Named after Merle ‘Ting’ Tingley, the editorial cartoonist for the London Free Press from 1948-1986, Tingfest is a celebration of his work and influence on multiple generations of artists.
Tingfest is primarily a gallery show featuring a number of different artists from the Southwestern Ontario region, but it also features a pop-up shop, panel discussions, screenings, workshops, and more. All programming is free and all-ages friendly.
This year, we seemed to have really hit our stride. Many people in London, Ontario seem to know what Tingfest is all about now and dare I say - even add it to their social calendars as something to look forward to, which is evidence by the great media coverage we received!
Media Coverage
- London’s geek scene has grown to busy slate of Pow! Blam! events, London Free Press, Dan Brown, April 22, 2016.
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| Megan Arnold: Secret Selfie, Watercolour and ink on paper, 9 inches by 7 inches, 2014 |
- Cartoonists and illustrators showcased at Ting Festival, London Yodeller cover story featuring art by Ting participant Megan Arnold, Anna Blair, April 28, 2016.
- LondonFuse photos, LondonFuse, Tristan Clark, May 1, 2016.
- CBC Ontario Morning, where I'm interviewed by Wei Chen, May 6, 2016.
- Ting 2016, LondonFuse, Sammy Roach, May 6, 2016.
- Ting rings a bell in London’s past, present, London Free Press, Dan Brown, May 10, 2016.
- Kangaroo Variety – Downtown London’s live monthly magazine (mention of Ting Fest), London Yodeller, Adam Corrigan Holowitz, May 12, 2016
"The night of April 30th was strong rebuke to the defeatist’s stereotype that London is a sleepy backwards town. The blocks between York Street and Dundas Street were full of exciting artistic community merry making.
The night started for me at The ARTS Project where the opening reception of the Ting Festival was happening. The Ting Festival (on till May 21) is celebration of regional graphic artists and a tribute to the great editorial cartoonist Merle Tingley."
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| London Free Press cartoon from 1975 by Ting is still completely relevant today. |
- The Civic Blessing and Inspiration of Ting, London Yodeller cover story with artwork by Ting, Herman Gooden, May 12, 2016.
This is a really terrific article that has some wonderful history on Ting and how he came to work at the London Free Press. Extra bonus is that it contains beautiful black and white photographs of Ting on a motorcycle!
"Our simultaneously nostalgic and prophetic cover image are featured, along with the work of a dozen other considerably younger artists, at the Third Annual Ting Comic & Graphic Arts Festival on at the Arts Project until May 21.
Ting is the perfect namesake for such a festival because he inspired two or three generations of London artists who pored over his cartoons in the daily paper when they were kids. Whether they aspired to be cartoonists, painters or sculptors scarcely mattered. Here was this very public example of a crackerjack draughtsman with a unique way of looking at things coming up with some sort of pictorial commentary on their world nearly every day of the week."
- Spidey spins web of lifetime passion for comic book artist, Our London, Whitney South, May 21, 2016. Article about Ting participant Tim Levins:
"There’s so much talent out there, so much creativity that goes unnoticed, so having a festival like Ting is great way to shine a spotlight on a medium that needs more exposure in a culture dominated by internet, movies, and television,” he said. “Any event that promotes comics and comic book art is a good thing in my eyes.”
