Thursday, February 9, 2012

No More Know (or, "Yes Mag 1996-2012")


 

This is the saddest post I've had to write on Glen Mullaly Illustration. I've known about it for a couple weeks now but had to wait until all the behind-the-scenes details were tidied up before I could mourn the passing of two of my favourite magazines, Yes Mag & Know, The Science Magazine for Curious Kids. 

Since the launch of Yes Mag in 1996, followed by sister publication Know in 2005 kids from 6 and up have had a fun, factual source for science news, articles, puzzles and more. For 16 years the publishers have worked tirelessly to create magazines that would engage, inspire, inform and entertain children and young people with science-based content.

Sadly the current owners of the magazine, who bought the two west coast based publications a couple years ago, announced suddenly in late January that they were ceasing production and printing of the magazine immediately.  One issue of each of Yes and Know had been completed and were awaiting printing, but will never now make it to newsstands and mailboxes across North America. 

Below are a couple of cropped details from the two unpublished pieces I had just completed  - one only minutes before finding out about the closures.

 Know Mag "CATS" -themed puzzle page puzzle.


  Yes Mag "Outrageous Human Displays" two page spread detail.

I wanted to take the time here to publicly thank the publishers and founders of Yes, and Know, Dave Garrison and Shannon Hunt. This couple put their life blood into these two magazines, starting from very humble beginnings, slowing building the two ventures into multi-award winning magazines. More importantly their work became much loved parts of thousands of children's lives across North America who looked forward to buying, or receiving in the mail the latest issue of these wonderful titles.

 

I had the pleasure of working on Yes Mag starting in late 2001, becoming one of the first illustrators in what had been a primarily photo-based publication, and on every issue of Know (with the exception of three last year) since it had been in the planning stages in 2005. Through over 60 illustrations, two-page spreads, puzzle features (that I wrote as well) and covers I was lucky enough to create some of my favourite pieces for these two magazines. 


Along the way I picked up an AEP (association of Educational Publishers) award for my "Virus" Yes Mag cover (see the left image at the top of this post), had a lot of fun creating the "Know Fun" puzzle and game feature that appeared in every Know Mag, and enjoyed working with some of the top writers and other creative folks in children's educational publishing. Since first working with Yes Mag, I've worked with many other educational publishing companies large and small - and the commitment to quality exemplified by the creators of Yes and Know were surpassed by none. 

Thank you for all your great work, Yes and Know Magazines.



A couple of my Know Mag covers live on as prints from my Etsy shop, and I'm working on putting together a project that might lead to my puzzle contributions from  Know living on in a more permanent form.  But until that time, I'll leave you with a few more glimpses of some of my favourite pieces from Yes and Know over the years.

 








6 comments:

  1. I know you have nothing to do with this... but what about those families that were sucked in with the 40% OFF Subscription Special back last Nov. The wonderful enticement of "try our great science mags for kids at a special rate" I'm sure I was not the only one who got sucked in and got subscriptions to both mags for my kids. What a nice Christmas gift...something they will get all year! HA, what an "F'ing" joke. My kids thought it was great and they have been looking forward to the next issue all month. Guess what...oh ya, they took my money and ran!!
    Pissed off Mom...you bet. I know people lost their jobs and I'm very sorry for that, but how much money was taken in through this subscription ploy...all the while, I'm quite confident someone knew this was about to happen!! This is not over for me, you WILL NOT take my money and not provide the product!!!
    Again, sorry to those of you who lost their jobs...I'm sure you are still reeling.
    Sign me "Pissed off in Peterborough"

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    1. P.O.P - I'm very sorry for the magazines you paid for and didn't receive. The freelancers and staff of the two magazines had only a few days notice that the mags were being shut down - it truly came as a complete surprise.

      The owners (Mad Science, based in Montreal, who bought the two publication a few years ago) are the decision makers in this process, and if everyone who worked on Yes and Know had their way your kids would have in their hands the two magazines we completed but that are now sitting around gathering electronic dust.

      I was told that in the days after the announcement was made subscribers who paid by credit card were being refunded their balance. But as I was not involved in this I only know what I was told.

      We freelancers are as much (in my case, at least, monetarily more) a victim than the subscribers in all this. I've yet to be paid for the jobs I completed for those last two issues.

      I've known the husband and wife who published these great magazines for more than a decade, and seen the sweat and love they put into Know and Yes. This was their entire life, not just a job. I'm sure the last thing they'd want is people out there feeling ripped off. But please aim your very valid anger and claims at those responsible, the owners.

      All the best... and good luck,
      Glen

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  2. Im fan of your artwork!

    : )

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  3. no more yes mag! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

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  4. I am sorry to hear this! I just googled Yes Mag because I wanted a subscription for our son. My husband knew Dave Garrison in university and they even lived together for one semester. We both knew Shannon as well. Great people! So sorry to hear that their legacy has been affected this way. If you see them, tell them Dave Shepherd says `hi'.

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