PD's 'visual journalist' to present program in Westlake

Michael Symon by Chris Morris

The Plain Dealer’s talented illustrator Chris Morris will present a program at the Westlake-Westshore Arts Council’s Quarterly Event on Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m., at Westlake Porter Public Library. His presentation, “Chris Morris, Visual Journalist,” will include a 22-foot-wide drawing of all Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees.

He describes his journey into journalism as accidental. “I am an illustrator at heart. I just stumbled into journalism after college,” Morris said. With his creativity and skill, Morris has fused the two spheres using a wide range of media and style.  When he worked as a one-man department at a Las Vegas newspaper, he was told: “I thought your paper had a team of artists because there are so many different styles of illustration."

Morris was a member of the Las Vegas Sun’s Pulitzer Prize-winning team in 2009. Since being called to journalism in 1987, he has worked at the Dallas Times Herald, the San Francisco Examiner and the Dallas Morning News.

In 2011, Morris moved to Cleveland and reports that he “loves” it here. His drawings of rock 'n' roll legends were created for the PD’s Friday Magazine in April, when the 2012 induction ceremony was hosted in Cleveland.

Morris’ program, offered to the public without charge by the WWAC, is held at Porter Library, 27333 Center Ridge Rd. Refreshments will be served.

Louise Seeholzer

Publicist for Westlake-Westshore Arts Council

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Volume 4, Issue 18, Posted 10:54 AM, 09.05.2012