Dear Jack Kirby fans,
As the founder of TwoMorrows Publishing, I understand the importance of starting small and dreaming big. From a xeroxed 16-page Jack Kirby fanzine in 1994, I’ve gone on to publish nearly 60 issues of the ongoing Jack Kirby Collector magazine, as well as other publications devoted to Kirby and his legacy. In addition to my duties as publisher at TwoMorrows, I am proud to be a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Jack Kirby Museum & Research Center.
The Jack Kirby Museum, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational corporation, was established in 2005 with the blessing of the Kirby family. The Museum’s overall efforts are focused on promoting the study of Jack Kirby and his work, and educating the general public about his artistic legacy. Our website (www.kirbymuseum.org) features scholarly articles, galleries of Kirby’s work, and regularly updated Kirby-related blogs. The Museum also is building an archive with high resolution scans of more than 1700 pages of original Kirby art, plus thousands of pages of personal documents, photocopies of Jack’s pencil work, and other artifacts from Kirby’s life and career. The Museum’s physical Kirby art collection continues to grow, and we’ve had a presence at a number of comic book conventions and participated in panels, lectures, and discussions dedicated to Jack and related subjects, such as creator’s rights.
Inspired by recent events, most notably the legal battle between the Kirby family and Marvel/Disney regarding ownership of Jack’s work, we believe that it’s time for the Jack Kirby Museum to step out of the digital realm and into the physical. We intend to open a physical space on the Lower East Side of New York City, in the same neighborhood where Kirby grew up. Economic realities being what they are, this initial effort will be a “Pop-Up” space of approximately 1,000 square feet that will remain open for roughly three months. Having such a space in one of New York City’s most vibrant neighborhoods will allow us to showcase educational programs, lectures, exhibits and more to pay tribute to one of the greatest storytellers of the 20th Century. We are already reaching out to art collectors and educators in anticipation of opening. Our target for seed money to support basic rent, legal, insurance, and general expenses for the space is $30,000. Once we reach that goal, we’ll raise more funds for specific exhibits and programs as well, and move toward our ultimate goal of opening a permanent museum location.
Given the Jack Kirby Museum’s mission, we would be honored to have your support for our “Brick and Mortar Fund.” To raise the needed funds for a physical museum, we wondered: Could we find 1000 Kirby fans to donate $30 each? Or maybe 500 Kirby fans to donate $60? Even better, how about 100 Kirby fans to donate $300 each? Whatever donation you can make, as soon as we reach that $30,000 goal, we’ll be on our way towards a real, true, physical Jack Kirby Museum.
Everyone who donates $20 or more will have free admission to the Pop-Up Museum. If you’re already a Museum Member, a donation of $20 or more allows you to bring a friend for free. (And every donor, regardless of the amount, will receive some great Kirby Museum postcards and stickers.)
Please, if you’re interested in supporting this effort, head over to the Kirby Museum website. On the right side of home page is a graphic that, when clicked, will present you with a secure form to make a donation to the Brick & Mortar fund, using any major credit card or Paypal. Or, you can send a check to Jack Kirby Museum, PO Box 5236, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Your donation may even be tax-deductible. (Please consult your tax advisor or accountant.)
Thanks for your kind attention to this message. With your help, a physical Jack Kirby Museum will soon be a reality. If you have any questions about the Museum and its future aims, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.
Warm Regards,
John Morrow
Founding Trustee
Jack Kirby Museum & Research Center
www.kirbymuseum.org
