Xerox Candy Bar’s Sweet Sixteen

by Rowan Beaird

When you ask students to describe Xerox Candy Bar, one of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s (SAIC) oldest student organizations, one word keeps repeating: community.

The club creates spaces for students to come together, whether that be to draw side by side, edit the club’s biannual publication, or learn about career pathways from alums and established comic artists. 

Xerox Candy Bar began in 2006. A group of students including Joseph Jacks (BFA 2008) and Kyle O’Connell (BFA 2009) wanted to find a way to publish and share their work, so they picked their favorite pieces and printed copies off of—where else?—the School’s Xerox machines.

Now, 17 years later, the biannual zine is slightly more polished, produced in SAIC’s Service Bureau, but the club’s can-do spirit is still the same.

The 2022–2023 group of leaders—Oliver Aguilar, Teddie Bernard, and Kristen Lee—were friends first. In spring of 2021, they were all in an online comics class and struggling with a lack of community during the pandemic. “We had been discussing starting a club, and we brought it up to the professor of the class, Beth Hetland, and she’s like, ‘Oh, would you guys just like to take over Xerox Candy Bar?’ And we were like, ‘Yes!’” shared Bernard.

“I would say Chicago has one of the best comics scenes in the country, period, hands-down.”

Back in 2006, Xerox Candy Bar’s zine spotlighted the work of four or five artists; now, it’s between 40 to 60. This growth demonstrates not just the club’s current stature on campus, but also the growing interest in comics at SAIC.

Looking back over the years, each issue acts as its own time capsule. Different issues showcase the work of now well known and established alums like Lyra Hill (BFA 2011) and Brad Rohloff (BFA 2014). Often, issues have themes like meal times and funny animals, and each comic gives insight into what students thought and cared about at the time of drawing.

The programming of the club has evolved as well. The club leaders organize a Halloween party every year where students can dress up as their OC (original character). They stage readings, draw nights, and art talks with alums. “Xerox is a great way to find community not only within the School, but in the comics industry in general,” Lee shared. “I would say Chicago has one of the best comics scenes in the country, period, hands down.”

To honor Xerox’s legacy, the club leaders staged an exhibition for its sweet sixteen last year. They displayed old issues, interviewed founding members, and celebrated the evolution of not just Xerox, but comics in general at SAIC.

“The people who started Xerox did so much work to make comics respected at SAIC. Now, it feels awesome to be at a school where I don't feel like people are judging the medium I work in,” said Bernard. “But I’m also so aware of the fact that that’s only the case because of all of the work people have done before us.” ■