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Gail Burwen

Gail Burwen (December 14, 1945–June 17, 2017) was an American illustrator best known for her work in underground comix and the science fiction genre of the 1970s. She illustrated the original cover of the controversial plant perception book The Secret Life of Plants published in 1973.

Gail Burwen
Born(1945-12-14)December 14, 1945
Cambridge, Massachusetts, US
DiedJune 17, 2017(2017-06-17) (aged 71)
Somersworth, New Hampshire, US
EducationDanvers High School Class of 1963
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Known forIllustration
MovementUnderground comix

Biography

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Gail Burwen was born on December 14, 1945, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.[1] She was the oldest of five children, the only daughter born to Robert and June Burwen. As a teenager she was a member of the National Honor Society and was credited with writing the school song. She graduated from Danvers High School in 1963, enrolling in the Massachusetts College of Art and Design shortly after. While studying at MCAD in 1966 Gail became the editor of the student newspaper.[2]

On June 17, 2017, Gail Burwen's died at the age of 71 in a fatal hit-and-run accident as she walked outside of her home in Somersworth, New Hampshire. The driver hid out for 4 days before being caught and arrested, served 6 months without remorse. [3]

Career

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Gail Burwen served as an early art director for National Lampoon magazine in addition to providing them with numerous comics and illustrations.[2] Her illustrations are mentioned in the 2010 book Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Writers and Artists Who Made the National Lampoon Insanely Great written by Rick Meyerowitz.[4] In 1969, Burwen illustrated two record album covers: The Astral Projection by The Astral Scene and Classical Smoke by The Kasenetz-Katz Orchestral Cirkus.[5]

Underground comix

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In 1967, Gail co-founded Cloud Studios in New York City with Peter Bramley and Bill Skurski. The studio offered underground printing and design services for a variety of clients including those involved in theater in addition to creating comix of their own like Drool Magazine and Cloud Comix.[6] The studio was well known for its surrealist, satirical art, montage novellas, and photographic comic strips known as fumettis.[7] For several years until 1972, Gail provided scripts, sketches, lettering, and inking for many of their comics. She is credited as one of the artists of the cover of the first issue of Cloud Comix published by Kitchen Sink Press.[8] A collection of the "best and worst underground comix" written by Bill Sherman was published in the 44th issue of The Comics Journal in 1979.[9][10] The following was said in regards to Cloud Comix #2:

"Cloud Studios (Bramley, Bill Skurski, Ned Sonntag, and others) did several comix in addition to working for several humor mags, but they never matched this issue for tightness. Jay Kinney's sorority satire seems even funnier after Animal House. Best Piece: Gail Burwen's (what ever happened to Gail Burwen?) City Slicker Bob teaming with Fred Astaire to produce a musical salute to the 70s Depression. ("So even if they/Stop welfare/Cut food stamps/Repeal abortion/Close the ibraries/You gotta dance!")"

— Bill Sherman, "Only Lines on Paper...", The Comics Journal #44

Burwen's "Manhattan Madness: City Slicker Bob" sequence was given a five-page special feature in Apple Pie #1, published by Lopez in March 1975.[11]

A selection of Gail Burwen's work in underground comix includes the following:

Book covers

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Burwen illustrated dozens of book covers in the 1970s, primarily in the science fiction genre. In addition to design, Gail also handled the typography for most of her covers, utilizing classic science fiction typefaces like Mierop Ginger Snap, Airport Black, and Davison Arabesque.[18] One of her more notable covers was for The Secret Life of Plants by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird published in 1973.[2] The book caused immediate controversy amidst scientists for claiming, among other things, that the authors had discovered proof of plant sentience.[19] The Secret Life of Plants became a documentary film that was eventually released as Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants" with an accompanying soundtrack by Stevie Wonder in 1978.

A selection of Gail Burwen's dust jacket and book cover illustration credits:

References

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  1. ^ "Gail Burwen (b. 1945)". The Great Comics Database. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Remembering the life of Gail Burwen 1945 - 2017". The Salem News. June 19, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  3. ^ Crompton, Jennifer (June 19, 2017). "Somersworth hit-and-run victim remembered as gentle, talented". WMUR. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  4. ^ "Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead". Rick Meyerowitz. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  5. ^ "Gail Burwen". Discogs. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  6. ^ Currie, Judi (November 22, 2017). "Kittery woman indicted for fatal hit and run". Foster's Daily Democrat. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  7. ^ Heller, Steven (May 5, 2005). "Peter Bramley, a Designer of Early National Lampoon, Dies at 60". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  8. ^ "Issue: Cloud Comix #1". The Great Comics Database. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  9. ^ "The Comics Journal No. 44, January 1979". The Comics Journal. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  10. ^ Sherman, Bill (1979). "Only Lines on Paper..." The Comics Journal (44): 53.
  11. ^ "Features for Creator Gail Burwen (b. 1945)". The Great Comics Database. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  12. ^ Burwen, Gail (June 1, 1970). "S.P.L.A.T." (PDF). National Lampoon. 1 (3): 20.
  13. ^ "Ye Olde Colonial Inne". National Lampoon. 1 (4). July 1, 1970.
  14. ^ "Cloud Comix: Kitchen Sink Press, 1971 Series". The Grand Comics Database. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  15. ^ "Cloud Comics: Head Imports, 1972 Series". The Grand Comic Database. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  16. ^ "Drool Magazine: Company & Sons, 1972 Series". The Grand Comics Database. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  17. ^ "Apple Pie: Lopez, 1975 Series". The Great Comics Database. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  18. ^ Beatty, Robert (March 16, 2021). "Futures to Infinity (Pyramid)". Fonts in Use. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  19. ^ Galston, Arthur W; Slayman, Clifford L. (1979). The Not-so-secret Life of Plants: In Which the Historical and Experimental Myths About Emotional Communication Between Animal and Vegetable Are Put to Rest. American Scientist 67 (3): 337-344.
  20. ^ "The Spell of Seven". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  21. ^ "Skriket". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  22. ^ a b "The Singing Citadel". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  23. ^ "Futures to Infinity". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  24. ^ "The Dreaming Earth". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  25. ^ "Other Worlds, Other Seas". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  26. ^ "Destiny Doll". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  27. ^ "... And All the Stars a Stage". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  28. ^ "Dance Hall of the Dead [First Edition, hardback, 1973]". The Tony Hillerman Portal. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  29. ^ Tompkins, Peter; Bird, Christopher (1973). The Secret Life of Plants (First ed.). Harper & Row. pp. Cover. ISBN 978-0-06-014326-8.
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