John Callahan (born during July of 1951 in Portland, Oregon), is a cartoonist noted for dealing with macabre subjects or physical disabilities, maiming and dismemberment. Rendered quadriplegic by an automobile accident, Callahan draws his cartoons by clutching a pen between both hands. His artistic style is simplistic and often rough, though still legible and humorous. It has been likened to that of William Steig, James Thurber, and Ben Wicks.
Callahan's cartoons deal with subjects often considered taboo. His black humor may be exemplified by the title of his "quasi-memoire", Will the Real John Callahan Please Stand Up?. The subject matter and treatment of his cartoons shares something with the work of Charles Addams and Gahan Wilson although it is much more aggressively and brutally shocking and twisted than even the Playboy cartoons of these cartoonists.
Two animated cartoons have been based on Callahan's cartoons, the first being Pelswick, a "For Children" show done by Nickelodeon, and the second being Quads, a Canadian-Australian co-production.
Callahan's autobiography "Dont worry, he won't get far on foot" got him an appearance on 60 Minutes and the cover of The New York Times Sunday Magazine. He also has the distinction of being the only cartoonist mentioned in the O.J. Simpson trial. He has been seen most recently on the Dave Attel show, "Insomniac" on Comedy Central.
Callahan is also a song-writer with his first CD due sometime in September of 2006. The London Indpendent calls his songs "Beautiful, but dark...". He writes all the music and lyrics himself and is backed up by many notable musicians. A dutch film crew recorded the studio sessions in which Callahan plays a simplified piano version of "Roll Away The Day". The album is produced by blues legend Terry Robb, with a special cameo appearance by Tom Waits. Callahan's website address is located at www.callahanonline.com
re: the comment below - I also used to see you around downtown Portland all the time when I lived there - and every time I saw you I thought about the "Buzzard" preface from one of your books LOL!! I musta' been cute at one time, you used to smile back at me ;) LOVE YOUR WORK!
heya John! Hope all is cool for ya. Cybele has her art in a PDX show tonight. Not sure if you get to that part of town (and if it's upstairs??), but here's the scoop: Cybele has 3 artworks she painted on LPs in the record show "Vinyl Killers 6" with over 60 artists from around the world opening at The Goodfoot tonight, Last Thurz October 30th. More info at subhell. com/records
Hi Darlings! NEWS FLASH: There will be a special D'Merde Salon at AudioCinema's AC/VC show on August 30th. This is going to be the art/fashion/music/film party of the year. No kidding.
We are taking a short break from D'Merde parties after this event, so be SURE to attend. Also, unlike at the salon, you can purchase art. We are extremely excited about it...!
