Griffin and Sabine creator Nick Bantock to speak at SU March 5

Griffin and Sabine creator Nick Bantock to speak at SU March 5February 28, 2003Judy Holmesjlholmes@syr.edu

Critics have dubbed the “Griffin and Sabine” trilogy as picture books for adults. More than 3 million copies of the wildly popular tale of forlorn love have been sold. The series’ creator, artist and illustrator Nick Bantock, will present “From Image to Word-An Alchemical Journey” at Syracuse University on March 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Shaffer Art Building’s Shemin Auditorium.

In conjunction with Bantock’s visit to SU and in the spirit of “Griffin and Sabine,” a Mail Art Exhibit will be presented in buildings across campus, including the Genet Gallery in Slocum Hall, the Noble Room in Hendricks Chapel and the Panacci Lounge in the Schine Student Center. The lecture and exhibit are presented by the 2003 Syracuse Symposium, “Journeys.”

Before “Griffin and Sabine” debuted in 1991, Bantock had made his mark as a prominent artist and illustrator. The “Griffin and Sabine” trilogy, which also includes “Sabine’s Notebook” and “The Golden Mean,” tells the story of a lovelorn postcard artist from Great Britain who strikes up a correspondence with the mysterious postage stamp designer Sabine Strohem, who lives somewhere in the South Pacific. The couple exchange letters and postcards, which are pasted into the books and become part of the narrative. In many cases, readers must open envelopes to pull out letters. Many critics view the series as a new literary genre.

Bantock has published 20 books since 1991, ranging from pop-up children’s books to his latest books: an autobiography titled “The Artful Dodger: Images and Reflections” (Chronicle Books LLC, 2000) and “Gryphon: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin and Sabine is Rediscovered” (Chronicle Books LLC, 2001). The latter reunites Griffin and Sabine and introduces Egyptologist Matthew Sedon.

The Syracuse Symposium is an annual intellectual festival celebrating interdisciplinary thinking, imagining and creating. The 2003 theme is “Journeys:” journeys of exploration and discovery, intellectual journeys, mythical and artistic journeys, migrations of peoples, exiles, liberations, pilgrimages and more. The series will continue throughout the Spring 2003 and Fall 2003 semesters and will include lectures, exhibits, performances and other special events.