June 16th: Winsor McCay Day

Spring Lake, Michigan honors its hometown boy cartoonist Winsor McCay with his own day:

Tuesday's Winsor McCay Day, part of the annual Spring Lake Heritage Festival, will honor the famed cartoonist and animator who was born here in 1867. Several activities are planned for the day at Spring Lake District Library, 123 E. Exchange St.

There will be a formal historical marker dedication ceremony at 6:30pm. More from Marie Havenga's Grand Haven Tribune article here.

Winsor McCay Day schedule:

All events are at Spring Lake District Library, 123 E. Exchange St., on Tuesday, June 16.

10:30 a.m. McCay Day Party
Children ages 3 to 6 are invited to attend this fun filled party which will include cookie decorating, face painting, and a dinosaur craft. Special guest, artist and children's book author Aaron Zenz, will introduce us to Little Nemo and kick off a fun story time and art project!

2:00 p.m. I'm OK with McCay Cartoon Workshop
Artist and cartoonist Kevin Collier will highlight the art and life of Winsor McCay as well as lead a traditional cartooning and comics class. This program is designed for children in third grade and up.

7:00 p.m. Winsor McCay, Father of Animation
Ray Pointer, an animation expert and historian, discusses the many contributions of Winsor McCay to the world of animation. Currently the Creative Director of Inkwell Images, Pointer is also an instructor at the Kendall School of Design. With 40 years of professional experience in the field of animation, Pointer is a member of The Television Academy of Arts and Sciences Animation Peer Group, has worked with Nickelodeon Animation Studios and MGM Animation, and has over 300 credits to his name.

7:00 p.m. Winsor's Whimsical Creations
This fun program is designed for the kids. Boys and girls can participate in a scavenger hunt, put together their own Gertie the dinosaur puzzle, and paint a shirt.

My thanks to Kevin Collier, who is one of the members of the Spring Lake, Michigan Library Committee that is working with the Village of Spring Lake to create a Winsor McCay memorial park.

More at the Meeting McCay blog.

Above: the stick where the marker will be come Tuesday. Photo nicked from the Meeting McCay blog.