How does an artist take an 11-page work of fiction, re-imagine it visually, and turn it into a 60-page graphic novel? Artist Christopher Cardinale presents a two-part program that brings to life the process of creating Mr. Mendoza's Paintbrush (Cinco Puntos Press), a new graphic novel for young readers based on a short story by award-winning author Luis Alberto Urrea. Using slides of sketches and photographs made during a research trip to the Mexican town where the story was set, Christopher presents a fascinating inside view of how visual books are created. He then presents an excerpt from the book, using slides and a reading of the text by Luis Alberto Urrea himself. This program is sure to be fun and informative both for children 10 and older and their parents, as well as for artists and illustrators.

Christopher Cardinale is a painter, illustrator, cartoonist, and community muralist with a social justice message. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.