March 30, 2010

The



Council for Secular Humanism



is pleased to announce the winning entrants in its first Free Expression Cartoon Contest. As part of its contribution to the Center for Inquiry’s Campaign for Free Expression, the Council for Secular Humanism invited professional and amateur artists to submit their sharpest, cleverest, and most ingenious creations touching on that most sensitive subject: religion.

Entries were judged by a judging panel led by Steve Benson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist for the Arizona Republic.

The winners are:



(Click images to see full size.)



Professional Category





First Prize ($2500)



to



Alexander Matthews



of Wokingham, Berkshire, UK for his one-panel cartoon "Altar Boys." Lead judge Steve Benson said of this cartoon: "Wickedly humorous, brutally direct, effectively and simply rendered. A stinging indictment of the Catholic Church’s pedophilic priest scandal that allows absolutely no room for the predictable apologetic defense. Left me laughing and wincing at the same time!"



Second Prize ($1250)



to



Doug Davis



of Los Angeles, California, for his one-panel cartoon "Memes." This entry needs to be seen in color for full effect. Said Benson: "Dramatic art of the empty-eyed victim who has fallen prey to what Richard Dawkins calls religion’s ‘virus of the mind.’ Employs the over-the-top hype of a B movie advertising billboard to make its point. Good use of contrast and color. Scary!"



Third Prize ($750)



to



Jack Pollock



of Portland, Oregon, for his multipanel cartoon "Want a Less Secular, More Faithful America?" Benson said of this entry: "A sweeping commentary on the negative effects of religion on society- from law, to science, to war, to culture. Normally, I prefer more art to less text but in this case the artist has combined both in a nice mix of humor and bite that exposes the ridiculousness of faith in daily, practical life, This cartoon requires concentration and an understanding of important current events, which is always a good thing!"

Amateur Category





First Prize ($300)



to



Matthew Medina



of Woodinville, Washington for his one-panel cartoon "Christian Nation." Lead judge Steve Benson commented as follows: "A very powerful cartoon. Its central message of Christianity’s inherent brutality is driven home with stunning artwork of black-garbed, flag-carrying American Christian inquisitor-patriots water-boarding a crucified Jesus. The caricatures of Beck, O’Reilly, Limbaugh and Hannity are rendered so well that identifying labels are not necessary. Excellent!"



Second Prize ($125)



to "



Elwin



" Of East Aurora, New York, for his one-panel cartoon "John the Baptist." Said Benson: "Its unapologetically irreverent message drives the point home. John the Baptist using a dunk tank to immerse a nervous-looking membership candidate is absolutely hilarious, as it subtly jabs at the immense pressure put on people to fall in line and join the flock. I laughed out loud!"



Third Prize ($75)



to



Angelo Lopez



of Sunnyvale, California, for his poster-style cartoon "Christian Fundamentalism." Commented Benson: "The ‘Good Book’ headlock on healthy brain activity is simply and powerfully portrayed in this cartoon. The zombie-eyed stare of the true believer is particularly appropriate. Vise job!"

In addition, the editors wish to recognize the work of professional cartoonist



Donna Barstow



of Los Angeles, California, whose work was ineligible under the original rules for the Professional category but would have been eligible under the revised rules adopted in February 2010. Ms. Barstow has been granted the



Editors’ Award



in recognition of her two entries "Aliens" and "Grace."

The Council for Secular Humanism, publisher of FREE INQUIRY magazine, sponsored the Free Expression Cartoon Contest in support of the Campaign for Free Expression, an ongoing project of the Center for Inquiry to focus efforts and attention on one of the most crucial components of freethought: the right of individuals to express their viewpoints, opinions, and beliefs about all subjects-especially religion. "As the great Danish cartoon controversy of 2005 and 2006 showed," said FREE INQUIRY editor Tom Flynn, "few media can speak so eloquently—or so pointedly—on sensitive topics as a cartoon."

Professional-category prizes were underwritten by a generous grant from the Andrew Norman Foundation.