I just got done with a weekend that would rival any port call, and I didn’t have to leave home to do it. Not only was there a massive black tie gala where nine veterans were inducted into the Wyakin Warrior program, but I also got to hang out with thirteen of the most talented and warm-hearted people I have ever met. I did not say handsome, and I did not say smart. But they are nice.
(L-R) Rob Harrell, Bill Morrison, Steve Moore, Rick Kirkman, Jeff Keane, Ed Steckley, Todd Clark, Ray Alma, Brian Crane, Paul Combs, Chad Carpenter, Dave Mowder, Jeff Myers, me
Make a mistake, though, and they will be on you like piranhas on fresh meat. They may not be smart, but they have memories like elephants. I messed up one image all weekend; it was right about the time this photo was taken – and did I hear about any of my other cartoons all weekend long?
Bacon defending his art.
That would be no.
There were three opportunities to draw on people’s homes this weekend. First was during a poster-signing gathering before the gala. A Senator who should have known better allowed them into his home and this is what happened.
Rick Kirkman, Jeff Keane and Dave Mowder
He also said we could draw in other rooms. There are cartoons that will probably not be found until the house is torn down some day.
Batman is saying, “Robin! Look at the cartoons! Robin? Robin? (art by Ray Alma)
The other two homes were identified at the gala. During the auction, one of the prizes was to have all of the cartoonists visit them the next day at their house and write all over the walls – or whatever else they wanted us to deface.
The auction got so wild that eventually two families BOTH won. So on Sunday we hit them both. We brought pizzas and sharpies, and the walls cowered in fear.
At the first house the cartoonists drew on poster board and canvas while eating pizza.
Ed Steckley enjoys a pizza
The cartoons – those without greasy finger stains – will be hung all over the house, encouraging their kids to try to duplicate that effort, albeit without the poster board.
Sorry about that.
The second house actually allowed us to draw pretty much anywhere we wanted. Here is what happened:
The weekend ended with a premier of Chad Carpenter’s movie Moose, which was a blast. Chad had not only donated the movie to raise money for wounded and injured veterans, but he also spent tons of his own dough on posters and other promotional materials.
All of the cartoonists spent all weekend long drawing cartoons for the public, and they all did it for free. They did all that in order to make the Wyakin Warrior program accessible to more wounded and/or injured veterans. What an incredible and noble effort.
It would be even MORE noble if they would forget about my mistake and let me live my life in peace.
