Parade of Unconventional Voices: Cartoons of art, humor, and philosophy

Parade of unconventional voices is a 3-decade retrospective collection of humor, art, and philosophy conveyed by 30 single-frame large-panel cartoons. Ostensibly, the subject matter of many of the cartoons is a holiday greeting (e.g., Happy New Year!). However, by entering the world of predominantly inanimate objects (from rocks, compasses, and sand grains to planets, underwear, drips, armpits, and sphincter muscles), new perspectives and insights into the human condition are attained. The novel point of view running through this volume establishes a dry, understated humor, which softens edgy philosophical and social commentary. Pen-and-ink drawings vividly depict striking landscapes, themselves works of art, and these reinforce the quirkiness of the protagonists’ reality. The majority of pieces build into a rich, original cultural context that conjures curiosity, perplexity, contemplation, and smiles. This imaginative body of work challenges us to see, hear, and listen in new ways.