Putting Our Best Foot Forward…”Spamalittle” Art Show Reception This Friday!

The MSCA artshow is afoot..!

Our “Spamalittle: Knights Of The Drawing Table” art show reception is this Friday, February 24th from 5:30-8pm at Germantown Community Theatre.

The art show will be on display in the theater’s lobby from March 3-19 during their run of the Monty Python musical, “Spamalot“. The show can be viewed during the theater’s norman business hours, and the art reception on Friday is free and open to the public.

The following day- Saturday, February 25th is our next Sat-Art-Day at 901 Comics East (on Macon Road) from 10am-2pm.

This event is also is free and open to the public. You can bring your sketchbok, art tablet, supplies, or whatever art project you’d like to work on- or, we’ll have extra art supplies on hand including pencils, pens, markers, paper, and more. All artists of any skill level or age is welcome. If you’re not old enough to drive, have a parent drive and accompany you.

The Sat-Art-Days aren’t actually art classes, but more of a social drawing session. It is a great oppourtunity to learn from others, share what you know- or just get out of the house and draw.

We also have another Drink-N-Draw scheduled for the week of St. Patrick’s Day. 901 Comics East has a bar that serves beer, sodas, water, and snacks.

And don’t forget that our next MSCA monthly dinner meet-up at Garibaldi’s Pizza is always the first Tuesday of the month, and our next one is happening on March 7th, from 6-8pm.

Hope to see you there!

Art Classes, Art Entries, and Art Shows – What’s Coming Up!

Hey, gang-

Hope you’re all warm, dry, and not sitting in the dark. It’s been a couple crazy days here in the mid-south with all the ice blowing through the area over Ground Hog’s Day this week, but the sun has finally returned and the weather is warming back up…for now. Lots of art stuff coming up, so let’s not waste any time getting to it…

Up first, do you have, or know, a child who would be interested in learning all the ins-and-outs of creating comics?
Martheus Antone Wade (Shinobi: Ninja Princess; Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa) leads masterclasses for kids in just that topic !
The Comic Studio are classes that teach the art of comic book and manga illustration and storytelling. Prices are right for your kids, or for kids you know if you want to create a scholarship for them!  Click the link below and check it out…
 
From MSCA member and NCS Membership Chairman, Greg Cravens:

The National Cartoonists Society has begun its annual call for entries for consideration for the NCS Divisional Reuben Awards recognizing excellence in professional cartooning for work published in 2022.

● The Divisional Reuben Awards recognize individuals for their artistic excellence in cartoon arts.
● You do not have to be a member of the NCS to enter.
● There is no fee for submissions.
● All submissions must complete the online entry form and comply with division requirements. If you are unable to submit via the online form, please email us at ncs@nationalcartoonists.com
● Only work FIRST published between the dates of January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022 can be considered. Submitted work must be accompanied by verification of the date of first publication or it will be disqualified–see detailed instructions below.
● Entries should represent professional cartooning, as demonstrated by publication, syndication, production, or distribution through a professional organization via a platform or manner widely available and consumed by the general public such as Amazon. For example, art created solely for a card mailed to family or self-published for a school assignment or posted on social media for fun or done as a hobby should not be submitted.
● The NCS always encourages the exploration of new ways technology enables our members to create their work. We do, however, oppose the commercial use of AI-generated images that have been trained on copyrighted works, and will not allow any artificially-generated art to be submitted for any category of our awards.

Your submissions must completed by February 15, 2023 for consideration for one or more of the following Division Awards:
-Comic Book
-Book Illustration
-Online Comics: Long Form
-On-line Comics: Short Form
-Gag Cartoon
-Newspaper Strip
-Greeting Card
-Newspaper Panel
-Advertising/ Product Illustration
-Graphic Novel
-Variety Entertainment
-Magazine/Newspaper Illustration
-Editorial Cartoon
-Art for Animated Media

In the interest of ensuring that the NCS Divisional Reuben Awards are representative of the very best work produced in each category, entries are juried by members of our regional chapters or by specialty juries. The results of nominations from jurors are compiled and the top 3 nominees in each division will be posted for online voting by the entire NCS voting membership. Winners will be announced at the Reuben Awards, Fall 2023.

You  can find more info at:
www.nationalcartoonists.com/awards/guidelines/

Our MSCA art show, “Spamalittle: Knights Of The Drawing Table” next month at Germantown Community Theatre. The deadline for art will be at the next MSCA monthly dinner meet-up this coming Tuesday, February 7th from 6-8pm at Garibaldi’s Pizza in the U of M area. The art show will be in conjunction with GCT’s production of “Spamalot“, and we will have an opening reception on Friday, February 24th from 5:30-8:00pm in the lobby area of the theater.

Here are some of MSCA member Dale Martin‘s art for the show.

If you mised our latest drawing event, we’ll be doing more Sketchy Saturdays at 901 Comics East. The next one is Saturday, February 25th, and the following will be on March 25th. Both Sat-Art-Days will be from 10am-2pm and free/open to the public. They aren’t art classes, but a chance for local artists to get together and draw with others. You can either work on your own project, or experiment with some of the art materials on-hand.

We will also be doing more MSCA Drink-N-Draw nights on March 15th and May 17th from 6-8pm at 901 Comics East.

The comic shop has a bar, gaming area, and gallery room where we can drink and draw.

At the last Drink-N-Draw in January we had to deal with thunderstorms and a power outage, but that didn’t stop the artsits there from drawing- even in the dark! The events are free to attend, but if you’d like to order from the bar (local and domestic beer on tap and in cans- plus sodas, water, pizza or snacks) then bring a few bucks with ya.

One of the artists who participated in our Sketchy Saturday was Katie Jones. She shared her recent Mitsui Lecture Series online lecture with us and I hope you get an opportunity to see it and enjoy!

I wanted to share this with you and the group from the recent lecture I did with the Japan Society of TN if anyone wants to watch it. It’s about bringing Japanese culture in the classroom and I am the only artist and art teacher in the entire lecture and I talk about comics and anime if anyone is interested.

https://youtu.be/T7-boyZUmAs

The 2nd Midtown Con is coming up this April 8th at Black Lodge Video (near Crosstown Concourse).

Here’s some info on the first Memphis Libraries Comic Con on the first Saturday in May (Free Comic Book Day) at the main library on Poplar Avenue.

Hello, and I, hope all is well. 

My  name is Jody Callahan, and I’m a librarian at the Central Library here in Memphis. We have formed a committee to put on the first Memphis Libraries Comic Con, planned for May 6, 2023. We hope to make it a quality con, and to that end, we’ve gotten backing from our foundation. The plan right now is to offer tables to local artists and sellers to sell their wares. We expect to use the main library foyer as well as the meeting rooms. The tables would be free to artists and vendors. Those selling would have to donate 10 percent of the day’s proceeds to the Friends of The Library nonprofit charity (It’s a condition the library has set for commercial activity on the site).

We are hoping the Mid-South Cartoonists would be interested in joining us!

The event is free and open to the public. We already have members signed up to set up at the show, and I’ve heard the comic legend John Ostrander (writer- Suicide Squad, The Specter, Star Wars: Legacy, Grim Jack)…

…and comic creator and former MSCA member Mike Norton (Gravity, Spider-Man, Battlepug, The Rock Gods Of Jackson, Tennessee) will be there as guests. If you’re interested give Jody Callahan a yell at Jody(dot)Callahan(at)memphistn(dot)gov. Table space is limited and available on a  first come basis.

All the local comic shops in Memphis participate in FCBD and each have different ways they celebrate it including in-store guests, cosplayers, sales, contrests, free merch, and more. To find them or a comic retailer nearest to you check out the FCBD site’s Store Locator page- www.freecomicbookday.com/StoreLocator.

Hope you can make it out to join us at the dinner meet-up or any of the other upcoming events, like our next dinner meeting this Tuesday, February 7th from 6-8pm at Garibaldi’s Pizza on Walker Ave, near the U of M and Highland Strip- rignt across the street from Tiger Bookstore. Dinner meet-ups are free and open to the public, but like the Drink-N-Draw events, be sure to bring something to draw with and/or a few bucks to order off the menu. We meet in the big dining room on the right on the first Tuesday of each month.

Lin

1st MSCA Drink-N-Draw and Sketchy Saturday Events Draw To A Close

Well. gang- our first MSCA Drink-N-Draw and Sketchy Saturday events were a success, and a whole lot of fun!

Back in the day, several of us MSCA’ers would get together at Bookstar, Adam Shaw’s studio, Michaels, and other locations to draw together. It was usually on a weekend morning or an evening during the week. Other than our montly dinner meetings, in the last few years we had kind of gotten away from those gatherings, and the pandemic put a hold on all in-person meet-ups and forced us to try to keep in touch through social media and Zoom calls. Finally in 2022 we were able to start meeting back at Garibaldi’s Pizza for our 35th anniversary year, and we’ve started off 2023 by meeting at 901 Comics East.

On Wednesday, January 18th we held our first Drink-N-Draw, and on Saturday, January 28th we got together for our first Sat-Art-Day at 901- Sketchy Saturday.

For the Drink-N-Draw, I stayed after work and got the gallery room at the back of the comic shop set up with art supplies including sketchcard blanks, Bristol paper, and a variety of pencils, pens, markers, and more for attending artists to use and experiment with.

Unfortunately, about 10- 15min before we got started a severe thunderstorm moved in and the lights started to flicker. 5min before the event the power went out and stayed out..!

Luckily we had several light sources and other devices with us, so between them and the emergency lights we were able to have the event happen- even in the darkened shop.

It was a bit tricky, but we were all already there, and it was stormy outide, so we made the best of it.

901 Comics East’s “bar with no name” serves not only domestic and local beers in cans and on tap, but sodas, bottled water, personal pizzas, and snacks as well. Since the power was out, we had to pass on the pizza.

And of course, just as we were wrapping up…the power came back on! Seriously, about 5min after we started packing up for the night.

Thankfully we didn’t have any power outage issues for the Sketchy Saturday event today, and only some light rain!

This was another chance for local artists to get together, draw, share tips/techniques, exchange thoughts on the comic industry, give others a heads up on upcoming events, try different art materials, but most importantly meet others in our area who draw funny, too!

Again, we had a great turnout for this Sat-Art-Day. By my count we had 10 (plus me) today, and about 8 total on Wednesday for the Drink-N-Draw. Definitely a great mix of new folks and longtime MSCA members. Honestly, it almost became standing room only!

There were enough seats for everyone to sit and work, but next time we may have to spill out into the gaming area as well.

I was able to finish the Beeker sketchcard I started on the Drink-N-Draw night and get another one with the Sweedish Chef started today.

A new artist in town, Eman Casallos, actually knocked out all four of these while he was there, and he even showed up a bit late..! He recently moved to Memphis from the Phillipines and is a freelance comic artist who has worked for Dynamite. This guy is talented and FAST!

Artist Jake Bostain was another artist attendee, and that’s his comic above. Jason Negan brought his clip on light just in case..!

Artist/art teacher Katie Jones used some paint pens on stretched canvases for an upcoming charity art show.

Everyone was asking when we were going to be doing this again. I honestly only expected maybe a couple artists, but obviously I was wrong and folks are interested in getting together to draw like this.

We’ll definitely be scheduling more events like these at 901 Comics East. “Stay Tooned!”✏️🍺

Our next event is our monthly dinner meet-up at Garibaldi’s Pizza on Walker Ave. near the U of M and Tiger Bookstore. We’ll be there on Tuesday, February 7th, from 6-8pm. Like the events at 901 Comics East, the meeting is free to attend and open to the public.

Just bring a few bucks to order off the menu if you’d like to enjoy some pizza, pasta, sandwich, salad, or beverage.  We get together to talk toons and draw funny, so feel free to bring along a sketchbook, pick up a blank sketchcard, or even snag a napkin to draw on. We also usually have some freebies for folks to take home.

We’ll have some art show promos to hand out to anyone who’d like some to help spread the word about our upcoming art show “Spamalittle: Knights Of The Drawing Table” at Germantown Community Theatre. The deadline for turning in art for this show will be at this dinner meeting since we will be hanging the show before the next meet-up. Just see MSCA president Kevin L. Williams to hand off your art for the show in March. You can also email Kev at midsouthcartoonists(at)gmail(dot)com to join our mailing list and stay informed on all our event and member news such as the opening reception for this Monty Python inspired art show, future Sat-Art-Days, and upcoming conventions and Free Comic Book Day (Saturday, May 6, 2023).

Thanks to 901 Comics East for hosting our two latest events, thanks to everyone who attended, and thanks to Vicky Neyman for getting us all the extra art supplies. They definitely came in handy and will be used for future MSCA events! If you have an idea for an event let us know.

Oh, and don’t forget that 901 Comics (East and Midtown) sells several locally created comics, including some by our own MSCA members.

Lin

901 Comics East
8551 Macon Rd, Cordova, TN 38018

(901) 249-7959
www.901-comics.business.site
On Facebook – 901 Comics East/901 Games East

Sketchy Details On Upcoming MSCA Events This Week

If you’re free this Sunday, January 15th from 4:30 – 6 pm, go visit the MLK Day Celebration at the Withers Collection Museum and Gallery333 Beale Street, Memphis, TN 38103.

MSCA member Devin Hodges will be present with his comic book The Common Days of Cade!

He’ll also be set up and selling comics, zines, and prints at the Corinth Comic Con on Saturday, January 21st. The one day show will be held at the Crossroads Arena (2800 S Harper Rd.) in Corinth, MS

You can find out more about Devin and his comic on his stie at www.diastcartoons.com.

You can also find his comic for sale along with other locally created books at Comics and Collectibles on Poplar (near Colonial) and 901 Comics East on Macon Road out in Cordova.

And speaking of locally created and 901 Comics East, my hand-drawn sketchcards are now also for sale there- 551 Macon Rd, Cordova, TN 38018.

I have official artist returns for $100.00ea, and personal sketchcards drawn on my own custom blanks for $35.00ea. I’ll be adding more sketchcards and sketchcovers to the ones at 901 and The Cellar (in Bartlett) soon.

This Wednesday (Jan.18) the MSCA will be holding our first official Drink-N-Draw at 901 Comics East. It’s exactly what it sounds like- we’ll be drinking and drawing from 6-8pm at the Cordova location. 901 has a bar and gaming area and offers domestic and local beers on tap and in cans.

If you don’t drink beer, Lil’ Sweet says there are sodas, water, and some individual pizzas and snack items as well. So bring your art supplies and a few bucks to order something to drink/eat while you draw.

Later this month on SaturdayJanuary 28ththe MSCA will be hosting our first “Sketchy Saturday” at 901 Comics East from 10am until 2pm. It’s going to be a free hands-on workshop that will focus on drawing on sketchcards, sketchcovers, and in sketchbooks. I’ll have some free MSCA sketchcard blanks to hand out, and lots of art supplies on hand for attendees to use and experiment with.

If you’re looking for art classes, the Wades and Team Toshigawa have The Comic Studio which are art classes with a comic book twist. The classes cover everything from photoshop techniques, to illustration techniques, to writing all from the perspective of comic book, manga and graphic design creation.

The Comic Studio meets virtually twice a week (Wednesdays at 12:00 noon and Thursdays at 5:00pm), and are for children ages 8-15. Look for more class times to be added soon. Know a child interested in manga and comic book illustration? Get them to the Comic Studio!

You can join The Comic Studio by clicking here!

Hope you can make it out to one or all our upcoming events!

Lin

MSCA January Happenings – 2023

Well, after 35 years of drawing funny in the mid-south, we’re ready to do it some more next year!

MSCA MONTHLY DINNER MEET-UP AT GARIBALDI’S PIZZA

Our 35th anniversary year was packed with MSCA and member events (art shows, library display, dinners, etc.) and we started off the new year right with our first dinner meet up of 2023 onTuesday, January 3rd from 6-8pm at Garibaldi’s Pizza’s U of M location. It’s just off Walker near the Highland Strip and Southern, and across from the Tiger Book Store. We had another great turnout for this month’s dinner.

The dinner meetings are always free and open to the public, but you may want to bring a few extra bucks to order something off the menu to eat and/or drink. If you have kids who are interested in cartooning, if you are a kid and want to learn from some comics professionals, or are just a kid at heart and love cartooning then stop on by. FREE parking!

Be sure to bring a parent and/or a friend along, too. We don’t teach classes at the dinners (that’s a separate event), but we do freely share tips, tricks, techniques, and sources. (Be sure to check out our links page for more helpful info!)

Also, if you attend be sure to bring some of your latest work to show around (sketchbooks, portfolios, works in progress, printed pieces, etc.) and don’t be afraid to show them to members, or share any promos you may have to hand out. We usually have a freebie table for those items so feel free to add to them or pick up some to take home.

Don’t forget to bring something to draw with, or be shy to ask to borrow a pen or pencil. Spontaneous sketching often happens during these events, and it’s always encouraged.

It doesn’t matter what hand (or foot) you draw with, what/who you sketch, or what you doodle on – sketchbook, notebook, sketchcard, sketchcover, jam piece, or even a napkin. There’s always plenty of those around.

This month I had some of our members do sketches for the press promo pizza boxes I’m working on, so thanks to everyone who drew one for me. I’m going to be putting them together this weekend and out to the local news media soon.

Thanks to the staff at Garibaldi’s for letting us gather there each month (and the pizza boxes). It was great to finally get back to meeting in person again last year, and we look forward to being back there in the big room again throughout 2023!

Garibaldi’s Pizza
3530 Walker Ave
Memphis, TN 38111

(901) 327-6111
www.garibaldispizza.com

MSCA DRINK-N-DRAW

This month we’ll be experiencing our very first MSCA Drink-N-Draw event hosted by 901 Comics East out in Cordova on Wednesday, January 18th from 6-8pm. We’ve been known to drink and draw at our dinner meetings, and at con-related drink-n-draws, but this is officially our first! 901 Comics East now has a bar, gallery space, and gaming area. We are looking to make this a quarterly event at the friendly neighborhood comic shop.

The bar serves beer on tap and in cans- including some local brews. If you don’t drink beer, there are sodas, water, and some individual pizzas and snack items. So bring your art supplies and a few bucks to order something to drink/eat while you draw, and a designated driver. There is no theme or no real rules (other than 21 or older if you plan to drink beer), so feel free to draw or work on whatever art you’d like. ✏️🍺

901 Comics East
8551 Macon Rd, Cordova, TN 38018

(901) 249-7959
www.901-comics.business.site
On Facebook – 901 Comics East/901 Games East

Take Germantown Pkwy. to Macon (Malco and Whataburger), go about a half mile up and after the post office take the left at the 3-way stop, and then a right at the next 4-way between the school and apartments. Continue on Macon about another block or two, continuing straight after the 3-way stop at Dexter. The comic shop will be on the right in the shopping center next to the Pit Stop food truck court (the Greenline runs behind the shopping center).

There are several locally created comics for sale at 901 Comics as well!

MSCA SKETCHY SATURDAY

Later this month on Saturday, January 28th the MSCA will be hosting our first “Sketchy Saturday” at 901 Comics East from 10am until 2pm. It’s going to be a free hands-on workshop.

If anyone is interested in joining in on creating some sketchcards and sketchcovers please stop on by. I’ll have plenty of sketchcard blanks and a few sketchcover comics to share while they last, but if you need any 901 sells some blank sketchcovers, too. 

I’ll have some markers to use and extra Bristol paper to play on if anyone needs them or wants to learn how to color with markers. I’ll have a mix of Copics, Letraset, Prismacolor, and Sharpies on hand, plus some extra pencils, Pigma Micron and Gelly Roll pens, and other art supplies.

Please feel free to bring any supplies you’d like to use and/or your own sketchbook to work in. I’ll have some card sleeves for finished cards ((901 sells packs of 100), and we’ll have some art books for folks to look through for those who might need some inspiration and/or reference. We’ll be in a comic shop so that should help with getting inspiration, too!

Some of you may remember many of our members getting together at Bookstar on Poplar, Adam Shaw’s studio on Broad Ave., Michaels in Olive Branch, and other locations when we’d get together to just hang out, draw, and have fun together. If you’re not interested in drawing on sketchcards or sketchcovers, do come on by and like I said bring a sketchbook or other art project to work on with us. 

As with the drink-n-draw event, if this goes well we’ll look at doing more “Sketchy Saturday” type of events in 2023. We’d like to keep these casual and more of a social sharing of ideas and techniques than an actual art class, but if anyone would like to host/teach a class or if there is something you think would work as a project just give me (Lin Workman) or MSCA president Kevin Williams a yell- midsouthcartoonist(at)gmail(dot)com.

These gatherings are to encourage setting aside time to draw, being social/networking, and sharing ideas, news, and techniques with others. Hopefully it will give us some additional meet-up opportunities for anyone who can’t make our monthly dinner ones at Garibaldi’s. 

Kev  sends out an email reminder before events so be sure to join the mailing list. I try to post heads up online on social media and our site here, but here’s the 2023 dinner schedule if you need it.

Our podcast Drawing Funny is now in it’s third season and we’ll have a few more episodes dropping in January, including the 50th episode- “stay tooned!

And if you’d like more info on the MSCA and/or how to become a member, either check out our ABOUT US page, shoot Kev an email, click the player above, or stop by an event and ask us in person.

I hope you can attend one or all of our 2023 events- we’d love to have you join us!
Lin

No Spam- Just A Little News About Our MSCA “Spamalittle” Art Show

From MSCA Prez Kevin L. Williams:

Greetings to all digital doodlers, ink slingers, pencil pushers, and wordsmiths, 

After the spectacularly well-received art  show Murica: A Cartoonist’s Take on American History during the presentation of the comedy musical “The Complete History of America: Abridged” at the Germantown Community Theater, the GCT has invited the Mid-South Cartoonists Association to return in Spring 2023 with an art show we call “Spamalittle: Knights of the Drawing Table” which, themed to “Spamalot,” is dedicated to the middle ages! 

The genius comedy “Spamalot” (or as we know it the musical version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail) will be performed March 3 – 19, 2023.  The theater address is: 3037 Forest Hill Irene Rd, Germantown, TN 38138  (We will keep you informed of the Friends & Family night to watch the play and see your art installed {usually the artist + 1}.) 

For the theme, think anything medieval: King Arthur, Knights of the Round Table, Robin Hood, Faerie Tales, and most definitely Monty Python and the Holy Grail!  Lots of great imagery to play with from this period and especially the movie.  If you haven’t seen the play OR the film, check out this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmtSj4wH5Rg 

Deadline for art will be the dinner gathering on February 7, 2023, so we can get the art show hung before March.  Please commit early with the number of your pieces.  The more who participate, the less work each individual artist has to do to help fill the space. 

MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT – March 3-19, 2023 

Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur’s quest to find the Holy Grail. Inspired by the classic comedy film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the musical features shenanigans including a line of beautiful dancing girls, flatulent Frenchmen, and killer rabbits. Outside, there is plague with a 50% chance of pestilence and famine. Arthur, traveling with his servant Patsy, recruits several knights to accompany him on his quest, including Sir Bedevere, Sir Robin, Sir Lancelot, and Sir Galahad. Besides the rabbits and farting Frenchman, they meet such characters as the Lady of the Lake, Prince Herbert, Tim the Enchanter, Not Dead Fred, the Black Knight, and the legendary Knights who say Ni. 

RULES 

RULE ONE: HAVE FUN!  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. 

The gallery will take care of sales: artist 60%, theater 40%.   

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 February 7, 2023, dinner gathering – 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). 

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. 

Artists MUST submit their own 3×3” note card listing:-Title-Media used-Price or NFS (Not for Sale)-Artist Name-Ways to contact the artist(Please write clearly or type on white cardstock paper.) 

If you haven’t already, artists MUST send a caricature and bio, including your social media, to be displayed.   

Artists agreeing to participate in art shows will not hold the MSCA nor the location liable or responsible for the artwork submitted.   

If you have not participated in an art show before, we’re all here to help.  Ask questions! 

 

Our good friends at Germantown Community Theater, Annie Freres in particular, has shared a discount code for quite the “holiday party” show there.  Please see the details below.  Special thanks to Annie for the GCT’s generosity!

There is a wonderful Holiday double feature coming next week at GCT and we believe all of your citizens will enjoy this production! If anyone wants to reserve tickets online please tell them to use the promo code “CATIX” for that $12 group price, but otherwise I’m always more than happy to handle reservations over the phone! 

We begin the evening at 6:15 with cocktails and Live music of holiday classic hits with Michael Strickland then at 7pm Marques Brown treats us to One Man’s Christmas Carol- a one man adaptation of the Dickens classic. 

After a brief intermission All Is Calm will take the stage with 4 adult performers and the Houston High Men’s Choir telling the story of the Christmas Truce with beautiful song and story. The evening should end about 9pm. 

As the flyer mentions shows are M-F Dec. 19th – 23rd. We surely hope to see you at the show! 

Happy Holidays!

Annie Freres

Box Office Mgr.

Memberships Save You Money!

Germantown Community Theatre
3037 Forest Hill Irene RD.
Germantown, TN 38138
www.gctcomeplay.org
901.453.7447

 

 

 

 

“Beyond The Emerald City” At Playhouse On The Square – A New Art Show By Dale Martin

On Friday, November 12th Nicki and I eased on down the road to check out MSCA member Dale Martin‘s opening reception for his latest art show “Beyond The Emerald City” at Playhouse on the Square. We were running a bit behind getting to the show after grabbing some dinner at The Bayou around the corner, but were able to follow the black top road (Cooper Street) to it with a few minutes to spare!

It’s being shown upstairs in conjunction with Playhouse’s performances of “The Wizard Of OZ“. Talk about some fortuitous timing..!

Dale is a huge fan of the Land Of OZ, and it has been featured prominently in his “Watusi The Talking Dog” comics, zines, and art.

The art show is on display at Playhouse through December 28th, 2022 and can be visited during normal business hours and play performances.

To see the art show, as well as other art on display upstairs, just take the stairs (or elevator) to the second floor.

Dale’s show is just to the right and down that hallway. Many wonderful Wizard of OZ inspired pieces are hanging on both sides of the hallway space.

Dale and Wendy had refreshments and a pop-up shop set up at the top of the stairs near where his art pieces are on display.

There were prints, comics, and zines available for purchase, and Dale will have another pop-up-shop there on December 10th, from 10am-1:30pm.

Nicki and I really enjoyed getting to see Dale’s show, plus seeing some familiar faces including the MSCA’s Courtney and Kevin (and his friend Lisa) who were there as well when we finally arrived.

We loved checking out much of the other art by various artists that was on display at Playhouse on the Square by Priscilla Cunningham, Gerecho Delaney, Suzanne Evans, and Martha Kelly. They even had a large monitor  showing what was happening on stage at the time.

The space inside was amazing, as was the art. Really want to come back to explore more of the gallery areas and spend more time with the art.

Hope you can make it down to Overton Square to check out Dale’s “Beyond The Emerald City” art hos. Just be careful crossing the street –  Overton Square is pretty hoppin’ these days and you know how Memphis drivers can be when it comes to yielding to pedestrians, even at rainbow colored crosswalks!

Playhouse on the Square
66 South Cooper Street, Memphis, TN 38104
HOURS: Monday – Friday: 9AM – 5PM
Phone: (901) 725-0776 / Fax: (901) 272-2309
Email: info@playhouseonthesquare.org

Dale Martin, Cartoonist / P.O. Box 11291 / Memphis, TN 38111
Handcrafting comics since 1985! www.smearysoapboxpress.com

Newsletter subscription: eepurl.com/bawHc9

Mail Call From MAW Productions…Shinobi: Ninja Princess – Illuminations

Words from our friends the Wade’s at MAW Productions:

Shinobi: Ninja Princess – Illuminations

The holidays are upon us and what better way to celebrate than with the Ninja Princess, herself, as she takes in a little downtime for Christmas in New Tokyo. However, when she sees her fellow teammate, Hamasuke, sneaking around the Tokyo streets, their adventure takes them from the Christmas Illuminations of the city to the fighting game community of a local arcade and a crazed Otaku bent on videogame domination.Order your issue here and get a Christmas card and sketch with each book.

(L-R Janet, Martheus, and Anakin Wade)

Welcome to our universe! We are MAW Productions, a comic book studio and design company based in Memphis, TN. Our stories are all based in the Toshigawa Universe. It’s a universe of ninjas, martial arts, and Oni’s all centered around a young ninja named Shianndrea Toshigawa. We currently have two (2) manga inspired series going on right now (Shinobi: Ninja Princess and Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa) with a third (Iron Ninja 5) in the works now. Our newsletter is your direct line to get special deals on merchandise and breaking information on appearances with our book series. Thank you for following us on this adventure and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Our mailing address is:mawproductionsllc(at)gmail(dot)com

You can join their mailing list by going here (scroll to bottom of the page).

You can read more about the Wade’s and their The Art of Family origin story in Memphis Parent magazine

…or in Memphis Magazine by .

You can also find Jetta and Shinobi books at local comic shops. Look for them and other locally produced comics at Comics & Collectibles, The Cellar, and 901 Comics (midtown and east). If you don’t see them, be sure to ask if they can order them for you, or add to your subscription/pull-box list. Don’t have a hold box..? Then check with the shop about starting one so you don’t miss out on any future releases. It also helps the shops know what to order and how many of each issue.

 

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Dale Martin Art Show And Reception At Playhouse On The Square

From MSCA member and zine publisher/editor, Dale Martin:

Hi there, Memphis friends!

I’m hoping that your weekend will be a good one, and I’d like to invite you to kick if off with an opening night reception for my “Beyond the Emerald City” show at Playhouse on the Square (66 South Cooper St.)! It’s this Friday (Nov. 11), from 5-7 p.m., just off the second floor lobby.

Admittedly, this show– a fan art love letter to the novels– is more comfort food than a palate-expanding meal … but sometimes mac & cheese is just what one needs, isn’t it? To stay on-theme, I’m bringing additional Oz goodies (prints, notecards, comics) and original art for sale at the event!

Can’t make it on Friday? My show is on display until Dec. 28, and you can stop in to see it during any of POTS open hours or prior to showtime (“The Wizard of Oz” is playing thru Dec. 22). I’ll also be participating in a Holiday Pop-up on Saturday, Dec. 10 (10-1:30, before that day’s matinee) with Martha Kelly (who also has a beautiful show running now at POTS that you would enjoy) and others. You’ll learn more about that in my next monthly newsletter (if you’re subscribed to it)…

Hope to see you on Friday!

– dale.

P.S. – if you want to sign up for my monthly email newsletter (featuring comics!), you can sign up at the link below…

Newsletter subscription: eepurl.com/bawHc9

Dale Martin, Cartoonist / P.O. Box 11291 / Memphis, TN 38111Handcrafting comics since 1985! www.smearysoapboxpress.com

 

Playhouse on the Square
66 South Cooper Street, Memphis, TN 38104
HOURS: Monday – Friday: 9AM – 5PM
Phone: (901) 725-0776 / Fax: (901) 272-2309
Email: info@playhouseonthesquare.org

October Happenings

Hey, gang- got a blog post full of art happenings and MSCA news for you.

We had a good turnout for our October dinner meeting at Garibaldi’s Pizza, and lots more freebies available for attendees. And since it’s October there’s lots more going on around town this month.

MSCA member Dale Martin has a busy month ahead: two art shows – the latest Nasty Women Memphis show Choice at Marshall Arts, 639 Marshall Ave. (closing reception Friday, Oct. 21, 6-8 pm), and OZ inspired art in Beyond the Emerald City at Playhouse on the Square in conjunction with their staging of “The Wizard of Oz” from October 14-December 28, 2022 (artist reception on November 11th and pop-up shop on December 10th)…plus the Memphis Monster Market online now through the end of October!

Get the whole scoop (and the latest Watusi comic) in his October newsletter. You can subscribe in the link below…
https://mailchi.mp/5cc9bec9a392/ssnews1022

Speaking of the Monster Market– it’s currently open online and the in person kickoff party was a blast!

They had an amazing turnout for the one night only event at Marshall Arts.

There was a photo booth, a wall to draw on, framed art on the wall to check out, items to buy…

…and did I mention there was an open bar..?

Lots of fun items were for sale by many of the Monster Makers

…and we saw several familiar faces at the event. The lines to check out were very long but continued to move along throughout the night, right up until closing- which is a great sign!

Like Dale (Smeary Soapbox Press), I’ve got some of my Scared Silly and Monsterpieces for sale.

They had to go online only because of the pandemic, but I hope that next year they can get back to being an in person pop-up shop again.

If not and it’s still a virtual storefront, I do hope they throw another kick-off party like this year’s shindig. Nicki and I had a great time shopping and talking.

Last month MSCA president Kevin Williams and I put up a display at the  First Regional Library in Hernando to celebrate the Mid-South Cartoonists Association’s 35th anniversary. Now  we’ve got a Ghostbusters display up for October.

It’s filled with items from mine and Kev’s personal collections including autographs, patches, and equipment. You can check it out in the library’s lobby all month long during the library’s normal business hours. You can also check out more about our Memphis Ghostbusters group here.

RiverArtsFest is a celebration of fine arts and fine local music with live artist demonstrations and hands-on art activities for all ages. More than 150 artists from around the country and right here in Memphis gather to exhibit and sell their latest works of original fine arts in what’s become the largest juried artist market and urban festival in the Mid-South. The event is Sat, Oct 22 – Sun, Oct 23 from 10:00am-5:00pm. Adult tickets are $10 for 1 day, and $15 for 2 days. Children (6-12yrs) tickets are $5ea and kids 5 and under are free. The 2022 RiverArtsFest will be held on Riverside Drive in Downtown Memphis, TN.

The Midtown Con will be back at Black Lodge (405 N Cleveland) on Saturday, October 29th from 10am-5pm. Admission is $5 and kids 12 and under are free. That same day 901 Comics East on Macon in Cordova will be celebrating Halloween Comic Fest in-store. Free comics, cards, and more will be available.

 

At Crosstown ConcourseFRIGHT-TOBER movies, because “free” fits everyone’s budget, especially artists…

Soulsville USA Festival is 10/15, with free admission to the Stax Museum.

Come see MSCA member Jim Palmer at Germantown Community Theatre(3037 Forest Hill Irene RD., Germantown, TN 38138) in:

AN INSPECTOR CALLS    Oct 21 – Nov 6, 2022 

In 1912 pompous industrialist Arthur Birling, who has hopes of a knighthood, his superior wife Sybil and young son Eric are celebrating the engagement of daughter Sheila to eligible Gerald Croft when they are visited by blunt Inspector Goole. He tells them of the suicide of a young woman named Eva Smith and though they all claim not to have known her the inspector demonstrates that each in their own way contributed to her downfall.

Don’t forget, we’ll be having another MSCA group art show at GCT this spring during their production of Spamalot.

Lonnie Easterling is enjoying working digitally and has been hitting it out of the park with his #FrightFall2022 drawing challenge toons.

This last weekend, DaMarco Randle, the Wades (Martheus, Anakin, Janet), and Kevin Williams participated in this year’s Paint Memphis in the Broad Avenue Arts District area.

Oh, and thanks to 901 Comics for having comics legend Joe Staton in for a couple signing appearances at the first of October. Nicki and I got to stop by the 901 Comics East Macon Rd. location to see Joe and get a few comics signed before heading down to the Monster Market opening.

901 Comics (both locations) along with Comics & Collectibles and The Cellar will be celebrating Halloween Comic Fest on the Saturday before Halloween (Saturday, October 28th) with some freebies while they last. If you can’t make it by, you can still download some free digital comics by clicking here.

Hope you all have a Happy Halloween, and can make it out to our next MSCA dinner meeting on Tuesday, November 1st/All Saints Day from 6-8pm. We might have some surprises for you to enjoy..!

Lin

PS: Happy Birthday to MSCA member/former Prez Charles Ettinger!