MEDIA ADVISORY: Kent State Celebrates the Grand Opening of The Nest Featuring Mural By Award-Winning Comic Strip Artists

**MEDIA OPPORTUNITY/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY**
TUESDAY, MARCH 27 @ NOON-2 P.M.

Kent State Celebrates the Grand Opening of The Nest Featuring Mural By Award-Winning Comic Strip Artists and Alumni

Event coincides with 40th anniversary of Funky Winkerbean comic that debuted March 27, 1972

WHAT:
Popular comic strip artists Tom Batiuk and Chuck Ayers will be at Kent State University on Tuesday, March 27, from noon to 2 p.m. for the official opening of the new student lounge area called The Nest in the Kent Student Center. Batiuk, creator of the Funky Winkerbean comic strip, collaborates with Ayers on Crankshaft.

Batiuk and Ayers, both Kent State alumni, designed a wall mural that will be officially unveiled at the event. The grand opening of The Nest, which falls on the 40th anniversary to the day when Funky Winkerbean debuted, is free and open to the public.

The reception with Batiuk and Ayers will feature a signing of Batiuk’s new book, The Complete Funky Winkerbean, which is the first in a multi-volume series celebrating the 40th anniversary of the groundbreaking comic strip. Copies of the new book will be available for purchase at the event, and there will be giveaways and Funky trivia along with refreshments.

For more information and to see photos of the art installation, visit www.kent.edu/news/announcements/success/nest.cfm.

WHEN:
Tuesday, March 27, noon to 2 p.m.

WHERE:
The Nest (formerly the Music Listening Center)
Kent Student Center, second floor
Kent State University
1075 Risman Drive
Kent, Ohio  44242

MEDIA CONTACT:
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595

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Photo Caption:
Employees of Riot Creative Imaging prepare the mural during the installation process in The Nest, the new student lounge area located on the second floor of the Kent Student Center.