Comics and Medicine at the Library: Conference and Display in June
release date: June 14, 2017
Experience health care and medicine through comics at The Seattle Public Library! The Central Library will display a Health Care Access Exhibit with locally-drawn comics of patient stories through June 30, and will host the "2017 Comics & Medicine Conference" on Friday, June 16 and Saturday, June 17.
Library events are free and open to the public. Seating is limited and registration is not required. Parking is available in the Central Library garage at the regular rates.
EXHIBIT
In October 2016, the Seattle/King County Clinic provided free medical, dental and vision care to 4,492 patients over four days at Key Arena. This giant free clinic is produced by 3,947 volunteers who donate their time to provide a full range of free dental, vision and medical care to underserved and vulnerable populations.
This year, local comics artists were invited to attend the clinic. They collected patient stories to illustrate community needs and explore what is driving people to a free clinic. The pieces on display are just some of the stories they collected and will be on display during open hours through June 30 at the Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Level 3 Living Room.
The exhibit is presented in partnership with Team Soapbox, the Seattle Center Foundation and Public Health -- Seattle & King County.
CONFERENCE
Comics and Medicine is an annual three-day conference dedicated to graphic medicine, a genre that explores the intersection of the comic medium and the discourse of health care. This year, the Library has partnered with Comics and Medicine to provide free public access to some conference programs. Discussions and talks will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, June 16 and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 17 at the Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Level 1, Microsoft Auditorium. The schedule of events is as follows.
Friday, June 16
9 a.m. to 10 a.m. - Hillary Chute gives a keynote talk on "Comics and Psychic States: Access, Interiority, Circulation," with an introduction by Susan M. Squier.
10:20 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. - Panel discussion on "Health Care Access/Health Care Barriers," moderated by Michael Green.
1:20 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. - Panel discussion on "Giving Voice to Displaced People, Communities and Cultures through Comics," moderated by Juliet McMullin.
3:10 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. - Lightning talks on "The Process of Comics: Reflection, Identity, Access," moderated by R. Amerisa Waters.
5 p.m. to 6 p.m. - Georgia Webber gives a keynote address on "Drawing the Inside Out," with an introduction by James Sturm.
Saturday, June 17
9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. - Panel discussion on "Comics and Health Literacy," moderated by Ann Glusker.
10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. - Lightning talks on "Comics as Access: Learning Graphic Medicine," moderated by Esther Saltzman.
2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. - Rupert Kinnard gives a keynote talk on "Psychobabbleography: The Examination of an Absurdly Mentally and Physically Challenging Life," with an introduction by M.K. Czerwiec.
4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. - Eroyn Franklin and Tim Miller discuss "Love and Trauma: Exploring the Effects of Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder on a Relationship."