The Illustrated Press

THE OPEN KEY

The Illustrated Press: Chicago — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:41:48 +0000

The Illustrated Press presents: THE OPEN KEY

We’re taking submissions! Do you draw? Doodle? Dabble in stick figures?

We’ll take it.

THE OPEN KEY is loosely based on things police say over the Chicago Scanner. We’re currently compiling a list a mile long with funny, at times ridiculous things cops say when they don’t think anyone is listening.

If you’d like to submit a drawing, be it on a bar napkin or using the latest computer editing software, send an email to illuspress@gmail.com or theopenkey@gmail.com and we’ll add you to said list.

No doodle is too scrappy, NO STICK FIGURE TOO STICKY — so send away. Happy drawing, people.

CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW FOR THE OPEN KEY TUMBLR.

The Harold library exhibit is live! (plus some)

The Illustrated Press: Chicago — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:09:05 +0000

We haven’t posted an official update in a while, but we’ve been busy as ever.

So — a few updates:

Most importantly! We have two Illustrated Press stories on exhibit at the Harold Washington Library in the South Loop from March – July 2013. The exhibit features “Home in One Place” (which can be found in our book) and “Kathy Has a Question” (a project we did for WBEZ’s Curious City).

We’re really excited about this one, in part because it’shows how journalism and art can co-exist in a creative space. We’ve spent more than a year pairing traditional shoe-leather reporting with sequential art, so we’re feeling pretty honored that the good people at The Harold (our favorite library) think we’re worth an exhibit in the main hall.

The exhibit features both stories in 32″ x 40″ framed panels on both sides of the main hall. You will not be able to miss it…

Click to view slideshow.

In addition to the exhibit, we’ll be hosting two gallery discussions at the library. The dates are set for ~~April 17th and~~ June 26th, both at 6 p.m. — We’d love to see you all there.
We’d also like to shout-out In These Times magazine. Their February 2013 issue (on sale now) features an excerpted/revamped version of “Home in One Place.” Check ‘em out!
In other news, we’ll have table with our work on display at the Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE fest!) July 15-16. We’ll be hanging out with our friends from The Cartoon Picayune and Symbolia 11a-6p at the Center on Halsted, 3556 N. Halsted. The event is FREE and open to the public.
We’ll also be presenting a panel at the 2013 Michigan State University Comics Forum on March 2 with Erin Polgreen (Symbolia) and Josh Neufeld.
AND if you haven’t already, please give Darryl’s interview in The Rumpus a read-through: mysteries are revealed, questions are answered, Rumpus ramblings are achieved.
Lastly, you can still get a copy of our first book of comics journalism stories, either online or in stores

Aside from all those things, we should have a major update within the next few weeks, along with the introduction of two new long-term project we’ve had in mind for months now.

New Stories! Huzzah.

New on NPR (WBEZ)

The Illustrated Press: Chicago — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 03:20:55 +0000

There’s a lot going on here.

For starters, we have a new interactive comic with the awesome crew at WBEZ‘s Curious City. It’s all about new neighborhood names, how neighborhoods form and who decides which ones stick around. Chicagoans are particularly descriptive when it comes to their ‘hoods, so we traveled around the city to find out what makes those ‘hoods special to begin with.

The comic, “Kathy Has a Question…” can be found here (check the web text, for more info)

Secondly, our full audio feature aired on WBEZ shortly after the comic went live. The story takes a deeper look into the “who” of who’s naming our neighborhoods.

And, like we mentioned earlier, it’s not who you think…

In the process of laying down Darryl’s voice/script for the audio feature.

And finally, Darryl was interviewed on WBEZ’s Afternoon Shift about the comic, comic journalism and all of this new-fangled technology (Thinglink, more specifically).

In this episode:

Veteran journalist Rick Kogan calls Darryl “something of a young genius” after describing Erik’s art as “un-blanking-believable.”

In the studio with Curious Citizen Kathy Herwig, Shawn Allee and Rick Kogan.

Curious City Comics

The Illustrated Press: Chicago — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 02:09:18 +0000

Ever wonder how Erik gets started on our stories?

In the run-up to our first project with WBEZ (Chicago Public Media/NPR), here’s a short run-through of the early illustration process from on-site reporting, to sketching and coloring. We took a walk with lifelong Chicagoan Kathy Herwig through her Edgewater Beach neighborhood to get a bit more insight into her Curious City question:

How do Chicago neighborhoods form and who decides when a “neighborhood” becomes a neighborhood.

Well, we’re steady working on the answer (hint: it’s not who you’d think).

Side note: We’re super excited about working with the Curious City crew. Please check out their site for some great investigations into Chicago’s lesser and more well-known oddities.

And, if you’re feeling quirky, post your own question.

In a store near you…

The Illustrated Press: Chicago — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 00:06:17 +0000

We’re pretty happy to announce that “The Illustrated Press: Chicago” is now available in stores. We’re starting with the much-beloved Quimby’s in Wicker Park and will be expanding from there. So keep an eye out for more locations! (And if you’re a frequent Quimby’s patron, why not tell them how much you like the book, eh?)

And, as usual, visit our online store for copies of the book + various swag.

On sale now!

The Illustrated Press: Chicago — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 21:19:54 +0000

Get a copy while they last!

“…Everything starts somewhere, and the stories pasted on that wall ranged from promising to remarkable.”

—Chicago Tribune

“Holliday and Rodriguez quickly make a come-up in the most exciting field in comics. Words plus pictures plus facts. I’ll take this over what is commonly referred to as the news any day.

Compelling stories, tight reporting, and beautiful illustration – Every city needs one of these.”

—Matt Bors / The Cartoon Movement

“The Illustrated Press is visual journalism done right. Holliday and Rodriguez have crafted a nuanced, immersive love letter to Chicago’s myriad neighborhoods and residents. From Michigan Avenue to the South Side, these comics get to the heart of the Windy City, and we’re all better off for it.”

—Erin Polgreen / Founder, Symbolia Magazine

“If you’re interested in the intersection of comics and journalism, two guys you’re going to want to learn about immediately are Darryl Holliday and Erik Rodriguez.”

—Josh Kramer / The Cartoon Picayune

“Both readers and editors alike are interested in their work.”

—Columbia Journalism Review

The Book release Approacheth

The Illustrated Press: Chicago — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 23:57:36 +0000

Two things:

1. After more than a year of drawing, writing and reporting, “The Illustrated Press: Chicago” will gets its official release at the 2012 Albert P. Weisman Award Exhibit. Feel free to stop by and say hello at Columbia College’s Arcade, 618 S. Michigan Ave.

The opening reception: Sept. 6, 5–8p

The exhibit: open to the public Sept. 4 through Oct. 19.

2. After the party it’s the after party (9/8).

The store is open!

The Illustrated Press: Chicago — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 15:31:58 +0000

Friends, readers: The Etsy store lives!

Check out our shop to get original Illustrated Press postcards and posters in lieu of our early-September release for “The Illlustrated Press: Chicago”. This is one of the many places you’ll be able to purchase the book when it goes live in a few weeks.

Until then, buy a postcard and save the postal service.

First Pages

The Illustrated Press: Chicago — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 00:23:34 +0000

We’re only a few weeks away from publication! The book is starting to take shape, and we’re definitely looking forward to seeing everything come together after a year of writing and illustrating.

The design is evolving as we go, but here are a few spread samples of the interior layout:

(*Check out Night Watch in the August issue of The Progressive magazine.)

Interview with Sixty Inches From Center

The Illustrated Press: Chicago — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 17:39:34 +0000

We met Nicole Sierra Rhoden on a Sunday afternoon in Logan Square to talk about our approach to comics journalism and plans for our first graphic non-fiction book. The day was hot, the beer was cold and the conversation can be found here.

BIG thanks to Nicole and Sixty for taking an interest in us and being generally awesome. If you don’t already know about Sixty Inches From Center and the Chicago Arts Archive, here’s a straightforward explanation of their mission to “document and engage the visual arts in Chicago.”

Lastly, here are some really great sketches Nicole did of us at Township and then later at our place in Palmer Square.

Yes, I am wearing a lion hat.