From MSCA President Kevin L. Williams:
Greetings Pencil Pushers, Ink Slingers, Digital Doodlers, Wordsmiths, and Enthusiasts,
Always glad to see everyone out for the dinner gatherings!
“I’m not local to the MSCA, how can I participate?” That’s a question I’ve heard before, and my suggestion is:
1) Share our emails to folks who may be interested in comics and cartoons, and ask them to sign up at midsouthcartoonists@gmail.com;
2) Come to art shows, buy comics, visit www.midsouthcartoonists.com and listen to www.drawingfunny.com podcasts;
3) Share our posts on social media;
4) Print and share posters, or save and share to your socials;
5) Create your own cartoonist meet-ups in your city;
6) and most importantly, per our Purpose, “Promote Cartoon as Art!”
I’m certain there are other ways to participate, what do you think you can do from afar? Anything I didn’t think of here? Let me know.
Have news to help the MSCA promote Cartoons as Art? Please send it to me before the last Monday of the month so I can share with everyone.
While we’d always hope you’d like to get the emails to share in news of promoting cartoon as art, if you need to be removed from the email list let me know and I’ll get that taken care of.
Sincerely,
Kevin Williams,
MSCA President
DINNER GATHERING
Coming up on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 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 if you want to come early.
We meet on the first Tuesday of each month. Bring art to show and money to buy food/drink, and we look forward to seeing you again- or for the first time!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3kRSvDH7tB7hbzJF9
CON CARDS BY GREG CRAVENS
The following night, March 4, you can hang with Greg Cravens and play some Con Cards at 6pm at 901 Games on Broad Ave, come hang and play with Greg Cravens’ Con Cards. Are there prizes? Sounds like it!
THE MSCA AND URBAN SKETCHERS DAY AT WOODRUFF-FONTAINE HOUSE MUSEUM
Both groups will meet up at the Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum on Saturday, February 21, from noon-4, to draw the property. There are so many beautiful details inside and outside that there are plenty of things to draw and photograph.
Entry will be by donation only and making the art available to them to help support the museum, just let them know you’re there with either group. Assistant WFH Director Georgia Cooper will be on hand to show us the house, tell us a little history, and more.
Cameras, pencils, pens, and markers are welcome (we want to keep anything “drippy” away from the historic property). There is a basement, 3 floors, and a tower to visit. The grounds have a beautiful carriage house and two “playhouses” to see.
Location: 680 Adams Avenue, Memphis, TN 38105 https://maps.app.goo.gl/DHoWttaoDD39Tr3G7
https://www.woodruff-fontaine.org/
OUTREACH – AVE MARIA HOME
The residents have requested us back again, and we have scheduled the following dates. LET ME KNOW if you’re able to attend, please! Both days are Tuesdays, March 23, 2026 & April 14, 2026, and the location is:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rgV6cYVaXRf6UchaA
COMMON DAYS OF CADE #3 – NOW AVAILABLE
Creator Devin Hodges has released issue #3 of The Common Days of Cade! You can get your copy from him directly or online at DIAST Cartoons
TOSHIGAWA UNIVERSE – Motion Comic Short
Keep going with the motion comic series with this short, Jetta: Passing the Torch
https://youtu.be/BoxpexDTkrM?si=kTEfYh831BIx3Pv3
Lots of other projects coming from MAW Productions and the Toshigawa Universe:
1) Shinobi Princess: The Dark Tournament
book 2 (Graphic Novel)
Art and story by Martheus Wade
Colors by Janet Wade
2) Turra: Gun Angel ( Graphic Novel re-release)
Story by Martheus Wade
Art by Andrew Chandler and Alex Zemke
Edits by Kevin L. Williams
3) Jetta – Defiance Episode 2 (Motion comic)
Script by Martheus Wade
Starring Maria Amelia Park, Michelle O’Neil, Michelle Francine Anderson, Sami Halloul
Animation/editing by me, Incredimate
Opening theme by Kazha
4) Jinn and Muley the Mule and Friends (coloring comic)
Story by Kevin L Williams
Art by Kevin L Williams and Martheus Wade
Cover art by Damarco Randle
5) Code Sakura- A Shinobi Story
Story by Sara Freites Scott
Art by Hadia Bjornbak
Colors by Janet Wade
Cover by Delightfully Weird
We have A LOT of work ahead of us! You guys sticking around for it?
www.toshigawauniverse.com
HEAL THE HOOD RESET DAY
March 21, 2026, Reset Day needs a few caricature artists. Reach out to Ms Natasha Hill for more information or to accept this opportunity. natashahill496@gmail.com
MSCA Ads
We’re planning to create some little ashcan pass-outs to advertise the club a little more, along with a jam art piece to create a new postcard. This will include art from all of us! Please let me know if you’re interested in playing along – this will be a pretty simple process.
RIDGEWAY HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY COMICCON
Susan G. Harris, Librarian (HARRISSG@scsk12.org), shares that Friday, March 6th from 12:45-2:15 (sponsored by the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Communications Department) there will be a mini-con of sorts. She would like to have some cartoon artists come speak to the kids, maybe do demonstrations (it’s a chance to offer handouts to a new audience). If you are available, please reach out to her at the email address above.
REVERSE VISUAL ARTS FAIR AT CBU
Cathy Lantrip at Christian Brothers University shares:
Hello! I am the Assistant Director of Career Services at Christian Brothers University here in Memphis. I wanted to invite you to participate in CBU’s upcoming Reverse Career Fair for Visual Arts, being held on Thursday, March 26th, from 12:30 to 2:00 pm on CBU’s campus.
This FREE event will allow our visual arts students and alumni (graphic design, studio arts/fine arts, art therapy) to display their portfolios and other examples of their work and to connect with employers regarding opportunities available throughout the Greater Memphis area: internship, part-time, full-time, contract, freelance, commissions, etc.
If you are interested in attending and recruiting CBU talent for your employment, internship, or contract needs, please RSVP by Friday, March 20th with the expected number of representatives from your company.
Additional information/logistics will be provided prior to the event, and you will also receive digital copies of all participants’ resumes as brief artist skills summaries.
Please let me know if you have any questions. We hope to see you!
Cathy Lantrip
Assistant Director, Career Services
clantrip@cbu.edu
BARTLETT (LIBRARY) BOOK BONANZA
The Second Annual Book Bonanza with local area authors is happening at the Bartlett Public Library, 5868 Stage Rd., Bartlett, TN 38134, and will feature many of your MSCA friends setting up. https://maps.app.goo.gl/JtMYkGXgWHTToS41A
HA! HA! HA! HA! 75 Years of Humor in Peanuts
September 20, 2025—March 18, 2026
Main Gallery
Why does Peanuts make us laugh? For the 75th anniversary of Peanuts, explore the element that brings together all of Charles Schulz’s 17,897 Peanuts comic strips: his humor. Take a closer look at original Peanuts comic strip art to discover how Schulz’s sense of humor evolved and the comedic elements he used to create a legacy of laughter.
HA! HA! HA! HA! 75 Years of Humor in Peanuts – Charles M. Schulz Museum
BEALE STREET MONSTER CLUB
Beale Street Monster Club Presents: Bigfoot on Beale Vendor and Artist Tables
There will be a Bigfoot on Beale St event in May! Check out the graphic at the bottom of the email for tables and prices. Michael, the Monster Club Founder says:
Dear MSCA,
On May 16th, 2026, from 11AM – 6PM we will be hosting our Beale Street Monster Club Presents: Bigfoot on Beale event. At this event, we will have 10 artist and 11 vendor tables. We really want to support local artists and our friends who are a part of MSCA, so we would like to give you all the first opportunity at these tables. Attached is a PDF that contains all the information about the vendor tables sizes and cost. All proceeds go back into the event! If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.
Michael J. Cox
Founder
901-831-1376
ART SHOWS – 2027!!
See below for a possibility; but, plan on:
WKNO ART EXHIBITION – SEPTEMBER 2027
Mark it on your calendars! Thanks to Katie Jones, we have an upcoming art show in September 2027 in the lobby gallery of WKNO-TV. This show will be themed around literacy. Art will be collected at the September 7, 2027, Dinner Gathering.
MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDENS ART SHOW MARCH 2027? POSSIBILITY!!
LET ME KNOW who is interested in participating in an art exhibition at the Memphis Botanical Gardens in March 2027 (not 2026). I like Katie’s suggestion since their theme would be Cherry Blossoms, that would allow us a whole anime and manga them. Application deadline is March 1, 2026, so I would need to know who all is interested and how many pieces you would submit in order to send the details to them.
SELF-PUBLISHING WEBSITE
Katie shares this website which prints her comics. Great colors and great paper quality. Check it out! https://mixam.com/
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
February 28, 2026 – 9am – 230pm – Mid-South Collectible Toy Show, 5868 Stage Road, Bartlett, TN. Lin Workman will have a table.
March 3, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
March 20 – 22, 2026 – Mid-South Con, Vitality Jotel, 2625 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Olive Branch, MS.
March 23, 2026 – 3-5pm – Ave Maria Home, drawing with residents. https://maps.app.goo.gl/rgV6cYVaXRf6UchaA
March 28 – 29, 2026 – Blues City Comic Con, Memphis Sports and Event Center, 995 Early Maxwell Blvd, Memphis, TN 38104
April 7, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
April 10 – 12, 2026 – Animation Y’all, Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN
April 14, 2026 – 3-5pm – Ave Maria Home, drawing with residents. https://maps.app.goo.gl/rgV6cYVaXRf6UchaA
April 28, 2026 – Katie Jones’ “Welcome to the McPromise-Land” art show will be presented simultaneously with the Playhouse on the Square presentation of “Jesus Christ Superstar” (the art show will run into late May 2026). It is in the same 2nd floor, west hall behind the balcony as the MSCA show was in 2025.
May 5, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
May 9, 2026 – 5 – 7pm, Katie Jones Artist’s Reception “Welcome to the McPromise Land” at the Playhouse on the Square: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YU18HRs98bCsAQrb6 Come for a chance to get first come first served tickets to see the show “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
May 16th, 2026 – 11AM – 6PM Beale Street Monster Club Presents: Bigfoot on Beale, Lin Workman will have a table.
June 2, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
June 5,2026 – 5-7pm Lin Workman’s “Featured Creatures” Art Show Reception, Playhouse on the Square, 2nd Floor West Gallery (where the MSCA “Everything…” Art Show was), running June 6 – August 2, 2026.
July 7, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
August 4, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
September 1, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
October 6, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
November 3, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
December 1, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
*Don’t forget- our 40th anniversary is coming up in 2027!
MID SOUTH COLLECTIBLE TOY SHOW – Vendor Tables Available for ARTISTS
Alex Moody is looking for vendors for the midsouth collectible toy show in Bartlett at the The Venue (the backside of the Bartlett Library Gym area). Its February 28th with a $50 table fee.
ANIMATION Y’ALL
Happening April 10-12, 2026 at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN: https://www.animationyall.com/
Schedules and guests are listed on the website. Schedule | Animation Yall
