canvas517

canvas517 Holly Johnson

http://facebook.com/canvas517 http://twitter.com/canvas517 http://canvas517.tumblr.com


 * Hi Holly**
 * Great photo of the Zine event. I see you posted them on FB, which is great. I wonder if there isn't some way you can build popularity for the site by somehow having links to photos be sent to you by people in the community who attended an event. That way you wouldn't need to be there, but you could still showcase how it all went down for people who missed it. Maybe even post links audio files. That's something no other site does, looking back. They all just announce upcoming things. Anyway, Onward to success!**

Instead of having to peruse several websites and publications to find out what is going on in the area, canvas517 strives to provide a one-stop spot for those in support of the arts and culture community.
 * canvas517** is an online atmosphere gathering artistic, musical, theatrical and cultural events in the East Lansing/Lansing area.

I started canvas517 as a response to this project because I was finding it difficult to connect and involve myself in promoting and marketing someone else's business. After living in the East Lansing area for nearly three years, I have noticed there is not a 'one-stop media spot' where 18-28 year old students and residents can look to find out arts and culture events happening in the area. I would constantly find myself hearing about events after they have happened and being disappointed that I did not have prior knowledge. I found this problem was happening with friends and classmates, as well.

Sure there are publications like Revue and The City Pulse, but I feel as if there needed to be something more. That is where canvas517 came from. With help from a graphic design friend, I was able to come up with a logo, further verifying this project's accuracy.



The logo is inspired by Keith Haring because I admire his work and how he effected his community. He is one of my favorite artists (even though he was snobby to you, Karl ;) ).

**START-UP:** I started canvas517 as a Facebook page and within its first few days on the web, nearly one hundred people have 'Liked' it. I started with Facebook because of it's relevance to the age group I am targeting. I know very few people NOT on Facebook. Also, several events I share are Facebook events, so it adds a hint of congruency. Every Facebook post is sent to Twitter, as well. I post daily and hourly information regarding local happenings. I do not post events more than a week in advance. I quickly immersed canvas517 into the arts and culture social media community that currently exists by following and 'Liking' several different businesses, organizations, venues and galleries. This started a following for canvas517 and also raised awareness to the other businesses and organizations in the community doing similar projects. It has also proven to be extremely successful for me because I am exposed to several different events I would not have normally known about. I have also created a Tumblr that will feature local artists, musicians and happenings, as well as re-cap events that I attend. The Tumblr will most likely launch next week.



** GOAL: ** The ultimate goal of canvas517 is to create an OFFLINE community and host events, such as music concerts, art exhibitions, etc. in the East Lansing/Lansing community. I am expecting my following to gain week by week and with promotion (fliers, business cards, etc) canvas517 will be able to reach a responsive and enthusiastic audience. With help of friends, I fully anticipate planning a show by the end of April.

** PHOTOS **

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hp_johnson/

I took pictures of a Zine Workshop advertised by canvas517. The event was held at the Creativity Exploratory on MSU's campus in Linton Hall and hosted by MSU student Ethan Tate. About a dozen people showed up to learn more about zines, a short, self-published magazine featuring photography, writing, collage, etc. Everyone who attended created one page for a zine that will be compiled, copied and distributed around MSU and East Lansing. Attendees also got free pizza!



Many attendees chose to cut out old magazines and LIFE books (found in the recycling bins!) to create their zine page.

Emily Kiblawi and Abbie Heath ponder a questionable photo.

Brooke Hawkins snips some old magazine clippings. Brooke is an employee of the Creativity Exploratory and will be featuring most of the photos taken on the Exploratory website!

A blog post detailing the event, workshop organizer Ethan Tate's zine SMASH and the zine comprised at the workshop is in the works and will be up soon.

Until next time, share. care. create.  

**ONWARD AND UPWARD** Since the zine event, canvas517 has been still working to promote local art happenings and events, on and off campus. Taking your advice, I have been able to collect pictures from events that I was not a part of but still able to promote. Such events include East Lansing Sunday Soup, Alliance of Creativie Students Exhibition, Movement: Opening Night (performance art piece), and Greater Lansing's Really Really Free Market. Each of these events had tremendous success and I like to think canvas517 helped reach ultimate capacity. Shooka Rafizadeh and Jenn Hollingsworth, curators of Greater Lansing's Really Really Free Market, begin the festivities in Valley Court Park. Photo by Ethan Tate Performers warm up for Movement: Opening Night, a performance art piece embodying five rhythms ecstatic dance in the RCAH Theater. Photo courtesy Augusta Morrison.

Canvas517 has also expanded to feature East Lansing and Lansing resident's photo essays and multimedia projects relating to the cities. I have had friends and strangers come to me asking to spread the word about their most recent project. This has been a heartwarming aspect of starting canvas517. Also, through Twitter canvas517 has gained a large following of Lansing and East Lansing businesses and organizations, even several I had not heard of before. I have made an effort to promote new and unknown ideas, just as these promoters have done with canvas517. Community growth! As for the future of canvas517, I hope to continue to expand its following and outreach. Unfortunately, I was not able to fund an event curated by canvas517, but because I will be in East Lansing for the next year, I see no discouragement in sight. My next goal is to plan a summer show featuring local bands, possibly in Valley Court Park (the venue is not set but the ideas are in motion). With the help of friends and local organizations, I see this as being entirely plausible. Onward and Upward!