FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SCHMAPPLES TRIBUTE
SEPTEMBER 8… MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Benefit to Honor Comic Artist & Bicycle Advocate Eric Lappegard

What: Benefit to Honor Comic Artist & Bicycle Advocate Eric Lappegard

When: Saturday, September 8th, 2007. 2pm—2am

Where:

Alley Cat Race to begin at Behind Bars Bicycle Shop, 208 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis 2pm-5pm

Comic Art Show & Silent Auction/Raffle/Vegan Bake Sale at Altered Esthetics, 1224 Quincy St. NE, Minneapolis 5pm-10pm

Minneapolis / St. Paul—Beloved local comic artist and bicycle advocate Eric Lappegard passed away on July 23rd from complications following an automobile accident. Eric was in the process of moving from Minneapolis to Portland, Oregon, when the accident occurred. Originally from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Eric had spent the last number of years in Minneapolis, where he worked as a bicycle messenger and coffee shop java-slinger, artist, community organizer and bicycle advocate.

Eric (a.k.a. Schmapples, a.k.a. Vegan Ninja) was an active member of the local comics collective The International Cartoonist Conspiracy, as well as a founding member of The Minneapolis Bicycle Federation, a group that advocates for a better cycling environment. Eric was a friendly face around town, a vegan who championed animal rights and environmental sustainability, and a friend to many people across the community. He will be greatly missed.

On Saturday, September 8th, friends of Eric are partnering with local businesses and arts organizations to pay tribute to a dear friend and important member of the art, music, and bicycling communities. All proceeds from the event will go to Eric’s family to aid them with expenses incurred as a result of this tragic accident.

The Schmapples Tribute event will include a messenger-style alley cat bike race beginning at Behind Bars Bicycle Shop in Northeast Minneapolis.

Eric’s artwork, as well as donated artwork from local artists & members of the Cartoonist Conspiracy (cartoonistconspiracy.com), will be on display at Altered Esthetics (alteredesthetics.com) all day Saturday, with a silent auction and reception to begin at 5:00pm. Two original publications have been created specifically for this event & will be on sale; a collection of Eric’s Schmapples comics, and a huge anthology by over 50 cartoonists. Additional items for auction will be included, including gift certificates and highly-desirable items from local bicycle, comic and other businesses. Raffle tickets will be purchased for $5 each. Prizes include artwork, comics, gift certificates and custom bicycle parts and products. A vegan bake sale will also help to raise funds for the Lappegard family. Live music will be provided by the Roe Family Singers.

For a complete schedule of events visit:
http://myspace.com/ericlappegardtribute

Also, please consider “friending” us & move us up to the top of your friends list to help promote the event.

You can also help by putting one of these banners on your blog or website with a link to http://myspace.com/ericlappegardtribute

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You can download the printable poster here. We encourage you to print these and hang them around town before September 8th.

Donations can be sent to: Account of Eric Lappegard, Voyager Bank, 500 Marschall Road, Shakopee, MN 55379

If you have pr/press questions, please contact Shanai Matteson at Miss.Matteson at gmail.com

If you have gallery event questions, please contact Danno Klonowski staplegenius at yahoo.com or Jamie Schumacher alteredesthetics at yahoo.com

If you have other questions about the event, please contact Mary Rogers maryrogers37 at hotmail.com

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