Alex Portal: Award-Winning Cartoonist and Illustrator

Bellman Brown Bag

Cost:

FREE
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Alex Portal was born and raised in Pennsylvania. He grew up watching and loving everything related to cartoons and comic books. As a kid, Alex would spend hours scribbling away on pretty much any blank surface he could find. After high school, Alex worked odd jobs while continuing his self-guided studies of cartooning and working towards finding his big break. While living in North Carolina, Alex met his wife Rachel and after graduating with a master’s degree in public history, Rachel accepted a position with Deadwood History Inc. and the two moved to South Dakota.

Shortly after arriving, Alex started working with the Black Hills Pioneer newspaper as a freelance editorial cartoonist. Alex gained some measure of note in the community, and to date has won several awards for his cartoons including “Best Original Editorial Cartoon” from the South Dakota Newspaper Association, and illustrated several children’s books written by local authors – including three books in the “But Nana…” series, and “Grandpa’s White Cane.”

Alex currently lives in Lead with Rachel and their two cats, Maggie and Bumble. He serves as a reporter and inhouse cartoonist for the Black Hills Pioneer, and is working on a fourth “But Nana…” book.

About the Bellman Brown Bag Series

The Bellman Brown Bag series is a humanities program designed to explore ideas, history, literature, art and culture. The Brown Bag program was developed by Dr. Stewart Bellman in the 1990’s. Recognizing the Matthews Opera House as an ideal venue for the exploration of humanities topics, he engaged a line-up of speakers to present programs on a range of humanities topics each month.

Dr. Bellman was a professor of English at Black Hills State University, Spearfish, SD. His teaching career spanned thirty years. Bellman retired from BHSU and passed away in November 2002.

Programs are presented on the second Wednesday of each month, noon to 1pm. Designed to begin and end within the lunch hour, patrons are invited to bring their lunch, if desired, or simply enjoy an hour of learning and entertainment.  This is an opportunity to gain insight into themes that touch our daily lives.

Coffee for the Bellman Brown Bag Series is generously provided by Common Grounds in Spearfish, SD.

 

 

Details

Date and Time:

Date:

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Time:

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Cost:

FREE

Location

Spearfish, SD 57783 + Google Map
Phone:
605-642-7973

Our Sponsors

KEVN Black Hills Fox
Holiday Inn
Black Hills Pioneer
Sanford Underground Research Facility
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  • Spearfish Insurance Brokerage
  • South Dakota Arts Council
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  • Redwater Kitchen
  • Pioneer Bank
  • BHSU Dept of Fine Arts
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  • QuikSigns
  • DeSmet and Biggs, LLP
  • Prairie Hills Transit