Cartooning for Peace event headed to Downtown Atlanta
A handpicked roster of award-winning international cartoonists will discuss free speech, democracy, and more
Topics explored during this discussion are slated to include censorship, the role of the press and the artist in a democracy, freedom, tolerance, and more. The event was founded by French publication Le Monde cartoonist Jean “Plantu” Plantureaux, who will be joined by Mike Luckovich of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Michel Kichka of Courrier International in Jerusalem. “As a member of Cartooning since the very beginning of its incredible adventure, I totally identify myself with the messages of editorial cartooning,” says Michel Kichka, a cartoonist based in Israel, who will be participating in Cartooning for Peace. “I am Israeli with European roots, which gives me the ability to be a bridge between cultures and mentalities.”
In addition to the panel, Cartooning for Peace is partnering with the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and public art program ELEVATE to create an outdoor exhibition featuring around 40 Cartooning for Peace cartoons on Downtown Atlanta’s Broad Street S.W., between Mitchell Street SW and MLK Jr. Street S.W., on display October 13-21.
Kichka says he enjoys doing events like this around the world because it gives him access to different cultures he may not otherwise get to experience, and this, in turn, helps his art, allowing him to base his observations on firsthand knowledge rather than stereotypes or preconceptions. As for what to expect, he adds that the event will feature “a rich and open dialogue, a deep exchange of ideas, a better understanding of the freedom of expression in different countries of the world of today.”