Geppi's Entertainment Museum (GEM), located in Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland, shined during the 2016 Comic-Con International in San Diego. On Saturday, July 23, GEM's own Collection and Exhibitions Manager Michael Solof led a discussion about the museum with GEM President Melissa Bowersox, Denis Kitchen (Kitchen Sink Press), Shawn Martinbrough (Thief of Thieves), and J.C. Vaughn (Gemstone Publishing).
After showcasing a brief video of the museum, the panelists couldn't say enough nice things about GEM. Martinbrough even called the museum an "explosion of comic art" and "a comic lovers dream." While Kitchen described his first visit to the museum as "overstimulation," remarking that "you couldn't possibly see it all in just one day." Vaughn, who saw the museum before its completion, remembered thinking "how are we going to fill this space" only to later remark "we're going to need more space."
GEM covers 15,000 square feet with art expanding nearly from the ceiling to the floor in every room as well as down the long corridor. One of the latest installments in the museum was the addition of an Artists in the Spotlight exhibit for which many local artists have been featured, including Martinbrough himself. Typically the room displays 15 to 30 pieces of art handpicked by the artist and Solof to be featured for a period of three months. "It was a really great experience, one that I was glad to be a part of," added Martinbrough.
In addition to Artists in the Spotlight, is the Special Exhibits room which features art on an even grander scale for up to 6 months. Kitchen, as custodian to the Will Eisner (The Spirit) family, assisted the museum as a guest curator to put together a spectacular exhibit dedicated to Eisner's 75 spirited years. Kitchen described the room as "a tasteful yet professional display" and expressed his interest in working alongside the museum again.
While Bowersox encourages all to visit the museum in Baltimore if they ever have the opportunity, she expressed understanding that this is not always the case. Which is why the museum has been working on creating a traveling exhibit in an effort to bring a small taste of the museum to you! Bowersox and Solof recently showcased this exhibit at Awesome Con in Washington, DC and received nothing but positive feedback. "With this traveling exhibit we can offer everyone the opportunity to see the wonderful things we have, and the stories behind them, to different states and even different countries," Bowersox said.
If you do have the chance to visit Baltimore be sure to check out the current Special Exhibits room featuring over 70 pieces of amazing art by Amanda Conner (Harley Quinn). This room will be on display now through October 1. For more information on the museum visit www.geppismuseum.com.
Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti (Painkiller Jane) expressed sincerest apologies for having missed the panel after being unavoidably detained.
