“Um...so what exactly is a Cheese Monkey?”

Good question. But strictly off-limits. We can tell you that The Cheese Monkeys is a coming-of-age novel about headless waterfowl, fake plastic babies, and the basic tenets of graphic design. We can also tell you the writer owns a Batman collection that would blow your mind, is about to release a new wave album described as, "Bowie crashing The Cars into Joy Division going 300 mph at 4 a.m. on Abbey Road," and he's partial to refurbished helicopter parts for furniture. Just watch yourself around that ejector seat.

So, you think we're kidding? Well, get ready to meet Mr. Chip Kidd. On Saturday, February 21st, Mr. Kidd will stare out from behind his Walter Gropius inspired frames into the eyes of his AIGA Raleigh audience for an entertaining presentation bursting with surprise, inspiration and work par excellence.

We are putting out the call for all interested Charlotteans to carpool to Raleigh for the evening. This is a special opportunity, given Mr. Kidd's rather full and varied national speaker schedule.

Join us for an evening of laughs, bonding and adventure as we trek across our lovely state in search of basic tenants, fake plastic babies and Batman Manga!

Carpool Details

Time: Meet at 2:40pm. Carpool leaves promptly at 3pm so please arrive on time. Carpool will return around midnight.
Tickets: Members $15 / Student Members $10 / Non Members $25 / Student Non Members $15
Register: http://raleigh.aiga.org/events/2009/02/25660742
Location of meeting place: Parking lot in front of Eye Design, 2108 South Blvd # 101 Charlotte, NC 28203. Park as close to the street (South Blvd.) as possible. Lot is monitored, though it's best if all valuables left in locked, parked vehicles are stowed safely out of view or left at home.
Bring: Open mind, full pockets ($ for dinner; $10 for gas), and ready laugh
Seeking: Energetic drivers and fuel efficient vehicles
Contact: Jenna MacFarlane, Charlotte speaker coordinator speakers@aigacharlotte.org (drop a line if you plan on joining the carpool)


About Chip Kidd

Chip Kidd is Associate Art Director at Knopf, where he has worked for over twenty years designing an average of 75 book jackets annually. His most recent collaboration is Bat-Manga!: The Secret History of Batman in Japan! which combines design with the 40 year old work of Japanese master Jiro Kuwata into a beautifully translated anthology of historic modernism. Chip is member of the band Artbreak and is due to release his first album Wonderworld in the coming year. And, just now out in paper back is Chip's latest release The Learners (a sequel of sorts to The Cheese Monkeys).