Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Local cartoonist to speak at Uptown!
Signe Wilkinson draws cartoons for the Philadelphia Daily News
WEST CHESTER » Pulitzer prize-winning cartoonist Signe Wilkinson will be talking about, and displaying on the big screen, her work Tuesday evening, April 17 at the Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center.
Since 1985, Wilkinson has drawn cartoons for the Philadelphia Daily News, the Inquirer and philly.com. During the ‘70s she was a stringer for the Daily Local News where she worked for editors Bill Dean, Dave Barry and Hannah Gardner.
For the Daily Local she reported on local politics and remembers covering “breaking news stories,” including Pocopson Township supervisors and store openings in Chadds Ford.
One of her recent cartoons featured both Donald Trump and Bill Cosby. She now covers Pennsylvania politics, including redistricting, gun control and almost anything else she reads about in newspapers where she does most of her research.
The Center City/South Philly resident works with similes and metaphors to reach a “twist.” She enjoys reading great writers who write vividly.
“You name it, I cartoon it,” she said during a recent phone interview. “Something usually turns up odd and funny about the most serious things.”
She said that not every cartoon is a “laugh riot,” but still, the subject matter must evoke an image.
“I put it in some kind of different context to make a point,” she said.
Wilkinson said she is a bad gardener, a bad rower and a bad bicyclist. She gets “cranky” easily. “I get to draw out my frustrations,” she said. “I’m paid for art therapy on myself.”
The event will take place Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $15 and $20 at the door. Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center features a diverse and exciting slate of performances and is conveniently located near parking, shopping and restaurants at 226 North High Street, West Chester. Purchase tickets for other shows at UptownWestChester.org, at the box office or call 610-356ARTS(2787).