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Chicago Alternative Comics Expo

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Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE)
StatusActive
GenreAlternative comics convention
FrequencyAnnual
VenueCenter on Halsted (2013–2019)
Location(s)Chicago, Illinois
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated16 June 2012; 12 years ago (2012-06-16)
FounderEdie Fake and Neil Brideau
Most recentJune 1–2, 2019
Next event2023
Attendance2,200 (2014)[1]
Organized byMax Morris[2]
Filing statusNonprofit
Websitewww.cakechicago.com

The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (widely known as CAKE) is a comic book festival usually held each June in Chicago. Inaugurated in 2012, the curated[3] festival showcases graphic novels, comic books, minicomics, and zines created by independent artists and publishers. CAKE focuses on the art of comics, and unlike traditional comic book conventions, does not feature much in the way of cosplaying, collectibles, back-issue dealers, or mainstream superhero publishers. Instead, the show centers around an artist alley-style exhibition space that features roughly 200 vendors,[4] as well as industry-related panel discussions. The festival gives out the CupCake Awards, geared toward minicomic self-publishers.

History

The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo was co-founded by Edie Fake and Neil Brideau, both then employees at the Chicago independent bookstore Quimby's.[2] The show was designed to honor Chicago's legacy as a home for small-press and self-publishing cartoonists.[2]

CAKE was inaugurated as a two-day event on June 16–17, 2012, at 1104 S. Wabash (The Ludington Building), part of the campus of Columbia College Chicago.[5] Sponsors included Quimby's Bookstore, the Art Institute of Chicago, and Columbia College Chicago, some of whose venues hosted concurrent events related to the show.[6]

The event moved to the Center on Halsted, an LGBT community center, in 2013.

The convention achieved nonprofit organization status in 2015.[2]

In 2020, CAKE announced it was leaving its long-time location at Center on Halsted, and relocating to the Broadway Armory,[7][8] located in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood. However, the 2020,[9][10] 2021, and 2022[11] events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The organizers have announced that the in-person show will return in 2023.[11]

Event history

Dates Primary Venue Featured Guest(s)
June 16–17, 2012 The Ludington Building (Columbia College Chicago)
1104 S. Wabash, Chicago		Jeffrey Brown, Lilli Carré, Anders Nilsen,[12] Closed Caption Comics, Paul Hornschemeier, Lucy Knisley, Anne Elizabeth Moore, Corinne Mucha, Laura Park, Pizza Island, John Porcellino, Nate Powell, Trubble Club[6]
June 15–16, 2013 Center on Halsted
Chicago		Chris Ware, Kim Deitch, Phoebe Gloeckner, Jason Shiga, Aaron Renier, Michael DeForge[13]
May 31–June 1, 2014 Center on Halsted
Chicago		Tony Millionaire, Edie Fake, Anya Davidson, Inés Estrada, Lizz Hickey, Hellen Jo[14]
June 6–7, 2015 Center on Halsted
Chicago		Eleanor Davis, Gilbert Hernandez, Jaime Hernandez, Keiler Roberts, Zak Sally, Dash Shaw, Jillian Tamaki, Lale Westvind[2]
June 11–12, 2016 Center on Halsted
Chicago		Chester Brown, Tyrell Cannon, Ezra Claytan Daniels, Sammy Harkham, Cathy G. Johnson, Patrick Kyle, Laura Park, Trina Robbins, Leslie Stein[15]
June 10–11, 2017 Center on Halsted
Chicago		Gabrielle Bell, Gary Panter, Ron Regé Jr., Kevin Budnik, Emil Ferris, Jesse Jacobs, Ben Passmore, C. Spike Trotman, Jessi Zabarsky[16][17]
June 2–3, 2018 Center on Halsted
Chicago		Tony Breed, Eddie Campbell, Nick Drnaso, Nicole Hollander, Audrey Niffenegger, Mimi Pond, Fiona Smyth, Carol Tyler, Georgia Webber, Jim Woodring, Gina Wynbrandt, Bianca Xunise[18]
June 1–2, 2019 Center on Halsted
Chicago		Ezra Claytan Daniels, Nicholas Gurewitch, Corinne Halbert, Michael Kupperman, Anders Nilsen, Ben Passmore, Aaron Renier, Isabella Rotman, Whit Taylor, Rosemary Valero-O’Connell[19]
June 13–14, 2020 [a] Center on Halsted
Chicago
June 2021 [b] Broadway Armory
Chicago

CupCake Award

The CupCake Award is a juried prize that is presented annually at CAKE to a local minicomic creator. It comes with $250 to use toward printing a new minicomic, half a table at that year's show, and the "support" of a local mentor.[20]

Year Winner Mentor
2015 Sara Drake Annie Koyama
2016 Goda Trakumaite John Porcellino
2017 Kelly Fernandez Caitlin McGuirk
2018 Adam Griffiths Edie Fake
2019 Diana Chu Marnie Galloway
2020 Joi Yao Tyrell Cannon
2021 AnneMarie Rogers Isabella Rotman
2022 Bread Tarleton Jim Terry

Notes

  1. ^ Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
  2. ^ Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

References

  1. ^ Rogers, Benjamin. "CAKE Report: Indie comics go to Chicago," The Beat (06/04/2014).
  2. ^ a b c d e Danzer, Amy. "Making CAKE: Chicago Alternative Comics Expo Features Two Illustrious Days and Dozens of Illustrators," New City Lit (JUNE 2, 2015).
  3. ^ MacDonald, Heidi. "CAKE is taking applications," The Beat (11/13/2012).
  4. ^ Kirby, Megan. "Finding five pieces of CAKE," Chicago Tribune (Jun 11, 2015).
  5. ^ MacDonald, Heidi. "Have your CAKE in Chicago next June," The Beat (Aug, 18, 2011).
  6. ^ a b Berlatsky, Noah. "Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE), June 16-17, 2012," The Hooded Utilitarian (May 18, 2012).
  7. ^ "CAKE (CHICAGO ALTERNATIVE COMICS EXPO) 2020," Do312 (Jun 13, 2020).
  8. ^ "CAKE announces venue change, cites Center controversy," Windy City Times. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  9. ^ Gelman, Samuel. "Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) Postponed Due to Coronavirus," CBR (MAR 26, 2020).
  10. ^ "Chicago Alternative Comics Expo CAKE 2020 postponed," Windy City Times (2020-03-26).
  11. ^ a b MacDonald, Heidi. "CAKE postponed until 2023, but other indie comics festivals go on," The Beat (02/11/2022).
  12. ^ Christoph, Ella."Let Them Eat C.A.K.E. Chicago Alternative Comics Expo puts the independents up front," New City Lit (JUNE 13, 2012).
  13. ^ Kleefeld, Sean. "THE CAKE IS NOT A LIE AT CHICAGO'S ALTERNATIVE COMICS EXPO," MTV (06/17/2013).
  14. ^ Berlatsky, Noah. "Chicago Alternative Comics Expo preview: CAKE 2014 features Edie Fake, Tony Millionaire, Liz Prince, Hellen Jo, and more," Chicago Reader (May 25, 2014).
  15. ^ "Guest and Exhibitor List," CAKE 2016 Archive. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  16. ^ MacDonald, Heidi. "Tonight and this weekend to do: CAKE," The Beat (06/09/2017).
  17. ^ "CAKE 2017," CAKE Archives. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  18. ^ "2018 Guests And Exhibitors," CAKE 2018 Archive. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  19. ^ "CAKE 2019," CAKE Archives. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  20. ^ "CupCake Award," CAKE website. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
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