This episode features Joe Wos whose passion for drawing mazes and cartoons began at an early age and has shaped his unique career. Over the years, Wos’ art has evolved into a whimsical blend of mazes and cartoons that he calls Mazetoons. Regarded as a master maze maker, Wos created the world’s largest hand-drawn maze in 2012. Measuring 140 square feet, it features more than 100 illustrations. One of Wos’ mural-sized mazes is on permanent display at StarKist’s international headquarters, and Wos is the cartoonist who draws the iconic Charlie the Tuna character for the company. For the past 20 years, Wos has been the visiting resident cartoonist of the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, California. In Pittsburgh, Wos founded the ToonSeum, one of three museums dedicated to cartoon arts in the United States. In addition to creating his own art, Wos teaches cartooning at Central Catholic High School as well as by hosting “Cartoon Academy,” a PBS television program that teaches the art of cartooning. Now in its third season, the show recently won two Mid-Atlantic Emmys—Host/Moderator; Educational Content Short Form. During our conversation we explore the challenges and rewards Wos has experienced as he navigated such an unconventional career.
Additional information about Joe Wos is available at www.mazetoons.com. His books are available on Amazon. If you would like to own one of Joe Wos’ unique Mazetoons, visit the scholarpractitionernexus.com where you can find several different maze designs depicting the often messy, swampy nature of educational practice.
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