Featuring an all-new interview with Ryan and an introduction by Chicago Tribune rock critic Greg Kot, and framed by essays from underground luminaries--recording engineer and Shellac guitarist Steve Albini, graphic design iconoclast Art Chantry, and distinguished art and design historian Debra Parr--100 POSTERS 134 SQUIRRELS offers a unique look into Ryan's approach to poster art.
"In one of several essays included in a new collection of the work of Chicago artist Jay Ryan, Steve Albini, a man who knows a lot about steadfastly pursuing a unique artistic vision, contends that Ryan is "a genius who makes screenprint posters, takes the germ of an idea (his, mine, yours -- it could be from a catalog of them) and makes it uniquely great." And the celebrated musician and "recordist" isn't wrong.
Published by the folks at Punk Planet, whose Dan Sinker did an insightful interview with Ryan also included in the book, 100 Posters, 134 Squirrels: A Decade of Hot Dogs, Large Mammals and Independent Rock: The Handcrafted Art of Jay Ryan (Punk Planet/Akashic Books, $18) is not only a gorgeous catalog of the artist's many memorable posters, but a history of sorts of the Chicago underground rock scene in the last 15 years. ("Wow! The poster for the Flaming Lips and Hum at Metro on New Year's Eve 1999-2000! That was an incredible gig!")
Rock posters continue to be one of the most under-appreciated subgenres in the fine art world, but scoffing only means you're under-informed: Some of the original prints by the likes Frank Kozik now sell for well north of $10,000. Ryan is every bit as worthy of being mentioned in such company, and his work boasts a distinctly "Chicago" vibe and aesthetic in the same way that Kozik's screams "Seattle." " --Jim DeRogatis, pop music critic, Chicago Sun-Times