David Baldinger - Cartoonist & Photographer

  I am very saddened to learn of the passing of one of the greatest artists in the world of the cartoon art form. Mr. Kambiz Derambakhsh of Iran has succumbed to the savage course of Covid-19 at 79. The world has lost a master of the cartooning art. His drawings were precise, wordless and sublime. His delicate use of color only enhanced his beautiful line work. Damn this Covid!       From the Tehran Times: Cartoonist Kambiz Derambakhsh dies from COVID-19 "Born in Shiraz, Derambakhsh began his professional career by drawing cartoons for Tofiq, Iran’s most popular satirical magazine before the Islamic revolution, when he was only 14. Known for his talent to find obscure themes for his creations, Derambakhsh, worked as a cartoonist, a graphic designer, and an illustrator for over 60 years. Showcases of his cartoons in over 50 solo and 100 group exhibits in Iran and across the world and his cosmopolitan outlook on life in his artworks earned him international recognitio...

International Trumpism Cartoon & Caricature Contest-2017 Sections And Subjects: Cartoon: Trumpism Trump & Racism Trump & Immigration Trump & The Wall Trump & Mass Media (Reporters) Trump & Humiliation Of Women Trump & Tweet Caricature:Donald Trump Rules: - Each Participant Can Send Maximum 5 Artworks To Each Section - Sent Artworks Should Not Have Won Any Prize Before - Sent Artworks Should Not Be Published In The Catalogs Of This Biennial Before - Artworks Must Be Emailed In Png Or Jpg Format, 300 Dpi Resolution     and 2000 Pixel Width Or Length - A Word File Containing Full Name, Postal Address, Email Address, Phone Number,   Photo And CV Is Kindly Needed. - A Volume Of The Catalog Will Be Sent To The Artists Whose Artworks Have Been Published In. Prizes : Cartoon Section: First Prize: 1500$ With Trophy And Honorable Mention Second Prize: 1000$ With Trophy And Honorable Ment...

In a recent newsletter by editorial cartoonist Daryl Cagle, he wrote about the results of the misidentified Iranian "Holocaust" cartoon contest. I was a little surprised at quotes attributed to the manager of The Iranian House of Cartoon, Massoud Shojai Tabatabai. The exhibit curator, Masoud Shojai , said the contest will be an annual event and added: "Actually, we will continue until the destruction of Israel." Iran's President Ahmedinejad has called for Israel to be "erased from the map" and has denied that the Holocaust took place. Shojai is a former contributor to our site, see his cartoons here . Shojai didn't disclose the name of a second place winner of the event, a cartoonist from France. Shojai is quoted saying, "You can call the ...

Too bad I stumbled upon an email from The Independent's Tehran correspondent, Angus McDowall too late. The email ended up in my Yahoo email which I only use as a spam trap. An article was published today about the Iranian public's ho-hum reaction to the "Holocaust" cartoon exhibition. I was pleased to see that I was treated fairly. "The cartoons included US, European, Brazilian, Korean and Chinese entries. However, the US cartoonist David Baldinger said that his drawing "in no way ridiculed the Holocaust". It is best to let people determine what is propaganda and what is not. Most of the time intelligent people know the difference. Sane people, I would think, don't place value on government statements refuting the Jewish Holocaust's historical fact. I doubt Iranian president Ahmadinejad even believes his statements. He is engaging in what I would call "political mooning". A bare ass sticking in the world's face gets a lot of atten...

I really am not up to writing too much today but I would like to make a statement about my participation in the controversial Iran “Holocaust” cartoon exhibition. There is some concern being expressed about damage to reputations by several cartoonists who submitted work. Below is a letter being circulated throughout cartooning circles making it clear what the motivations were: To whom it may concern: Having participated in the Irancartoon-Hamshari contest, we would like to affirm that we are not anti-semitic and do not agree with the way this contest is being used and manipulated by the Iranian government as a revisionist action, which purpose is to incite Israel and the US. We are professional cartoonists and have participated in many other international cartoon contests. As artists, we are deeply concerned about various issues. The recent war in theMiddle East is one of them. (the heavy attacks by Tsahal (Israel Defense Forces) in Palestine and Lebanon, and the response of the Hezbo...

My Drawing In The IranCartoon Exhibition My Drawing On Display At The IranCartoon Exhibition It has been a strange couple of weeks. The whole controversy over Irancartoon's Holocaust cartoon exhibition has thrust little 'ol me into some weird spotlight. I'm not sure why. The interest seems to come from the puzzlement over an American entering an Iranian competition. I must have been the only American entrant that was easy to locate. Why would I enter such a contest? I was more interested in their question of "what is the limit to free speech in the West?" For me, it was simply a way of making contact with cartoonists in Iran. I do this with other countries as well. There are many fantastic artists and cartoonists working in Iran. I have found most of the cartoonists friendly and accepting--something I can't say for a lot of the "professional" cartoonists in America. They are mostly a clique of pat-on-each-others backs kind of people. Every year they...

I discovered this today from another member of the Flag-Waver Peanut Gallery: "Boy, your daddy wasted his his money screwin' your momma." "David Baldinger, an alleged cartoonist, has an interesting take on the freedoms here in the United States. Of course, the United States Secret Police has teken him into custody. Oh, wait a minute...you mean he's not in jail for criticising the government? He isn't being harassed by the government?" The saddest part is that these people really believe what they say. He also makes the same mistake all these goons make in a more recent post " Skeerd by a wittle dog? " He states in the post, "This is so f*cking stupid. Jail a man for scaring a killer? You gotta be kidding me! Why is the military there? To coddle these f*ckers?" Ah, Mr. Passionate Conservative--at no point were any of the prisoners identified as "killers" or "terrorists." I don't want to burst the bubble that is ...

I just completed one live interview and one recorded for the BBC World Service "World Today" radio program. They were interested in my involvement with the Iranian Holocaust Cartoon exhibition . I was initially a bit nervous about being interviewed since a reporter for the Murdoch rag, The NY Post tried to ambush me with accusations of being an anti-Semite and nearly a traitor to America for associating with Iranians. Luckily, I was given an opportunity to answer the anti-Semitic accusations without being attacked. I have tremendous respect for the BBC. The US news media is a laughable travesty compared to their professionalism. I really appreciate the interest given my participation in the contest. Personally, I don't find the Holocaust a subject for humor or satire. I do, however, take exception to those who equate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism. I was more interested in the free speech issue the Iranians were raising. If cartoons of Mohammad are just consider...

This is my most recent cartoon done as an entry in the Irancartoon "Military Occupation" exhibition. Some clued me into the following poem. It seems so appropriate. Ozymandias I met a traveler from an antique land Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown, And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, Tell that its sculptor well those passions read, Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed, And on the pedestal these words appear: "My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings: Look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away. -Percy Bysshe Shelley 1792-1822