Exhibit features comic book characters

Modern twists on classic fairy tale characters are hot, and comic book characters have taken over the silver screen.

Crossings at Carnegie brings original artwork that illustrated Bill Willingham's stories in the "Fables" series, as well as art he created.

"Art and the Graphic Novel" features the work of six artists and is on display this month. A public reception will be 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday Feb. 23.

Willingham's "Fables" series centers on a world where Snow White, Cinderella, Prince Charming and others have sought refuge in the modern, "mundane" world.

Artwork by Gene Ha for Willingham's "Sons of Empire" series and by Chrissie Zullo for the "Fables" series will be on display. Mark Buckingham, who has worked with Neil Gaiman as artist on "Sandman" and "Death," also has items on exhibit; he has been the regular artist on "Fables" since 2002.

The gallery features work by Peter Gross, co-creator and artist of Vertigo’s Eisner-nominated series "The Unwritten."

Art by Willingham for his "Elementals" series will be shown. Adam Hughes will show cover art for the "Fables" series.

All the artists will be showing and selling original pages of comic book art. The pieces, which are usually oversized, are pencil and ink line drawings on paper that are then copied and colored for reproduction. Between the five artists there will be hundreds of these pages cycled throughout the month for sale.

Included in the exhibit are 12 pages of an unpublished story, all penciled by Willingham, and illustrations for "Fables" issues not yet released.

At a glance…

What: “Art and the Graphic Novel” reception

When: 1-3 p.m. Saturday Feb. 23

Where: Crossings at Carnegie, 320 East Ave., Zumbrota

Cost: Free

More info: 507-732-7616 or www.crossingsatcarnegie.com

Tags: arts and entertainment, lifestyle, books, arts