The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Hits a Speed Bump

If you happen to be driving in downtown Kalamazoo this fall, there is a Speed Bump you want to make sure you hit! The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is proud to welcome Speed Bump: The Comic World of Dave Coverly, opened on Saturday, September 5, 2009.

Dave Coverly admits there is no overriding theme, no tidy little philosophy that precisely describes what his Speed Bump comic strip is about. “Basically,” he says, “if life were a movie, these would be the outtakes.”

Through wit and whimsy, Dave Coverly reveals the truths of the human experience, from the workplace to family life and beyond. See original daily and Sunday cartoons - each explained with Coverly’s quick-witted humor, and experience what its like to be Dave Coverly with a mock ‘work station’ where creativity collides with paper. Also on view will be Coverly’s illustrations for Sue MacDonald Had a Book, written by Ann Arbor resident Jim Tobin. Admission to this exhibition is free.
Want to know more about what inspires Dave Coverly? Grill him yourself at one of these upcoming events:

• Friday, September 18, 2009 – Art & All That Jazz: Join us at this popular KIA-sponsored event, now in its seventh season. Enjoy music by the famous Kalamazoo reggae band Zion Lion. Soft drinks and Panera Bread treats are provided. Dave Coverly will be on hand to discuss his works and sign copies of Sue MacDonald had a Book (available for purchase in the KIA Gallery Shop.) Other guests include Gordon Alt, Director of the John Cavanaugh Foundation and curator for In Search of Motion, another exhibition that officially opens on September 19th at the KIA. Art & All That Jazz is at 5 – 7 p.m. in the KIA lobby. Tickets are $3 for the public, and free to KIA Members.

• Tuesday, November 3, 2009 – ARTbreak: Join Dave Coverly as he discusses his career and the evolution of Speed Bump, now appearing in over 200 newspapers. With no set theme or characters, Speed Bump is one of the most quirky and original comics today with Coverly creating situations where “the everyday and common place that we take for granted suddenly appears hilarious.” 12:15 p.m. in the KIA auditorium. Admission is free. Bring a lunch! Cookies and lemonade are provided.

• Saturday, November 7, 2009: Is your child an aspiring cartoonist who would like a helping hand from a pro? The KIA Kirk Newman Art School is proud to have Dave Coverly teach two cartooning workshops for kids! Geared towards children in grades 3-6 and 7-12, students will learn various cartooning techniques and create their own cartoons. Registration is now open and space is limited! For more information and to register, please visit www.kiarts.org/school or contact the school secretary at (269) 349-7775 Ext. 3101.

• Saturday, November 14, 2009 – Family Funday! Formerly known as Sunday Funday, the KIA invites families to meet Dave Coverly and take a tour of his work. Guests will also have the opportunity to create their own cartoon! Also visiting with Dave will be Jim Tobin, author of Sue McDonald Had a Book, which Coverly illustrated. Both Jim Tobin and Dave Coverly will autograph their book which will be available for purchase in the KIA Gallery Shop. 2-4 p.m. Admission is free.


Dave Coverly grew up in Plainwell, Michigan and began cartooning seriously in 1986 as an undergraduate student at Eastern Michigan University. In 2009, he won the Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year, the highest honor given by the National Cartoonist Society.

You can currently enjoy Coverly’s cartoon, which runs daily in the Kalamazoo Gazette.
The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts would like to thank the following sponsors for bringing great artists like Dave Coverly to Kalamazoo: Creators Syndicate, First National Bank of Michigan and Heritage Community of Kalamazoo. Family Funday is sponsored by Target.

For more information about the KIA, visit www.kiarts.org or call (269) 349-7775.

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
314 South Park Street
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007