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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Exhibit Hall Map
Exhibitors
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!
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.