A 24-panel exhibit by cartoonist Bob Hall will be on display in the Te Paske Art Gallery Oct. 29 through Nov. 24.
Hall is a major illustrator in the graphic novel business and has drawn cartoons for various publishers, including Marvel and DC Comics.
Some of Hall’s comics include harsh language, violence and sex. These themes led the administration and art department to take extra precautions with this exhibit. Screens will be set up so that people will not see the potentially offensive material by accident.
There will also be posted comments written by various professors addressing how the art relates to history and the theater, drama and theological communities. They will also give the background of the artwork.
“We wanted to make sure people understood why this is important and why we want to look at it,” Art Professor Rein Vanderhill said. “We want people to be able to learn something from it.”
The art department and administration believe that Hall’s art should be shown on campus to encourage students and faculty to continue to “ask the tough questions,” Vanderhill said.
A preview with discussion will be on Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. to give people another chance to discuss the controversial art and address the issues it proposes in a group setting. Hall will be on campus to host a reception on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. While he is here, Hall will also speak to various theater classes.
Hall began his career in New York, acting as the artistic director for three different theater companies. In 1976, he began a career with Marvel. He moved to Valiant Comics—later known as Acclaim—in 1991, but has since returned to working for Marvel and DC Comics.
Throughout all this work, Hall has continued to be an artistic director for both the Haymarket Theater in Lincoln, Neb., and Lincoln’s annual Flatwater Shakespeare Festival.
