“Stevensonville”
Illustrations by Laurie Webber
LAURIE WEBBER The Illustrations to George Usher’s “Stevensonville”
Laurie Webber is the artist of twelve works in mixed media on paper, illustrating a twelve-song concept album “Stevensonville” by George Usher.
Her practice lives at the intersection of illustration, graphic design, music, and live performance. She collaborates with artists, recording artists, and songwriters, creating promotional work that supports sound, movement, and story.
Born in Cleveland, she began working early as a graphic designer for the Cleveland Ballet Scenic Studios, the Agora Ballroom, and as a silkscreen artist for Scene Magazine. Spaces where image and performance first merged in her work.
After studying at the Cleveland Institute of Art and Cleveland’s Cooper School of Art, she relocated to New York City. Immersed in the city’s art and music ecosystems, she pursued a broad, exploratory education at Parsons School of Design, studying in Los Angeles, Paris, and New York.
In partnership with George Usher, she produced multimedia events that layered projected original artwork with live music and poetry. These collaborations unfolded in intimate and iconic venues including the Bowery Poetry Club, Mercury Lounge, CBGB’s, Sidewalk and The Bitter End, as well as New Jersey spaces such as Maxwell’s, Blackwater Books, and The Beaten Path.
Alongside her studio practice, she designs promotional materials for concerts, plays, and musicals for a K–12 school in New York City.
1. Stevensonville
2 Reverend Thomas Pardee
3 James Strothard
4 Mitch Kunkel
5 Judge John Bailey
6 Annie Dunn
7 Martin Godfrey
8 Marybeth Merriwether
9 Jack Greene
10 Marjorie Hayes
11 Town Elders
12 Benny Weed
The Gornack Bros. “Refund”
Featuring Steve Almaas and George Usher (1988)
Comics by Kathy Archbold
Black and white photo of two women standing in front of a large carnival ride with the words "The Girkenaek Bro" visible at the top. The women are dressed in vintage clothing, and there are trees and other carnival rides in the background.
A vinyl record album cover with a mostly white background and large abstract red shapes resembling torn paper or paint splashes. The text on the cover indicates it is by The Gornack Bros, with track listing and production credits.
Comic strip titled 'Happy New Year with the Bacon Empire', depicting humorous scenes of characters talking about work, parties, and getting a refund, with speech bubbles and various objects like cups, papers, and a radio.
A black and white comic strip titled 'The Gornack Bros' featuring scenes of characters exploring, writing songs, playing guitar, and sitting at a table having a conversation with various backgrounds including cityscapes, nature, and a stage with an audience.
A black and white illustration of two women in front of a prison window. One woman has long hair and a jacket, while the other has curly hair and wears a dark top. The word "RECYCLING" is written vertically along the right side, and the word "REFUND" appears at the bottom.
A black and white printed list titled '10 FAX ABOUT THE GORNACK BROS.' with various humorous items and facts, and a postal address for 'STRIKE-BACK RECORDS' in London. The list includes jokes, historical references, and playful statements.