God and the Devil at War in the Garden

My new book is done. God and the Devil at War in the Garden is available in the shop now. This is the cover:

The book is large format, 9" x 12 1/4", 24 pages, with a fold out back cover. The main story is a piece about the Devil that didn't quite get finished for Rage of Poseidon. Here's page 9:

It also includes a collaborative strip I did with novelist Kyle Beachy and a piece I did back in 2011 about a vacant lot near my old place in Chicago. It's got a few drawings from a show I did at the Elmhurst Art Museum in 2012 and elsewhere (the book's title refers to the cover drawing which wraps around and folds into the back).

The first 25 orders will go out with a free 13 page minicomic called Conversation Gardening. It's both a comic and the beginning of a little experiment I'm embarking on. I'll explain more later this week.

Rage of Poseidon 'Originals'

I'm doing a reading from the book – and giving a talk about making books – next Friday at the MCBA in Minneapolis, 7pm. And then again in Chicago at CityLit (with Jessica Hopper) December 15th.

Coming Attractions

I've got a few talks and things coming up*. This Tuesday I'll be at St. Olaf College in Northfield Minnesota reading from Rage of Poseidon and discussing a new book I've recently begun.

December 6th I'm doing a reading at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts here in Minneapolis and, apropos of the venue, I'll talk a bit about various short run book and mini-comic projects I've done over the years in weird handmade formats, as well as the aforementioned new project.

Stuff in Chicago, L.A. and at Stanford coming up as well. Details to follow.

Meanwhile, here's a drawing I did recently of Kris Kristofferson for Cinefamily in L.A. (it makes a nice pair with the Dennis Hopper drawing I did for them a few years ago.)

*Anders Nilsen is a fiscal year 2013 recipient of an Artist Initiative Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Would there be cute pugs peeing on shrubbery in the Garden of Eden?

Friday morning I'm flying to San Francisco to go skateboarding. Also for APE. At which, Sunday at 1:30 in the afternoon, I'm going to read a bit from Rage of Poseidon and talk a little about why I'm always stealing characters from other people's stories. Jesus, Hercules, Captain America... the guy with the cow head who lives in the maze and eats people who come to visit him, stuff like that. The list is just endless. Which, like, why don't I just come up with my own shit for once? Jeez. Here's Prometheus from Rage of Poseidon:

So, I'll be talking about the new book, but also about a bunch of other images and stories of mine where old situations and characters have shown up in my work and why. Below are a few examples of stuff I might talk about. In order: Hercules Ascending to Olympus, Adam and Eve Sneaking Back into the Garden of Eden to Steal More Apples (detail) and Last Remnant after the End of the World (Tree of Knowledge)

This Weekend

At SPX this weekend, as part of Bob Sikoryak's Carousel, I'll be reading from my new book Rage of Poseidon, which is debuting at the show. The book actually began its life as a slide reading and didn't become a book until later, so I've read some of the pieces here and there in the last few years, but there are two brand new pieces, one of which – a piece about Noah and the flood from the perspective of the angel Gabriel – I'll be presenting for Carousel, along with some stuff about Leda and the Swan, the Goddess of Love and the son of God. All in 8 minutes. It's happening at 5:30 on Saturday.

I'm doing a reading

...this Saturday at Boneshaker Books in Minneapolis, 7pm. 2002 23rd ave in Seward.

I'll be reading from (and signing) Don't Go Where I Can't Follow,  a book I put together as a memorial to Cheryl Weaver in 2006, which has just been re-released after a five year hiatus. I'll also read from Rage of Poseidon, an accordion book of short pieces I self-published this summer which is due out as a proper release from Drawn and Quarterly next Fall.