When Rob Rogers was fired from the region’s largest newspaper last June, he didn’t stop sketching. Instead, he drew up a game plan.

“It’s not like I can just switch careers,” Rogers says in a post-firing autobiographical cartoon. It is one of many self-aware strips currently on display in an exhibition at Point Park’s Center for Media Innovation through May 10. This is his second event since the original opening of the CMI.

Rogers, 59, of Lawrenceville, was edged out of the Post-Gazette by its publisher in 2018. The ownership had taken issue with cartoons that were seen as “anti-Trump”, and began spiking some before removing the position entirely. It was a highly-criticized move that resulted in questions about political speech. It also resulted in what is now a special opportunity for the Point Park community to see all of those buried comics.

The two-month engagement kicked off last Friday with a grand opening reception that was attended by 218 members of the public, according to administrative assistant Lisa Knapp. Nick Tommarello, President of Point Park’s Society of Professional Journalists chapter, gave the introduction while Andrew Conte, Director of the CMI, was on hand as well. Conte estimates that Rogers sold roughly 180 books.

The relationship between the school and the artist began about a decade ago. For ten years, Rogers was president of the Toonseum, a Pittsburgh staple dedicated to the art of comics. He said during his tenure, he started working with Point Park University through students in the animation department.

Rogers said he is currently doing “freelance work and also planning for what’s next—it may be a graphic novel.” He said that publishers have been reaching out with interest.

For now, viewers can find rough sketches and unreleased material at their own leisure. The hallways and walls of the CMI are adorned with original artwork, unpublished political commentary and memories from Rogers.

“I’ve been cartooning since I was a baby. I copied comics out of the paper… I spent the next three decades perfecting my craft,” Rogers says in the piece ‘What Now?’

Rogers admits that his art isn’t for everyone, but says that “it has never crossed my mind to do anything other than continue to cartoon.”

“About a week after I was fired, I was approached by George Washington University… They wanted to exhibit the 18 cartoons that had been killed in the three previous months, that I had done under Keith Burris as my editor,” Rogers said. Burris has recently been named executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in a move questioned by readers. Rogers said it is imperative that supporters of a free press continue to show their support.

“This exhibit could be helpful to people,” Rogers said. “We all grow up drawing. The great thing about cartoons is that everyone can relate to them. It is even more accessible than the written word. You may not be interested in politics or journalism, but you can still get something out of this exhibit.”

Rogers also offered a message for conservative students who may be hesitant to indulge in his presidential subject matter.

“Let down your guard a little bit to come in and explore,” Rogers said. “If there’s anything you disagree with, ask yourself why.”

“It’s cool to see cartoons that never ran,” Conte said. “You can see what the public never got to see before. The way the exhibit is created, you can see how he puts the whole thing together.”

Keith Paylo vice president of student affairs and dean of students, encourages all students to visit.

“I’ve been a fan of Rob Rogers for years since he was at the Post-Gazette,” Paylo said. “It’s a treasure chest of something you don’t see very often. I used to say when Rob was on vacation, I didn’t even look at the cartoons.”

For students who were on vacation over spring break and not able to hear from Rob Rogers himself, there may still be a chance to do so.

“He’s going to come back at some point and talk,” Conte said. “We’re working on finding a class to partner up with.”