Recap: Cartoons & Cocktails 2013

Earlier this evening I spent some time at the National Press Club in Washington, DC to attend Cartoons & Cocktails. It wasn't my first time at the Press Club rodeo, as back in 2011 there was an international cartoonists event. I really like the venue because it speaks so highly about the District and how news is covered. At one time before the cartoon events I took a tour when I planned the reception for AIGA 50 (which ended up being held at the National Postal Museum) in 2008.

The event started out with a silent auction. Many cartoons were placed around tables on both sides of the room and people could write down their bids using their given number at check-in. Then Steve Artley lead the program as Master of Ceremonies and the live auction began. 

One piece that was auctioned off was the original Steve Artley Halloween comic published in Magic Bullet #7! All the profits raised from the auctions benefit Young D.C. and Cartoonists Rights Network.

It was great to see David Hagen, Mike Rhode, Matt Wuerker, Steve Artley, and Joe Sutliff again. The DC gang unites!

To view more photos, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152000040297381.1073741837.50763422380&type=1

Recap: District Comics Signing at One More Page

The massive team that helped to create District Comics: An Unconventional History of Washington, DC gathered last Sunday, August 19, 2012 for a book signing at One More Page Books in Arlington, Virginia. Led by editor Matt Dembicki, the contributors to the book signed for two hours. The first 25 people to purchase books received one day pass vouchers to attend Small Press Expo in September.

There were over than 20 contributors on hand to sign, including: Rebecca Goldfield, Jacob Warrenfeltz, Tabitha Whissemore, Art Haupt, Jason Rodriguez, Andrew Cohen, Rand Arrington, Mal Jones, Mike Rhode, Rafer Roberts, Gregory Robison, Joe Carabeo, Carolyn Belefski, Jeff Barrus, Michael Cowgill, Dale Rawlings, Michael Brace, Steve Loya, Kevin Rechin, Paul Zdepski, Matt Dembicki, and Carol Dembicki

Here is what the Huffington Post had to say about District Comics, as well as an interview with Matt Dembicki: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/17/district-comics-matt-dembicki_n_1796591.html


The team of Carolyn Belefski and Joe Carabeo (Curls Studio) wrote and illustrated the story "Spytini" about Elizabeth Bentley, an American spy for the Soviet Union from 1938 until 1945. She was known as "the Red Spy Queen" and frequently hung out at Martin's Tavern in Georgetown. We hope you grab a copy of District Comics for yourself so you can read our tale about her. The book can be found at fine bookstores or you can order it now on Amazon, currently for $16.47 (list price $24.95).


There will be more upcoming events regarding District Comics, so please stay glued to this blog as more information is released. You can view more photos of the event on the Curls Studio Facebook page here.

Thanks to One More Page Books for hosting such a great event! Thanks to Drew Crowder for the last photo.

Meeting International Political Cartoonists at The National Press Club

Yesterday, June 20, 2011, Curls Studio attended the event, Daring to Draw: An Evening with Political Cartoonists from Around the World at The National Press Club in Washington, DC.

The US Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program is currently hosting a group of 20 political cartoonists from North Africa, the Middle East, and South and Central Asia. During their three weeks in the America, they will meet with fellow cartoonists around the country and get a taste of American culture.


Washington, DC was their first stop and we (Carolyn Belefski, Joe Carabeo) were on hand with fellow DC creators and comics enthusiasts (Rafer Roberts, Jacob Warrenfeltz, Donna Lewis, Matt Dembicki, Mike Rhode) to greet them. Rafer brought copies of Magic Bullet to share with them.


Some of the cartoonists we chatted with came from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India. They were very excited for this opportunity and very interested in cartooning and meeting us. Their work was played in rotation on a monitor and it was very powerful commentary on their side of the world and global issues in general.

Many of these cartoonists put their life in the line for freedom of speech. It humbled me to know halfway around the world there are cartoonists visually paving the road for freedom.


I have never been to a gathering of so many international cartoonists before and I'm still interested in learning more about other cultures. Maybe there is an exchange program? Or can we go on a USO tour to represent America and Curls Studio? I'd love to do on a USO tour one day.

More photos from this event can be seen on the Curls Studio Facebook Page.

Here is a link to Joe's Tumblr about this event experience: http://goastray.tumblr.com/post/6775818019/curls-studio-and-other-great-dc-cartoonist-greet