Beginning Oct. 3 and continuing through Oct. 31, The Art Base in Basalt will present a standalone show featuring local cartoonist, painter and award-winning illustrator Larry Day. You’ve undoubtedly seen his work in the pages of The Sopris Sun, a media sponsor for the exhibit. A professional illustrator since the early 1980s, Day is excited about this opportunity to display his work and engage in conversation regarding the collection.
The title of this show, “Ha Ha Ha,” was decided thanks to Day’s wife, Miriam Busch, an accomplished children’s books author. When asked by her husband what he should name his exhibition, she came up with it on the spot.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the entire Art Base filled up with my cartoons,” Day expressed. “I’m looking forward to seeing how they have it laid out. I’m also looking forward to talking with people and mingling. One of the things that’s fun when you have a show is you get to hear what people say about certain things when they are seeing a piece.”
In addition to his work producing local news cartoons, Day has had an extensive career in illustration across a myriad of media, including making artwork for pinball machines and as a storyboard artist for major networks and agencies like Allstate Insurance, Hallmark, Disney and Kellogg’s.
While the marketing jobs are enjoyable, Day told The Sopris Sun, this newspaper allows much more creative freedom, and the subjects vary from week to week allowing for a more individualized working style.
“In the advertising world, I’m given a script from the creative team or the copywriters,” he explained. “There would be anywhere from 10 to 20 people working on [a project], even if it was five seconds of film. With cartooning for The Sopris Sun, it’s basically like this: if you send me a script of what you’re doing, I’ll illustrate it, but it’s my idea. I don’t have to go through a committee to do it.”
This upcoming showcase came to be when Day’s neighbor mentioned how he would be submitting proposals to The Art Base for its 2025 gallery season. Day felt called to submit his work, and it turned out that he would be showing solo, rather than having a partner artist share the space.
“As the artist, you can enlighten people,” Day said. “It’s pretty cool when people see your work from different points of view that you may not have even thought of, and I’m so thankful to The Art Base for making this possible.”
Catch the opening reception on Friday, Oct. 3 from 5 to 7pm with a talk by Day at 5:30pm. The show is supported with a sponsorship from Ken Ransford.
For more information visit www.theartbase.org
