Talons of the C.L.A.W. were invited into the secret underground lair of seminal wheat-paste duo BEAUTIFUL ANGLE for an initial letter press team social and discovery project meeting–the project being namely LOCAL CURRENCY.  Morgan Alexander, owner of the AMOCAT CAFE has already signed up to be the first Tacoma business to accept this new money (read his Local Currency blog post here).

But first, A quick initiation ritual…

Special thanks to team Beautiful Angle for use of their handsome garden!

Please welcome DEBIVANS, NEW MEMBER NO. 13

And now for a never before seen, behind the scenes, underground tour of the Beautiful Angle letterpress studio…

Talons of CLAW awestruck by the intricate vintage machines..

Lance and Tom of Beautiful Angle invented “ART” in Tacoma, they have no problem showing us how it’s done.

Stowe has a go. “Keep your fez tassel out of those gears!” Bellows Lance.

Soon the tiny cave is filled with the latest ‘adult themed’ Beautiful Angle poster.

Extended viewing BONUS photo albums!

1. Mark Monlux candid photography
2. Adam M. Botsford’s flash powder camera (via Mark Monlux)
3. Adam M. Botsford original super-candid photography

Stowe, Monlux and Brill mid embrace PHOTO COURTESY OF NEWS TRIBUNE

For local cartoonists, a league of their own

by ROSEMARY PONNEKANTI; [Tacoma] News Tribune STAFF WRITER

It’s hard to be serious when you’re holding a conversation with a guy who’s wearing an eyeball-topped fez and maniacally drawing a goofy bear on his computer. That would be James Stowe, Tacoma cartoonist and one of the founding members of CLAW, the Cartoonists’ League of Absurd Washingtonians. Nearly two years old, CLAW is the epitome of tongue-in-cheek geekdom – but through open sessions and private gigs, the dozen or so members also work hard to support local businesses, the Tacoma art community, and the fine art of having fun with pen and ink.

Read more: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/08/01/1285188/a-league-of-their-own.html

Last night CLAW hosted another absurdly entertaining Open Swim meeting. The B-Movie themed poster contest was well received… producing such never ran movies as Dino-riding Werewolves From Beyond Space, I Married an Alien Squid, ANTS! and Hirsute Cartoonist Overtakes T-Town (seen here). CLAW also welcomed our twelfth member Shawn Clayton with the first musical member initiation ceremony EVER!!!

Stowe's Co-Winning B-Movie Poster from the Open Swim

Brill's Co-Winning B-Movie Poster from the Open Swim

Other entries include:

Monlux's attempt at B-Movie Poster from the Open Swim

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RR’s “Aliens vs. Pet Detective vs. Predator”

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Debivan’s FREDO PLANET

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