 200+ pieces. They didn't display everything he sent but they put out more pieces than they originally intended. Definitely a must see if your in the city