Chicago Alternative Comics Expo
| Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Alternative comics convention |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Venue | Center on Halsted (2013–2019) Broadway Armory (2023) |
| Location(s) | Chicago, Illinois |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 16 June 2012 |
| Founder | Edie Fake and Neil Brideau |
| Most recent | June 3–4, 2023 |
| Next event | 2024 |
| Attendance | 2,200 (2014)[1] |
| Organized by | Tyrell Cannon, Sage Coffey, Chris Lopez, Tony Recktenwald, Ed Witt[2] |
| Filing status | Nonprofit |
| Website | www |
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[edit]
The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo was co-founded by Edie Fake and Neil Brideau, both then employees at the Chicago independent bookstore Quimby's.[5] The show was designed to honor Chicago's legacy as a home for small-press and self-publishing cartoonists.[5]
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.[6] 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.[7]
The event moved to the Center on Halsted, an LGBT community center, in 2013.
The convention achieved nonprofit organization status in 2015.[5]
In 2020, CAKE announced it was leaving its long-time location at Center on Halsted, and relocating to the Broadway Armory,[8][9] located in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood. However, the 2020,[10][11] 2021, and 2022[12] events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The in-person show returned in 2023, held at the Broadway Armory.[2]
Event history[edit]
CupCake Award[edit]
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.[21]
| 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 |
| 2023 | Natalie Mark | Zachary Clemente, Kat Fajardo |
Notes[edit]
- ^ Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
- ^ Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
- ^ Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
References[edit]
- ^ Rogers, Benjamin (June 4, 2014). "CAKE Report: Indie comics go to Chicago". The Beat.
- ^ a b MacDonald, Heidi (Feb 8, 2023). "CAKE is coming back to Chicago in June: And it's got a cool new venue, too!". The Beat.
- ^ MacDonald, Heidi (Nov 13, 2012). "CAKE is taking applications". The Beat.
- ^ Kirby, Megan (Jun 11, 2015). "Finding five pieces of CAKE". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ a b c d Danzer, Amy (June 2, 2015). "Making CAKE: Chicago Alternative Comics Expo Features Two Illustrious Days and Dozens of Illustrators". New City Lit.
- ^ MacDonald, Heidi (Aug 18, 2011). "Have your CAKE in Chicago next June". The Beat.
- ^ a b Berlatsky, Noah. "Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE), June 16-17, 2012," The Hooded Utilitarian (May 18, 2012).
- ^ "CAKE (CHICAGO ALTERNATIVE COMICS EXPO) 2020,". Do312. Jun 13, 2020.
- ^ "CAKE announces venue change, cites Center controversy". Windy City Times. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ Gelman, Samuel (Mar 26, 2020). "Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) Postponed Due to Coronavirus". CBR.
- ^ "Chicago Alternative Comics Expo CAKE 2020 postponed". Windy City Times. 2020-03-26.
- ^ MacDonald, Heidi (Feb 11, 2022). "CAKE postponed until 2023, but other indie comics festivals go on". The Beat.
- ^ Christoph, Ella."Let Them Eat C.A.K.E. Chicago Alternative Comics Expo puts the independents up front," New City Lit (JUNE 13, 2012).
- ^ Kleefeld, Sean. "THE CAKE IS NOT A LIE AT CHICAGO'S ALTERNATIVE COMICS EXPO," MTV (06/17/2013).
- ^ 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).
- ^ "Guest and Exhibitor List," CAKE 2016 Archive. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ MacDonald, Heidi. "Tonight and this weekend to do: CAKE," The Beat (06/09/2017).
- ^ "CAKE 2017," CAKE Archives. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ "2018 Guests And Exhibitors," CAKE 2018 Archive. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ "CAKE 2019," CAKE Archives. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ "CupCake Award," CAKE website. Retrieved May 21, 2022.