News from MSCA president Kevin L. Williams:
Hi, fellow purveyors of Toondom! Lots of fun things coming up below.
Thank you for a fantastic 2025! We have achieved so much, especially our mission: Promoting cartoon as art! And I’m proud of seeing how much work was done outside of the group as individual members were taking on their own publications, art shows, and more. MORE! Proud of you all. I love seeing your success stories, and hearing about them when we get together. Keep arting around.
Please send me all your news, pictures, etc., before the last Monday of November so I can share with your fellow ‘toonists in our December 2025 email. Don’t forget to stay ‘tooned to www.midsouthcartoonists.org and www.drawingfunny.com for all your news and updates, as well as the facebook page: www.facebook.com/midsouthcartoonists/
Look forward to seeing you in December,
Kevin Williams, Prez.
DINNER GATHERING
The next gathering is Tuesday, December 2, 2025, we will gather at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, by the University of Memphis, from 6 – 8 pm. Some of us show up a little earlier sometimes. Bring art and food money, and we look forward to seeing you there!
Click for map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3kRSvDH7tB7hbzJF9
DECEMBER ART SWAP
Our December dinner gathering at Garibaldi’s is going to be our Annual Holiday Art Swap night. Just bring a piece of art (original drawing/painting, sketch, print, self-published comic/zine, handmade Christmas card, art book, etc.) to be included in the draw.
Each piece brough is numbered, and a corresponding number goes into the pot.
When you draw the number, that piece from another MSCA member is yours to take home with you for the holidays! Some items are paired with other one of a kind things, like an original piece of art with a printed piece, or other fun sticking stuffers.
The art piece doesn’t have to be Christmas themed, framed, or wrapped- just something fun from you for other members to enjoy.
Participation is not required to attend the meeting, but the art swap is open to any and all attendees who want to join in on this MSCA holiday tradition.
Christmas sweaters are optional, but always encouraged..! 😉
Each year we have great submissions for the annual art swap, and each monthly dinner we’ve also been known to have some fun freebies for our dinner guests to enjoy. Be sure to help yourself to anything on the giveaway table, or bring any promos you’d like to share with the group. Lots of stickers, buttons, comics, business cards, and more can be shared. Occasionally we’ll have candy or snackies to enjoy, too. This month should be no exception!
HOLIDAYSHOPPING
If you’re looking for great gifts, go super local and shop with your fellow members. Many members will be set up at local shows and events selling their wares. You can visit their websites and more at www.midsouthcartoonists.org/membersdirectory/.
ART OF THE GAME MSCA Art Exhibition
The Artistic Arcade Expressions of Irvin Serenco and the MSCA
GAME ON! Come play with me and the Mid-South Cartoonists Association as we celebrate games in our collaborative art show, “Art of the Game,” with an art presentation in memory of Irvin Serenco. It promises to be a fun time! You can see the art during open business hours of the Jewish Community Center at 6560 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN, from December 22, 2025 – January 30, 2026. We will have an artists’ reception January 8, 2026, from 5 – 7 pm.
We have a LOT of wall space in the beautiful gallery to fill. PLEASE LET ME KNOW THAT YOU ARE DOING ART and how many pieces you’ll add to the show. I also have the JCC’s gallery contract which you can return to me ASAP, please. This show includes the art of the late Irvin Serenco which are free-standing pieces, and our art will line the walls. Games are the theme, so anything from video games, pinball machines, board games, chess, checkers, card games, and sports – it’s all GAME! The only rule is nothing adult, political, or religious as this location is home to a lot of different people and children. Just sticking to games gives us a LOT of options for the art. If you have 3D art you’d like to show (or gaming collectibles), there are display cases we can use. Let me know if you’d like to be a part of that. Devin has some cool Pac-man stuff to share, and I’m digging through my archives for my Atari 2600…
You can be as funny or literal with the submissions as you like. It’s a mixed audience, so we want to stay away from far-leaning politics (stay centered) and while innuendo is acceptable keep in mind that kids will be there, too. Let me know if you are interested in participating and how many pieces you wish to submit. The spaces we need to fill are 4×4’; we can have 4 smaller pieces, 2 or 3 medium pieces, or 1 large piece, to fill the area. You can submit one piece of art or 10 pieces. Your art can be pencil and/or ink on paper, it can be a fine-art piece; it can be textiles, sculpture, photography, mixed media, trash-to-art – there are a gazillion ways to use art, and we’re always excited to see what people create!
Art MUST BE turned in by the December 2 dinner gathering just before the event – we’ve all got time to get some art created! Out of town? No problem, you can have the art shipped to us to display (you’ll also have to ship it back, btw.) Art MUST be ready to hang (wired on back or some other way). If it is not, and cannot be hung, we will not hang the art. Keep in mind, art is typically hung on a hook system like at our previous shows at Germantown Community Theatre and Playhouse on the Square.
The art does NOT have to be professionally framed, but DOES have to “look like it.” For unframed canvas, please use gallery-wrapped canvas and don’t forget to paint the sides of the canvas as well. Please note that any art not properly framed for hanging will be rejected or hung toward the back of the gallery.
Artists MUST submit their art listing:
-Title
-Media used
-Price or NFS (Not for Sale)
-Artist Name
-Ways to contact the artist (website or social media)
Please write clearly or type on white cardstock paper. If we don’t receive this from you, your art may not be tagged with your details. If you haven’t already, artists MUST send a caricature and bio, including your website and/or social media, to be displayed. Mail to: midsouthcartoonists(at)gmail(dot)com
DISCLAIMER
Artists agreeing to participate in art shows will not hold the MSCA or the location liable or responsible for the artwork submitted. The gallery will take care of sales- please see the gallery contract for commission % info. If you need a copy of the gallery’s contract let me know at the above email address ASAP, please. I’ll be happy to forward a copy to you.
If you have not participated in an art show before, we’re all here to help. Please ask questions, and have fun!
I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s art and adorning the gallery walls. As of this writing, Dale, DaMarco, Katie, Lin, Shawn, and I have signed up. Are you next? Be sure to share the info about this show on your socials, websites, and with your artist friends, other art groups, or news media that might be interested.
Again, all art and display collectibles will be taken at our December 2 dinner gathering/art swap. The art show will run Dec. 22, 2025 – Jan. 30, 2026. There will be an artists’ reception on January 8, 2026, from 5-7pm. All events will take place at the Jewish Community Center at 6560 Poplar Ave. (Germantown, TN area and east of I-240).
Click link for map: www.maps.app.goo.gl/SSJTsRM9PJhTRmPK6
DRAWN OF THE DEAD – ART SHOW Pronounced deceased.
The art at GCT was taken down 11/11/2025. If you want your art before the next dinner meeting, please let me know and we can work it out. Otherwise, I’ll have everything to be picked up on Dec 2 at Garibaldi’s.
Thanks to Germantown Community Theatre for having us back out again, and congratulations to our members on the art that sold!
KICKSTARTER
Congratulations to successful Kickstarters! Ryan Ladner’s Thrill Comics campaign for Memphis vs Zombies #2 and Blues: Lore & Legends #1, and Greg Cravens’ recent Con Cards expansion decks!
CON CARDS
Every first Wednesday of the month at 6pm at 901 Games on Broad Ave, come hang and play with Greg Cravens’ Con Cards. Greg is happy to teach you how to show you how, you can win prizes!, and purchase sets like the new MSCA expansion deck for you to play at upcoming cons.
MAW PRODUCTIONS NEWS
Your MSCA Prez is also Editor for MAW Productions, and there are a few very cool things to share from the Toshigawa Universe!
First, there’s a motion comic coming December 12th which you can see after subscribing here:
https://www.youtube.com/@ToshigawaUniverse The cast is AMAZING!! You can watch the recorded livestream by clicking here: https://www.youtube.com/live/q2LJtFHD1k8?si=fpys7ITh2ZneZuqZ
As a prelude, you can watch “A Cat’s Tale” here:
https://youtu.be/BtvuId1nroI?si=D6rJZ2dulHqBoLMy
As part of the motion comic, you can buy a commercial spot/sponsorship spot during the show. As an example, here’s one we made for “Muley-Oh’s” cereal, it’s “oh, oh, so delicious!”
https://youtu.be/3JjFgMQhg6o?si=MVoGNd9lui-nEVMt
Get prepared and order the books today: https://toshigawa-universe.square.site/s/shop
BLUES CITY COMIC CON
Coming to Memphis for the first time March 28 & 29, 2026 at the Memphis Sport & Event Center (995 Early Maxwell Blvd.) at the fairgrounds. More info at: www.bluescitycomiccon.com/
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ANIMATION Y’ALL
Happening April 10-12, 2026 at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN: www.animationyall.com/
Road trip..?
CALENDAR OF STUFF
A printable calendar above is attached for our upcoming 2026 dinner gatherings- please print off and save. Monthly meet-ups are free and open to the public- just bring a few bucks to order off the menu and be sure to introduce yourself. Don’t forget to bring a sketchbook and/or portfolio to show around. We always love to have folks bring along what they’ve been working on to show the group, talk toons, draw on jam pieces, work on tablets/laptops/sketchbooks, or doodle on napkins with us! If you have any kids that are interested in getting into cartooning please bring them out. If you are a kid, please have a parent attend with you. If you’re not sure about meeting a group of sketchy strangers all by yourself, then feel free to bring along a friend or two with you. We’re the group in the large room on the right. Like we always say, “If you’re not old enough to drive yourself to the event please have a parent attend with you.”, and don’t be too shy to ask any art questions you may have.
Below are thangs I happen to have seen so far, and if you have other events you know about, please share them. Thanks to everyone who stopped by our MSCA table at this year’s Memphis Comic & Fantasy Con. We had fun talking to folks at the annual show, and appreciate the MCFC inviting us out!
–Nov 15, 2025 Beale Street Monster Club – Phantom of the Opera Centennial showing upstairs at A. Schwab 163 Beale St, Memphis, TN 38103, from 1pm – 3pm on Saturday.
–Nov 15, 2025 Memphis Punk Rock Flea Market 2025 Holiday Market 5-10pm at the Hi Tone Memphis (282 N Cleveland St.). All ages. Vendors UPSTAIRS 5-10pm and bands DOWNSTAIRS 6-10pm.
–Nov 16, 2025 Memphis Zine Fest 10, at Havenhaus (84 E GE Patterson Ave. downtown near Arcade Restaurant and train station off Main) from 12 – 4 pm on Sunday. Free- all ages welcome. For more info check out @memphis_zine_fest on Instagram.
–Nov 26, 2025 Charles Schulz birthday, have some peanuts and read some Peanuts.
–Nov 27, 2025 Happy Thanksgiving, Turkeys
–Dec 2, 2025 MSCA Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza from 6-8pm. Pick up Drawn of the Dead artwork. Drop off Art of the Game artwork. Art swap!
– Dec. 13, 2025 Memphis Made Holiday Market, Saturday (1-7pm) at 845 N Main St in downtown Memphis, TN
– Dec. 13, 2025 Metal Museum’s Annual Artist Market from 11am–4pm at 374 Metal Museum Drive, downtown Memphis, TN.
– Dec. 13, 2025 The Red Door Market (Christmas Vendor Market) by the DeSoto Arts Council at the Hernando National Guard Armory from 9am-4pm in Hernando, MS.
–Dec 22, 2025 Art of the Game exhibition at Memphis Jewish Community Center (6560 Poplar Ave.).
–Dec 25, 2025 Merry Christmas! HO x 3
–Jan 6, 2026 MSCA Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza from 6-8pm.
–Jan 8, 2026 Art of the Game Artists’ Reception hosted by the JCC from 5 – 7 pm.
–Jan 30, 2026 GAME OVER! Art of the Game exhibition ends.
Established in 1987, the Mid-South Cartoonists Association (MSCA) is a non-profit organization comprised of professional cartoonists, aspiring cartoonists, and cartooning enthusiasts. We hope to provide a diverse social group to help more cartoonists, writers, and animators to reach their goals- no matter how young or old, published or just starting out. If you love cartoons, are drawn to comics, or just like writing and drawing funny then the MSCA is the group/association for you…and it’s free to join us.