SLICE 2023

 

When: October 14, 2023, from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

 

 

Where: The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108

 

 

Free and open to the public!

 

Photos from SLICE 2023

Get to SLICE!


Parking at the Sheldon

Parking is available at the Fox Theatre lot and the Fox Theatre parking garage on Washington Boulevard, and at meters along Washington, Olive Street and North Spring Ave.

Additional Parking Options

Bike racks will also be available!

Special Guests

Bulgilhan Press


Zachary Clemente (he/him), owner
Somerville, MA

Bulgilhan is a small press comics publisher making new and self-indulgent comics by excellent artists with unique visions and voices. Bulgilhan is owned by Zachary Clemente, who previously worked on the organizational committee for the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo and currently serves on the Board of Directors for an arts nonprofit organization—the Boston Comic Arts Foundation—as the President and Chair. Bulgilhan’s recent publications include Far Distant by A Liang Chan, Die Horny by Rebecca Mock, and Stray by Molly Mendoza.

Website | Instagram | Twitter

Bianca Xunise (they/them)


Illustrator and cartoonist
Chicago, IL

Bianca Xunise is an illustrator, writer, and educator based out of Chicago, Illinois. With two Ignatz Awards under their belt, Bianca’s storytelling primarily focuses on the joys and plights of being Black in the 21st century. Bianca enjoys being a voice for those who march to the beat of their own drum and hopes that their comics are comforting to those who feel like they don’t fit in. In 2020, Bianca became the first nationally syndicated nonbinary cartoonist (and the second Black woman) when they joined the comic strip Six Chix in 2020 as their first Black creator. Xunise has also collaborated with Vogue, The Washington Post, The Nib, and Believer Magazine. When Bianca isn’t doodling away, they are usually at an underground DIY punk show dancing with friends by the Chicago riverside. 

Website | Instagram | Twitter

Cassi Mothwin (she/her)


Tabletop RPG designer
St. Louis, MO

Cassi Mothwin is an award-winning tabletop RPG designer, writer, and illustrator. When she’s not writing games, she’s usually found talking about them. Her game designs include Tangled Blessings, a journaling-based magic academy horror adventure; What Crooked Roots, a collection of folk-horror roleplay encounters for 5e systems; Clean Spirit, a standalone game that helps players deepen their connections with existing characters; and her award-winning output, The Sticker Game, a science fiction interactive audio drama that engages your unused sticker collections. Her game designs span genre, but are united by a throughline of emotional depth and a focus on player introspection.  

Website | Instagram | Twitter

Exhibit Hall Map


 

 

Exhibitors


Table Number Exhibitor Name
1 Snails and Quails Art
2 Brian Lathan
3A Myangart
3B Acorviart
4 Cydney Cherepak
5 Melon Press
6A Vidhya Nagarajan
6B Miranda Bruce
7 Ink & Drink Comics
8 Power & Magic Press
9A Eyesha Creates
9B Britain Bray Illustration
10 VampireAngel13
11A Nina Marlotte
11B Phoebe Santalla
12A Rowan Fridley
12B Sam Hutnyk Artwork
13A St. Louis Queer+ Support Helpline
13B TroubledOdyssey
14A Jessi Zabarsky
14B Sage Coffey
15 Bianca Xunise
16 Emily Mohler Art
17A Nick Francis Potter
17B Kat Tuesday
18 Hard Decora
19 Mothwin Productions
20A Jonah Steenbock
20B Abby Kacen
21 The New Territory Magazine
22 Work Press & Publication
23A Nathan Pearce
23B Pretty Good Co.
24 Mel Stringer
25 Blue Mask Studio
26A Sean Dempsey
26B Buttman World Illustrations
27 John F. Malta
28 Sio Gallagher
29 Floating Head
30 Late Night Copies Press
31 Cori Walters
32B Pink Catacombs
33 Mad Rupert
34 Same Same but Different
35A Henry Uhrik
35B Frotoon Press
36 Dan Zettwoch
37A Alex Belardo Kostiw
37B The Kabine
38 Narciso Espiritu
39A Worser Beings
39B Aimee Pong
40 Sonny Honey Press
42 Marie Enger
43A Allison Morris Lesch
43B Anchovy Press
44 Jen Chavez
45A Heather Andhercats Anacker
45B Kels Choo
46A J. Marshall Smith
46B Racheal Bruce
47A Lorry Jamison
47B Kristin Ousley
48A Brain Cloud Comics
48B AnneMarie Rogers
49A Cleonique Hilsaca
49B Emily Riesbeck
50A Babs New
50B Candice Evers
51A Drippin in Celeste
51B Jim Mosley
52A Charlotte Fleming
52B Daimondrewthis
53A J Yang
53B Rachel Bard
54A Jelly Creature
54B Max Dlabick
55A sunshine gao
55B theretherenow.
56A PSA:
56B Hugo Juarez-Avalos
57A BacteriumBug
57B Vagabond Comic Collective
58A Nick Stellanova
58B Tess Eneli Reid
59A Andrea Pearson
59B Neve Monroe-Anderson
61A Xavier Lavagnino
61B Strange Deer Press
62A Crimes Against Hugh’s Manatees
62B KJ Martinet
63A Ray Nadine
63B Rob Armbrister
64A Stephanie Silva
64B Caitlin Has Feels
65A Cold Boy Press
65B Sofia Diaz
SLICE Table Bulgilhan Press

Opening Night Ceremony

 

Get excited! SLICE 2023 festivities will kick off with an opening night panel discussion featuring our special guests, hosted at the Hi-Pointe Theatre on Friday, October 13, from 6–8 p.m. (doors open at 530pm)

This year’s special guests include small press comics publisher Bulgilhan Press, illustrator and cartoonist Bianca Xunise, and St. Louis–based TTRPG designer Cassi Mothwin. SLICE president Steenz will moderate. Like the expo, this event is free and open to the public!

Reserve tickets here

 

Expo Day Programming


10 a.m.–4 p.m. – Tote Bag Screenprinting – Sidewalk, 1st Floor

Candice Corgan (she/her), screenprinter | St. Louis, MO

Print your own Mr. Slice tote bag on the Sheldon steps! Purchase printable tote bags from the SLICE table in the Konneker Room, 3rd floor.


10 a.m.–11 a.m. – Button Making – Patron’s Lounge, 2nd Floor

Alex Rosborough Davis (they/them), interdisciplinary artist | St. Louis, MO

Create pin-back buttons from a variety of provided print materials, or draw your own.


SPECIAL GUEST LECTURE

11 a.m.–12 p.m. – Syndication vs. Zines: What’s the Deal?? – Gallery, 2nd Floor

Bianca Xunise (they/them), illustrator and cartoonist | Chicago, IL
with Steenz (they/them), cartoonist | St. Louis, MO

Syndicated cartoonists Bianca Xunise and Steenz discuss the difference between syndication vs. zine culture. There are many ways to create comics, and Bianca and Steenz go through the pros and cons of a few different methods!


SPECIAL GUEST LECTURE

12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m. – The Publishing Life Cycle: A Conversation with Bulgilhan Press and New Territory Magazine – Gallery, 2nd Floor

Bulgilhan Press, owner Zachary Clemente (he/him) | Somerville, MA
with New Territory Magazine’s Tina Casagrand Foss (she/her) | Jefferson City, MO

Pitching, editorial, printing, storage, distribution, and more! There’s so much that goes into running a small publisher and an independent journalism magazine and Zach Clemente and Tina Casagrand Foss will walk attendees through all of it. 


1 p.m.–2 p.m. – Poetry Workshop – Patron’s Lounge, 2nd Floor

Bee Cordera (she/they), journalist and poet | Oklahoma City, OK
Ash Durrance (she/her), illustrator | Cape Girardeau, MO

Visual art can inspire poetry and vice versa. In this workshop, attendees will stretch their creative muscles by working with both mediums to create alternative works.


SPECIAL GUEST LECTURE

2 p.m.–3 p.m. – Solo RPGs with Cassi Mothwin – Gallery, 2nd Floor

Cassi Mothwin (she/her), tabletop RPG designer, writer, and illustrator | St. Louis, MO

Cassi Mothwin discusses the history, online availability, and variety of solo RPGs. From journaling and tactical games to choose-your-own-adventure games, there are many to choose from! Cassi will also run a short solo RPG for attendees during the panel. 


3 p.m.–4 p.m. – Figure Drawing – Patron’s Lounge, 2nd Floor

Babs New (they/them), cartoonist and art model | Washington, DC

Get your pencils and sketchbook ready! Practice your figure drawing skills through a series of timed clothed poses with guest model Babs New!

 

Safe Space Policy


SLICE is a safe space, which means that it is intended to be a welcoming, engaging, and supportive environment free of oppressive actions, behavior, and language. Participants and attendees are asked to consider how their language and behavior impact others in attendance.

The following guidelines will help SLICE be a safer space:
• Respect people’s physical and emotional boundaries.
• Always get explicit verbal consent before touching someone or crossing boundaries.
• Respect people’s opinions, beliefs, differing states of being, and differing points of view.
• Be responsible for your actions and aware that they may have an effect on others regardless of original intent.

The following actions and forms of discrimination and abuse will not be tolerated:
• Racism, sexism, classism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, and all other forms of discrimination
• Theft of money or property
• Physical, verbal, or mental abuse
• Sexual harassment or inappropriate/unwelcome comments and behaviors
• Disruptive or disrespectful behavior
• Causing a participant or attendee to feel distressed or unsafe

Should an issue arise with a participant or attendee during the Expo, please come to the information table and ask for a SLICE organizer. Organizers will be available to hear these concerns and find a solution that is in the best interests of making the community and the event a safer space. The SLICE organizers reserve the right to ask any attendees who are violating the safe space policy to change or address their unsafe behavior or language, or leave the event if necessary.

COVID-19 Policy


Masking will be required for attendees, exhibitors, and staff in all indoor SLICE spaces. Masks must be worn at all times unless eating or drinking. 
SLICE recommends all attendees, exhibitors, and staff test for COVID-19 within 48 hours prior to the event. If you test positive the day of the event, please do not attend.