muley

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:
Kevin L. Williams, MSCA Pres.
Muleytmule(at)hotmail.com
POB 770397
Memphis, TN 38177-0397

Mid-South Cartoonists Association
A NIGHTMARE ON BROAD AVENUE

Memphis, TN - The Mid-South Cartoonists Association will show during the Broad Avenue Art Walk on Friday, October 2, 2009. The Adam Shaw Studio at 2547 Broad Avenue, Memphis, TN 38112, will be open from 6 - 9 p.m. The theme will be “MSCA: A Nightmare on Broad Avenue” showing frightfully funny comic book and strip art, including art from professional and amateur cartoonists ranging from fine paintings and graphic design to 3D pieces.

Attendees are invited to wear costumes.

Wife of member Greg Cravens, Paula Cravens will have a photography show on October 2nd as well at West Memorials located at 2481 Broad Avenue from 6 - 9 p.m. A follow-up art show will exhibit works by Lin Workman on October 23rd.

The Mid-South Cartoonists Association, a subchapter of the Southeastern Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society, was created in 1987 bringing together professional and amateur cartoonists and cartooning enthusiasts. The MSCA has been beneficial to the community by offering educational seminars in classroom and convention settings, art shows that helped bring public acknowledgement to ‘cartoon as art,’ and meetings that not only allow amateurs to rub elbows with professionals and gain free advice, but allow professionals to share experiences and techniques with other professionals. More information can be found at www.midsouthcartoonists.com.

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THE MID-SOUTH CARTOONISTS ASSOCIATION, A BRIEF HISTORY

Early in 1987, a small group of professional cartoonists came together to form The Memphis Cartoonists Group. The name didn’t stick. By December of that year, for the third meeting and first official newsletter, the name had become The Mid-South Cartoonist Association (MSCA). The name has since remained unchanged, with the exception of the word ‘Cartoonist’ becoming plural in 2000.

The group was created to bring together cartooning professionals, amateurs, and enthusiasts of all ages. Jack Cassady (contributor to many national magazines) is now remembered to be the founder, but others who played a large role in the origins of the organization are: Scott Stantis (Editorial Cartoonist, Birmingham News, syndicated strip ‘Prickly City‘), Sam Ray (Saturday Evening Post, many other magazines, and contributing writer on the syndicated strip ‘Hagar the Horrible’), Frank Cotham (The New Yorker, Penthouse, Memphis magazine, many more), Artiek Smith (cartooning teacher, University of Memphis, Memphis College of Art), and Charles Tuthill (Staff Illustrator, The Commercial Appeal).

Since its origins, the group has put its creative strengths behind various cartooning classes, caricaturing appearances, and fundraisers. Cartoonists have visited the kids at LeBonheur, St. Jude, and the Ronald McDonald House. MSCA members have created anthologies, supplied the cartoons for Rock 103’s ‘The Funny Pages’ and dozens of other projects. Cartoon art shows have hung on Mud Island, The National Civil Rights Museum, colleges, and art studios with more planned for the near future.

Jack Cassady has moved on from Memphis, as has Scott Stantis, but other big cartooning names have filled our ranks over the years: syndicated cartoonist Jimmy Johnson (Arlo n’ Janis) and Pulitzer Prize winner Michael P. Ramirez (Editorial Cartoonist, the L.A. Times, USA Today) have hosted our meetings in their own homes. Scott Clark (Image Comics), Greg Cravens (syndicated strip ’The Buckets’), Mike Norton (Marvel/DC Comics) have helped out the amateur comic booking members over the years.

It’s not over! Many of our current members are building names for themselves teaching, working, and reaching for cartoon stardom. The future is…well…funny!

Please feel free to join us. Whether young or old, published or aspiring, if you love cartoons and cartooning we’ll be happy to welcome you!

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