Post by blackcrowheart on Mar 18, 2008 11:09:18 GMT -5
Entertainer turns talents to graphic novels
LOS ANGELES - Kickapoo entertainer Arigon Starr is not content with two NAMMY's, a successful one-woman stage production and a popular radio theater show. She's branching out again - this time into graphic novels, fashioning imaginative characters comic-book style.
In her forthcoming comic book, ''Super Indian,'' Starr illustrates the adventures of mild-mannered Hubert Logan. After eating tainted commodity cheese, Logan transforms into hero, ''Super Indian.'' With trusty sidekick ''Mega Bear'' and a wise-cracking rez dog named Diogi, he battles evil on the Leaning Oak Reservation.
Starr recently reflected on her career, experiences, and the comic book behind her zany radio show.
Indian Country Today: Which came first, comic book or radio play?
Arigon Starr: The comic book was a funny idea spawned on a train ride through Australia in 2005. The radio comedy wasn't fully realized until May 2006 at the National Audio Theater Festival in Missouri. The first 10-minute episodes were broadcast live on National Public Radio.
ICT: Why an Indian super hero?
Starr: Why not? There are few Native American super heroes - and woefully few written and drawn by Native Americans.
ICT: Are the characters in SI modeled after real people?
Starr: It's been fun to mess around with some of our stereotypes - the bumbling tribal chairman, a feisty medicine woman, and a know-it-all radio DJ. Those are just some of the regulars on the fictional Leaning Oak Reservation.
ICT: Anyone ever recognize your characters?
Starr: All the time! Everyone knows Navajo fry cook Emmitt Tsinajinnie from ''The Red Road'' or Mega Bear from ''Super Indian.'' Round, brown and greasy!
ICT: Been cartooning long? Do you also create fine art?
Starr: I've cartooned since I was a child. I was a fan of ''Archie'' comics and loved the DC and Marvel superheroes. The dramatic, scary comics ''Creepy'' and ''Eerie'' fascinated me. They had great stories and creative black and white artwork. I also work with oil, acrylics and another favorite medium, gouache - a type of water color. My cartoons are part of the current ''Rock Art'' exhibit on Alcatraz Island - images of leaders of the 1969 Occupation - Atha Rider Whitemankiller, Richard Oakes and Belva Cottier. My work has also been used on promotional postcards for Native Voices productions.
ICT: Describe your graphic process and how you learned it.
Starr: Trial and error, trips to the library, Borders Books and Amazon.com. Marvel has a wonderful method for learning to draw super heroes, and DC Comics has an entire series on producing comics from pencils to final coloring. It also helps to be computer proficient. I'm a big fan of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. I've also found great sites online, such as Comicraft.com for tips on lettering and word balloons. I start with a rough sketch and a typed document describing dialogue, scene and action. From there, it's a tighter pencil drawing, then pen and ink, and a quick computer scan. I use a Mac to color and insert lettering. It's a lot more detailed than the sketches I used to do when I was bored in class. AAY! When finished, I'm going to self-publish.
ICT: Who produced, directed and starred in the SI radio show?
Starr: ''Super Indian'' was produced by Native Voices at the Autry and the Native Radio Theater Project in April 2006. William Dufris [Mik'Maq Tribe] is the show's director and Kalani Queypo is the voice of ''Super Indian.''
ICT: Before performing, what work did you do? Did family encourage your art?
Starr: I worked in television production, and for a cable network publicity department. I learned a lot from seasoned professionals. My parents, sister and extended family are my tireless champions. My folks always encouraged my sister and me to pursue artistic endeavors.
ICT: About your music - What was your reaction when you won your first NAMMY?
Starr: It was the Second Annual Awards in Albuquerque. The award was ''Best Independent Recording'' for my first CD, ''Meet the Diva.'' I was thrilled - especially since my parents were in the front row. I was happy to make them proud. My feet didn't touch the ground all night.
ICT: Has life changed since your second NAMMY?
Starr: It's brought wider recognition, but now I'm working harder than ever.
ICT: Where do you record and who produces your music?
Starr: I've recorded in San Diego, Los Angeles and Nashville. I have artistic control over the entire process, and write my own material. I think I'm too ornery to collaborate with anyone. I've produced my CDs myself. Producing means writing, arranging and hiring the right musicians to make the music come alive. I've also sat with the engineers during the final mix, which can be very tedious. I'm grateful to my engineers Ben Moore and Eric Corne. They've shared many of their sonic secrets with me.
ICT: Were you an ''overnight success'' or ever discouraged?
Starr: Overnight success. Ha ha ha. I've worked as an independent artist since 1996 and feel like I've yet to break through to the other side. I am grateful for support from Native, college and community radio stations. The music business has changed. I'm not sure how to describe ''overnight success'' these days. Maybe ''American Idol'' - but even those folks will tell you how many years they've toiled as unknowns. Every time I indulge in negative thinking about all I haven't done, someone reminds me how my music has affected them.
ICT: What has performing taught you?
Starr: Lots of folks are too shy to tell their stories and some aren't here anymore to give witness. Native people have so many vital stories to tell. We haven't even scratched the surface yet. I'm as happy as that crazy woman onstage spinning a yarn. It's taken a long time to be OK with that. You can't learn that about yourself until you get up and perform.
ICT: Any advice for performers building a career?
Starr: Be yourself - don't pander. Prepare for success and failure. Talent is a plus, but persistence is most important. Doors will slam in your face so start working on growing thick skin.
ICT: Any future surprises? Bull riding? Flying trapeze?
Starr: Perhaps an animated film. There is something about the marriage of the right actors with the right script and the right images! You never know 'ennit?
<http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096416694>
LOS ANGELES - Kickapoo entertainer Arigon Starr is not content with two NAMMY's, a successful one-woman stage production and a popular radio theater show. She's branching out again - this time into graphic novels, fashioning imaginative characters comic-book style.
In her forthcoming comic book, ''Super Indian,'' Starr illustrates the adventures of mild-mannered Hubert Logan. After eating tainted commodity cheese, Logan transforms into hero, ''Super Indian.'' With trusty sidekick ''Mega Bear'' and a wise-cracking rez dog named Diogi, he battles evil on the Leaning Oak Reservation.
Starr recently reflected on her career, experiences, and the comic book behind her zany radio show.
Indian Country Today: Which came first, comic book or radio play?
Arigon Starr: The comic book was a funny idea spawned on a train ride through Australia in 2005. The radio comedy wasn't fully realized until May 2006 at the National Audio Theater Festival in Missouri. The first 10-minute episodes were broadcast live on National Public Radio.
ICT: Why an Indian super hero?
Starr: Why not? There are few Native American super heroes - and woefully few written and drawn by Native Americans.
ICT: Are the characters in SI modeled after real people?
Starr: It's been fun to mess around with some of our stereotypes - the bumbling tribal chairman, a feisty medicine woman, and a know-it-all radio DJ. Those are just some of the regulars on the fictional Leaning Oak Reservation.
ICT: Anyone ever recognize your characters?
Starr: All the time! Everyone knows Navajo fry cook Emmitt Tsinajinnie from ''The Red Road'' or Mega Bear from ''Super Indian.'' Round, brown and greasy!
ICT: Been cartooning long? Do you also create fine art?
Starr: I've cartooned since I was a child. I was a fan of ''Archie'' comics and loved the DC and Marvel superheroes. The dramatic, scary comics ''Creepy'' and ''Eerie'' fascinated me. They had great stories and creative black and white artwork. I also work with oil, acrylics and another favorite medium, gouache - a type of water color. My cartoons are part of the current ''Rock Art'' exhibit on Alcatraz Island - images of leaders of the 1969 Occupation - Atha Rider Whitemankiller, Richard Oakes and Belva Cottier. My work has also been used on promotional postcards for Native Voices productions.
ICT: Describe your graphic process and how you learned it.
Starr: Trial and error, trips to the library, Borders Books and Amazon.com. Marvel has a wonderful method for learning to draw super heroes, and DC Comics has an entire series on producing comics from pencils to final coloring. It also helps to be computer proficient. I'm a big fan of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. I've also found great sites online, such as Comicraft.com for tips on lettering and word balloons. I start with a rough sketch and a typed document describing dialogue, scene and action. From there, it's a tighter pencil drawing, then pen and ink, and a quick computer scan. I use a Mac to color and insert lettering. It's a lot more detailed than the sketches I used to do when I was bored in class. AAY! When finished, I'm going to self-publish.
ICT: Who produced, directed and starred in the SI radio show?
Starr: ''Super Indian'' was produced by Native Voices at the Autry and the Native Radio Theater Project in April 2006. William Dufris [Mik'Maq Tribe] is the show's director and Kalani Queypo is the voice of ''Super Indian.''
ICT: Before performing, what work did you do? Did family encourage your art?
Starr: I worked in television production, and for a cable network publicity department. I learned a lot from seasoned professionals. My parents, sister and extended family are my tireless champions. My folks always encouraged my sister and me to pursue artistic endeavors.
ICT: About your music - What was your reaction when you won your first NAMMY?
Starr: It was the Second Annual Awards in Albuquerque. The award was ''Best Independent Recording'' for my first CD, ''Meet the Diva.'' I was thrilled - especially since my parents were in the front row. I was happy to make them proud. My feet didn't touch the ground all night.
ICT: Has life changed since your second NAMMY?
Starr: It's brought wider recognition, but now I'm working harder than ever.
ICT: Where do you record and who produces your music?
Starr: I've recorded in San Diego, Los Angeles and Nashville. I have artistic control over the entire process, and write my own material. I think I'm too ornery to collaborate with anyone. I've produced my CDs myself. Producing means writing, arranging and hiring the right musicians to make the music come alive. I've also sat with the engineers during the final mix, which can be very tedious. I'm grateful to my engineers Ben Moore and Eric Corne. They've shared many of their sonic secrets with me.
ICT: Were you an ''overnight success'' or ever discouraged?
Starr: Overnight success. Ha ha ha. I've worked as an independent artist since 1996 and feel like I've yet to break through to the other side. I am grateful for support from Native, college and community radio stations. The music business has changed. I'm not sure how to describe ''overnight success'' these days. Maybe ''American Idol'' - but even those folks will tell you how many years they've toiled as unknowns. Every time I indulge in negative thinking about all I haven't done, someone reminds me how my music has affected them.
ICT: What has performing taught you?
Starr: Lots of folks are too shy to tell their stories and some aren't here anymore to give witness. Native people have so many vital stories to tell. We haven't even scratched the surface yet. I'm as happy as that crazy woman onstage spinning a yarn. It's taken a long time to be OK with that. You can't learn that about yourself until you get up and perform.
ICT: Any advice for performers building a career?
Starr: Be yourself - don't pander. Prepare for success and failure. Talent is a plus, but persistence is most important. Doors will slam in your face so start working on growing thick skin.
ICT: Any future surprises? Bull riding? Flying trapeze?
Starr: Perhaps an animated film. There is something about the marriage of the right actors with the right script and the right images! You never know 'ennit?
<http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096416694>