Author Archives: Panda in Chief

About Panda in Chief

Anne Belov paints, writes, makes prints, and is the founder of The Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire. You can find her paintings at the Rob Schouten Gallery and Fountainhead Gallery, her cartoons on The Panda Chronicles, and her new book here. She also writes regularly for The Whidbey Life Magazine, a free journal of art and culture on Whidbey Island. Her main regret in life is that there is no MacArthur Grant for Panda Satire.

Panda Birthday Season Continues!

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It is difficult, as I may have mentioned last week, to show a ‘toon starring the Meihems that doesn’t have Pinky somehow messed up in it. Since Pinky’s early years were sans at home siblings, the Meihems filled that valuable role, that of someone to fight with! (Not that I’d know anything about that, heh, heh!)

So, in celebration of the Meihems’ upcoming birthday season I present one of my favorite stories starring The Meihems (and PINKY!!!!)…

HIGHWAY GATE!!! (Inspired by the true story of a New Jersey bridge, shut down by a certain Governor!)

George Washington Bridge lane closure satire.

Princess Pinky Bao Bao…what have you done now?

zoo atlanta, bao bao, national zoo

Time to call in …Inspector panda!

Mei xiang and bao bao try to cover up highway-gate

Inspector Panda is on the job!

“Hello, Bai Yun? this is Lun Lun…about that detective you suggested…”

Please note the introduction of “Binky Bars” to the narrative…

…of course Boo-mints are pretty good too.

Inspector panda

Will the twins get a merit badge for their road trip? will Lun Lun fess up to where the girls are? will Inspector Panda get a clue, or at least more twitter followers. Stay tuned!

Bao Bao, washington DC cover-up

Oh, Pinky…what have you done?

Howdy, Mr Kitty, kindly tell us where a tired old cowpoke can get a boo beer and a cuppycake.

Apparently I didn’t come up with a more definitive end to this story. Sorry about that! here are some more ‘toons starring all the girls!

enquiring minds want to know….

farewell

Fast furry friends…for now

One of the little known wonders of the world.

I love a good art forgery, don’t you?

Oh dear, the Mei-hem twinkies have made Pinky mad. Uh oh.

Panda on!
Bob T Panda

Are they going to jump from their platform?

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It really does seem like this, doesn’t it:

Well, it IS rather easy to understand…

I bet Joe Biden can come up with something a bit more informative, something maybe more substantive and helpful to the millions of people in this country. As opposed to only helping you know who.

Be the bear, everyone!
Bob T Panda

PS: I got to send out more pandas this week! felty happiness winging their way to spread joy and pandi-ness. I’d like to point out, that most of my shipping materials (except for some of the boxes) are recycled materials. A gallery I once showed with used to make fun of my heirloom bubble wrap collection. I have a hard time throwing anything out, and all that bubble wrap that stuff comes in is very useful for sending other stuff out! I recently realized that the tiny scraps of felt that I make the panda attire with, can be saved and used as the inner stuffing for Banky Pig and Mr. Bun!  My pack rat tendencies do come in handy!

The Golden Age of Podcasts

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I remember when podcasts weren’t really a thing. Then more and more people started doing them, and they were kind of funky and people did them from their kitchen, and you could hear the refrigerator cycle on, and maybe their cat would wander through and rub their tail across the microphone.

Then everyone started getting  more professional, getting sponsors so they could get better equipment, and maybe outfit or rent a studio to record in. They became much more sophisticated and they proliferated all over the place. Interviews with guests took place face to face.

Then the pandemic came, and suddenly people had to stay in their houses and apartments, to prevent getting or spreading the coronavirus. Then they were back in their kitchens and they were joined by late night news/comedy show hosts who were also broadcasting from their own kitchens or bedrooms or attics.

I have to say, I rather like these stripped down versions of these performances. There is a kind of unvarnished honesty in them. I’m sure Trevor Noah would prefer to be back in front of his live, studio audience. But really, I kind of like feeling like I have him to myself. It’s almost like talking one on one with a friend, without the complication of his other 568 best friends who are taking all his attention. I do think that maybe Jon Lovett is going feral, and I hope his relationship with Ronan Farrow survives, as he seems to be getting kind of feistier than normal in his isolation. No judgement Jon. It’s hard on all of us. Just, you know, maybe dial it back a little over dinner, okay?

For crying out loud! We need to Pod Save the Pandas!

Pod Save the Pandas! Collect the whole set!

Of course you can always find me at my kitchen table.

Be the bear!
Bob T Panda

Panda Satire is an Essential Industry

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As I ponder the political paradigm shift that is at our door, sometimes I am drawn to the dark visage that is on the other side of the door.

Hang on to your hats, kids, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride!

I think that maybe I am not doing anything to help the current debacle we are facing. Then I remember:

Panda Satire IS an essential industry!

So many people have told me, that these ‘toons help them face the day. Laughter in times of tyrannyis a political act. So let’s do all we can to laugh in the face of fascism.

Ha ha HA! Take that!
BRING ON THE PANDAS!

We are entering the American Panda Birthday Season! Who can forget the excitement of the first Cublanta twins birth?

Mr Wu speaks out!

While Mr.Wu was the first panda I watched from birth, his birthday is not the first of the year! Let’s put our paws together for the Meihem Twins, Bert and Ernie!

The first appearance of the Meihems!

Atlanta twin panda cubs Mei Lun and Mei Huan and older prother Po

Huzzah! a guest appearance by little Po!

Atlanta Twins have a fight

Sweet dreams, little bears!

Atlanta panda cub twins

Huzzah! It’s Bert and his brother Ernie!

Zoo Atlanta Twin panda Cubs

…and their jammies! Huzzah!

Uh oh! Pinky did a bad thing!

Bao bao changes panda cub gender

Pinky is VERY powerful. Be afraid, be very afraid, Mr Wu.

downloadable paper panda upgrade

school uniforms for pandas

Ready for panda kindergarten!

You wouldn’t believe how hard it was to find ‘toons with Bert and Ernie without Pinky in them! We’ll feature some of the ‘toons that Pinky has horned in on…I mean, when Pinky joins the Meihems,  but now, let’s remind everyone how animals feel about fireworks on the 4th of July!

uh. oh.

Huzzah for Rumpy Dog!

A Happy (belated) Panada Day to our neighbors from the north!

Oh Panada, Oh Panada, how tasty are your maple leaves….

Panda on,
Bob T Panda

Black Lives Matter

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As a country, we have done a fairly terrible job protecting the rights, the health, and well-being of all our citizens. The government’s response to the peaceful protests against police brutality against African American and Latino citizens of our country is only proving the point: There has to be a better way to keep people safe.

We live in a country that has chipped away at the services that serve people of all but the top tier of the economic classes. Health care, school nurses, mental health services, art and music classes in schools: programs that give students  a chance to express themselves. Instead, police departments are given more money for more weapons and more armored vehicles. Do you feel safer? I don’t think I do. When did they start putting armed guards in schools? Doesn’t it make more sense to have fewer guns?

It lifted my spirits to see that the mayor of Washington DC had arranged to paint “Black Lives Matter” in 50 foot high letters on the street fronting Lafayette Square.

Of course Bubba, Ping Ping and Pinky wanted to help…

Well, it WAS a good messaging opportunity…

Panda On
Register to Vote
VOTE
Bob T Panda

Now Where Were We…Oh Yes! Tigers!

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I don’t know about you, but I can hardly get through the day without being overtaken by an overwhelming urge to nap. Not that napping is a bad thing (pandas love to nap!) but it does add to the confusion I have about what day it is. Just when I think I am getting ahead with my panda satire, I find that, no, I’m just ahead of my posting schedule.

But so far, so good.

I’m so grateful for all of the felty panda orders and for those of you who have found something to lift your spirits over at Redbubble! I just delivered a whole bunch of paintings for a show at the Rob Schouten Gallery (Not wasting my fine art degree, still!) If you’d like to see what I’ve been up to, in between felty pandas and naps, click here to see the show!

But then there were all those tigers on the loose…what happened to them?

Personally, I thought Pinky was being very clever and innovative with her cubpaigning

Who thinks Mommee is being unfair to Pinky?

Panda on!
Bob T Panda

 

 

It’s time to be counted…

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It’s time to be counted among those that believe that America should be better than it has been lately. I’m reading an article in the New Yorker, about Iceland, and how they have dealt with the COVID 19 pandemic. From the first moment they heard of cases in China, back in early January, they started moving the pieces needed to combat this virus into place. By the time the first case surfaced in February, they were ready. While they had quite a number of cases, they have had very few deaths. Through mandatory quarantine and contract tracing, they were able to keep the cases under control without ever locking down the economy entirely.

Imagine that.

Meanwhile, here we are.

Among other ways of being counted, don’t forget to fill out your Census form!

Do we have to count panda adoption fees?

These days I often feel like I have a sharp pain being my ears. And now, no other countries want us to come visit! Who can blame them. But if you must travel, you can always fly Pand-Air! (From the oldies but goodies file!)

bears in the air…

Beware…..

Pandas have a better idea…

notice the stylish design….

please have your tray table in their upright position for take-off…

…and most of all, don’t panic.

“Where ignorance meets incompetence…” What does that remind me of?

see, doesn’t this look just like British Airways’ new paint job?

I rest my case.

Many pandas travel via Pand-Air!

pandair flight of the scottish pandas

Pand-Air…it’s the only way to travel

Panda on as best you can!

Put a Tiger in Your…Selfie?

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So, you all remember Pinky’s scheme during the 2016 election, where she let people into the tiger yard to take selfies. (for a fee, of course! Tigers don’t grow on trees, you know!)

Mommee Mei put a stop to that, thank goodness!

Oh…um…THOSE tigers…

And don’t forget to check out the new panda felts on the Buy Stuff with Pandas Page! They are pandariffic!

Be the bear!
Bob T Panda

In celebration of pandas! (Because, duh!)

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It’s time for another day of Sunday Panda Fun, because what else do we have to live for? There will be new ‘toons coming down the web this week. Huzzah!

But what to share for our Sunday Funday ‘toons…Truth to tell, I can’t remember from one week to the next which ‘toons I shared last week (although it seems that maybe Pinky took over, last week..) As I have entered a new phase of felty panda making, it seems appropriate that this week’s Sunday ‘toons should celebrate that International Panda of Mystery…

Babette de Panda!!!!

Wanting to stretch my creative capabilities, I decided to make a felty Deluxe Babette, and feeling very pleased with the result, posted a picture of her on Twidder. A fan of felty pandas demanded that Babette come to live with her immediately. How could I say no?

Which leaves me in something of a quandary.

I plan on making more, as well as experimenting with some other of the as yet unrepresented pandas. I love the idea of making one of a kind pandas. It excites my muse, as it were. But how to let everyone who might want one see them… So here is what I am thinking. If people are interested, they can let me know via the contact form on the buy stuff with pandas page. I will make a list in the order people contact me.

This will not commit you to anything, other than receiving a photo of the next available panda, then saying “yes, I’d like that one”, at which time I’ll send an invoice and once it’s paid, I’ll ship within the week. Or you’ll say “no” and I’ll contact the next person on the list. I will also be posting them here, as well as on Twitter and Fezbook. (You can also contact me on Fezbook and Twidder, though I can’t guarantee I will see those messages before I see them here)

Here are the first two Babette, international Panda(s) of Mystery! Alas, these two are already spoken for!

Babette the first!

Babette, all dressed up for a costume ball!

This outfit really needed to be seen by more than one angle. 🙂

And with that in mind, let’s look at some of Babette’s early appearances!

All My Pandas……

Wheel…of…PANDAS!!!!!

Huzzah! More Wheel…of…PANDAS!!!

I'm not a doctor but I play one on television

I’m not a Doctor but a play one in a cartoon!

tournament of pandas parade

We call it “extra Fluffy Tuesday” around here.

Says Babette de Panda: “It’s all about MOI` “

Babette and Bee, the Bear have a “discussion”

Babette has ..um…toned her wardrobe down in honor of this important occasion.

“Madame Babette sees all!: I see cake in my…er…your future!”

Babette, in her leading lady role in Wagner’s Cuppycake cycle

As you might have gathered, Babette de Panda is quite a mentor of Pinky! Have a fun Sunday (or at least as fun as you can have during the days of Mitten’s reign of terror.) You can also have fun with cut out paper pandas, including Babette de Panda, on the Have Fun with Pandas page!

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda