Comic: THEM CATS in “Neglect”
or Hay! I've got two art openings this weekend! That’s right TWO!
The Press Release
PRESS RELEASE — ASS ABOVE, SO BELOW
FEATURING:
NEW RELIGION by Alessia Pope (”Above”)
THE CUNT SHOW by Tess McCarthy (“Below”)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
San Francisco, CA — December 2025
ASS ABOVE, SO BELOW is a two-artist exhibition at Atlas Café featuring works by poet, illustrator, and THEM CATS comics creator, Tess McCarthy and the multidisciplinary artist Alessia Pope.
This humorous and solemn showcase of art is about body and spirit liberation which seeks to subvert the the hermetic principle “As Above, So Below.”
Pope’s 2-dimensional works offer quiet introspection, encourages a dialogue about our values and attitudes.
While McCarthy’s illustrations on inserting the word cunt into everyday language can deliver freedom from body shame with words that can liberate us—rather than oppress us.
The word “cunt” offers depth & warmth. The word is cunt-sidered a “good” word refrained by drag culture co-opted by Gen Z to mean “foxy.”
THE CUNT SHOW by Tess McCarthy
Tess McCarthy presents The Cunt Show, a collection of handwritten of cartoon talk bubbles she’s coined, Bubble Quotes that are hand drawn with a brush tool on tablet and printed as limited-runs each marked with Tess’s signature date chop — a unique, daily creation stamp.
These Bubble Quotes reclaim historically stigmatized language through tenderness & wit, They examine self-worth, shame, love, desire, and the humor that becomes possible once a word is reclaimed.
A portion of proceeds from.Tess’s exhibit will be donated to Planned Parenthood Oakland.
New Religion by Alessia Pope
What lies beyond the perception of reality? Alessia’s work examines dogma, and how different states of consciousness can reveal or obscure what we think is truth. The exploration and ultimate questioning of her Catholic upbringing inspired Alessia to discover her own belief system rooted in Eastern philosophy and other schools of thought.
Alessia’s ongoing series titled ‘New Religion’ chronicles our own beliefs while paying homage to sacred art.
Exhibition Details
Location: Atlas Café, 3049 20th St, San Francisco, CA
Exhibition Dates: December 2025 to March 2026
Opening: Saturday, December 6th, 2925 from 1–6 PM
Studio visits at Studio 227 are available by appointment, contact Tess McCarthy
Press & Purchases Contact Tess
Website: www.visual-liquid.com | Studio Instagram: @vveloxmedia
CUNT-act for inquiries ==> tess.mccarthy@gmail.com
Hey…
About a month ago, I shared THEM CATS with the baristas at the Atlas Café. It’s a place I’ve been going to for almost 20 years. And, I’ve always wanted to show my work there—yes, the local coffee house. I didn’t get an opportunity until then. Kate was open, and a few days later, I decided to not go it alone and invite my friend, Alessia Pope, to show her work too—because, she’s awesome.
Alessia and me bonded over astrology and Catholicism. I asked her if she wanted to co-host The Passionistas Podcast with me once. It’s still on hiatus and Alessia will be taking a guest role, however, we have this exhibit together.
Alessia did New Religion a bit ago. It needed to get out into the world. There, we see in her art undiscovered continents, torn landscapes, and white wash in her abstract works.
While this one isn’t hung in the coffee house, it’s evocative of her series. It’s more than torn pieces over a canvas. It’s very visceral when you view it. And for me, as a fellow creative person, I could see her ancestors’ struggles. I can see a diaspora of immigrants, and I could see tears of ancients in this work.
If you can’t see it, well, please look again.
What the Cunt?
Then, there’s my show, “The Cunt Show” that I did in September—yes, and I didn’t post about it nor did I newsletter it. It was something I decided to do in August. I found out the word meant “foxy.” Naturally so. I’ve seen Ru Paul’s Drag Race. I know “fishy” means very feminine.
Because Gen Z and drag culture started this, I went crazy.
My friend Renata Bodon was getting used to the new contextual meaning of the word, “cunt” to mean “foxy.” Her child threw the phrase, “Serving up cunt all day,” to mean one was beautiful 24/7. Or so I gathered.
Well.
That gave me permission to use that word in vernacular and what better way to present was through my Bubble Quotes. Yes. These are cartoon talk bubbles I use to elongate the comics’ narrative. It’s the unseen, yet best said. It’s a whole thing to write about.
There’s more…a grip ton. I found it hilarious to talk about the word with my girlfriend and friends so much so we started using “cunt” like “Smurf—”
Enter: Ass Above, Soo Below
“Why don’t we do a show together—yours will be liberating us from religion, and mine will be about liberating ourselves from our bodies?”
Scoobie-Doo style, we say at the same time, “AS ABOVE, SO BELOW!”
“But let’s turn that on its head, and say, ‘Ass above, soooooo below,” because that phrase is so high and mighty.” I go.
We gotta low brow things.
But there’s nothing low-brow about our art. Really.
If you’re in the Bay Area or visiting San Francisco from now until March 3rd the show is up! See you there?
Congratulations Tess! I am celebrating your success 🙌.