Happy Fourth of July Brethren and Sistren of the Toons,
As we sally “forth” into July (ha!), we have a few great events coming up, including the dinner gathering where we can fill up our dinosaurs jam piece, share reference materials, and eat good food!
Not local? No problem! Share with us how you’re promoting cartoon as art. Send pictures and information.
Please forward to any interested artists. If you have news, please send it before the last Monday of the month (copy and paste text and pictures, please). Even promotional stuff – we want to share your good news!
Always keep up with the MSCA News at www.midsouthcartoonists.org and by following us at https://www.facebook.com/midsouthcartoonists/. Always fun to catch up via the podcast at www.drawingfunny.com for more updates and information.
See you then,
Your Favorite Nerd,
Kevin Williams, MSCA Prez.
DINNER GATHERING
On the first Tuesday of the month, July 7, 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.
Bring art to show and money to buy food, and we look forward to seeing you again!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3kRSvDH7tB7hbzJF9
DINNER GATHERING JAM PIECE
Dale Martin has been creatively reinforcing our art and design ideas by bringing out sheets to create a Jam Piece, each with a particular theme. July’s dinner gathering will be a completion of the Dinosaurs jam, and likely starting a new one.
July Dinner Gathering Plus:
REFERENCE ART COLLECTION SHOW-AND-TELL
For the July Dinner Gathering, Dale Martin had a great idea: bring along your model sheets and reference material to show and tell with other folks. This can be your personal work (we can look, but not photograph!), or that which you’ve collected from other productions (which we can photograph). These are fun items to see: turn arounds, emotions, actions, costumes…
Here’s a fun resource of these model sheets: https://archive.org/search?tab=all&query=model+sheets
ALPHA OMEGA VETERANS CENTER
Katie Jones connected us to the Alpha Omega Veterans Center, and they are looking for comics – original publications by us, old copies of comic books and graphic novels – and if you have any you can donate, please bring this to the next dinner meeting and give to Kevin.
CON CARDS BY GREG CRAVENS
The following night, July 8, 2026, 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!
NOVEL BOOKSTORE JUNIOR DRAWING CLUB
Jamie Wells shares that The Junior Drawing Club is a free event for all ages (recommended for ages 5-15) that takes place one Friday a month from 4–6 PM in the Event Space at Novel Bookstore.
There are always many tables full of blank paper, coloring sheets, pens, pencils, markers, crayons, colored pencils, and other arts and crafts equipment. Snacks, water, and music will also be provided. For those who need it, there is always an optional prompt. Everyone can draw whatever they want.
It’s not always the same Friday each month. Here is the schedule as set so far:
July 24th (prompt: draw your feelings)
August 7th (prompt: draw yourself)
September 11th (prompt: draw a word)
October TBD
November 20th
December 4th
AVE MARIA HOME VISIT
Just a reminder to those who have volunteered to go: our next visit is Monday, July 13, from 3 – 5 pm! If you have any art project ideas to lead the residents through, please bring that. Art supplies will be on-hand there.
KITTENS!!
DaMarco Randle has been fostering kittens these past 6 weeks, and now they need a good, loving home! The gray kitten may be spoken for; but, the others are ready to go. Their genders are marked on the image below. Please reply to this email if you’d like to come visit the kittens and see if one is ready to claim you.
CAT VIDEO FEST 2026
Calling all CAT LOVERS 
Great family entertainment for all ages.
GET YOUR BOWL OF MULEY-OH’S CEREAL! (Not Really!)
TOSHIGAWA UNIVERSE CREATES PARODY AD FOR MOTION COMIC EPISODES
Joining in the fun are Muley the Mule, Missy Mule, and Roy Duck, from Kevin Williams’ Muley the Mule and Friends with Anakin Wade as they play through vintage cereal ads to present the true prize: comics and merch!! Check it all out at the links below, and visit www.toshigawauniverse.com
By the way: YOU CAN BUY AD TIME IN THE SHOW – and it’s pretty permanent!
Reach out to mawproductionsllc @ gmail . com
Watch: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BcCzJFpsf/
Watch: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CcgEP6EiM/
Toshigawa Universe and the MuleyVerse have both had many crossovers the past twenty years, most recently:
THE ADVENTURES OF JINN COLORING BOOK
This cross-over with the world of Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa’s own baby dragon, Jinn, and Muley the Mule and Friends, will take you on a mountain-climbing, monster dueling adventure – debuting at the Memphis Libraries Comic Con on May 30, 2026. You can also get involved with the Jetta comics at www.toshigawauniverse.com
CROSSTOWN ARTS EXHIBITIONS FEATURING GEORGE WALKER
You can find out more information about the exhibitions at this link, but the photo gallery (should be) attached to this email.
George Edward Walker’s A Snippet of God’s Unsung Children’s Journey is a powerful visual statement on resilience, brilliance, and strength. Through drawings inspired by the enduring spirit of people who persevered through dehumanizing and brutal treatment, Walker reflects on dignity, survival, and the determination to be free. The exhibition stands as a tribute to “our brave Women and Men” and the resilience that continues to prevail.
https://crosstownconcourse.com/event/crosstown-arts-summer-exhibition-opening/
FEATURED CREATURES ART SHOW – Running through July 12th
Lin shares:
My art show is upstairs in the 2nd Floor West Gallery and runs through August 2, 2026. It’s in conjunction with Playhouse’s production of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (https://playhouseonthesquare.org/sweeney-todd)“, June 12 – July 12, 2026. There are 3 other art shows around Playhouse including another horror themed show and a Sweeny Todd barber chair photo op. All art shows on display are free to attend during Playhouse’s normal business hours.
The location is: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YU18HRs98bCsAQrb6
ART FOR JOBS – ADVANCE MEMPHIS ART SHOW
While not an MSCA event but supporting the arts:
Katie shares that the call for art is live now, and artists keep half the profits. https://www.advancememphis.org/afj
Art donation link: https://advancememphis.my.site.com/artDonation/s/
STAGE & SKETCH at THE DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS
The next sketch event is July 9, 2026, from 6 – 8 pm. The location is at https://maps.app.goo.gl/DMR1XHZV4wAzuMCt8
Dale Martin shares: the 2nd Thursday of every month, from 6-8 pm in their education building (4339 Park Ave.). Past models have included wrestlers, belly dancers, and cosplayers. Organizer Shelda Edwards (@legendofshelda) keeps things fresh each time, though she did mention the wrestlers will be coming back soon…
July 9, Aug. 13, Sept. 10, Oct. 8, Nov. 12, & Dec. 10, 2026.
SALES OPPORTUNITY!
Jee Vahn Knight is CEO of the Baron Von Opperbean & the River of Time interactive experience happening at 101 Island Drive, Memphis, TN 38103 (in the former Mississippi River Museum), and hopes to create an inventory in their BVO Gift Shop of local comic art, plush, books, etc., which she plans to buy outright to display in their shop. Reach out to her at jee@bvoexp.com, and to see more about the program visit: BVO | Baron Von Opperbean and The River of Time | Memphis, TN
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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
August 8, 2026 – 9:30am-2:30pm The Mid-South Collectible Toy Show 5868 Stage Rd, Bartlett, TN
September 1, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
October 3, 2026 – Nashville Comic Arts Festival https://nashcomicsfest.wordpress.com/2026/03/09/october-3-2026-save-the-date/
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
September 2027 – WKNO Art Show Exhibition, themed around “literacy,” including students from Katie Jones’ own class, and will happen in the gallery/lobby of WKNO https://maps.app.goo.gl/3YRSJy5v8e1qB3aZ8
