Topics for the Magazine!

List your topics here for the magazine! If you are not an author just leave a comment here on this post and I will list you up here!

Sama - Cosplay and Denver!

Rebecca - ModernDog

Brenna - Introspective piece based on on carrion on the light rail tracks

Jennifer - covering/interviewing Vincent Camparetto in a collaborative spread

Lori - covering/interviewing Vincent Camparetto in a collaborative spread

Chad - "Ghosts on the Bricks"

Loni - I am looking into doing a spread on 238s Gallery which is said to be a "pioneer" of south of sixth art on Santa Fe. They have had really unique exhibitions displaying artwork on items such as helmets ("Helmet Show"), bowling pins, roller-skates and skateboards. The gallery focuses on Denver art and supports local Denver music (having bands like Judge Roughneck play at openings). Alternatively (or perhaps in conjunction with) I am considering focusing specifically on Jesse's art show coming up this November (he is part of 238s Gallery). I have already talked to him about an interview and he is willing and very excited to be a part of our magazine.

Shane - Still figuring things out?

Hello!

Just wanted to drop a quick line on the blog and let everyone know I'm starting my research for my "Ghost Brick" story. If you recall, this is the one regarding the old ad paintings on the sides of buildings in and around downtown Denver.  If anyone can think of where more of these are located ( I know of about 3 around 17th and stout and 1 on Broadway) feel free to drop me a line at c.menard@comcast.net. Thanks!

DAY TWO - The Big Topic!

THE BIG TOPIC – THE EL HEFE’S COME UP WITH THE TOPIC

Our editors have been working really hard in trying to organize everything and get stuff all set up to really start working hard on the magazine. They decided that they want to have Denver thirty percent, a filter, and the future of Denver thirty percent in regards to the content of the magazine.

They asked questions like:

• How people want to be perceived?
• What does culture mean in Denver?
• What is the national scene?
• What is happening in Denver?

People don't want this be about New York, but a being within itself. I beg to differ with that concept, but I think it should become its own entity similar to the lifestyle of New York. Denver should be Denver. The magazine itself is going to be something to push Denver to the edge instead of pushing it over the edge. We don't want Denver to be a cow-town anymore...We want it to change and become it's own entity. They want the magazine to be something that is generational, showing the changes in Denver with each issue the future classes that take on this project go with. The editors made it clear that they want the age group to target 18-35; a younger age group reflection. They also pointed out that they want to have a magazine that pushes the point that it is no longer an old cow-town, but a new urban expansion; something that reflects the present ideals of this city.

They did mention the idea of trying to reflect the Westword, but to definitely not have it a magazine that would be tossed to the side or read only on the bus. They want it sophisticated and something that people would want to continue to deter to it for inspiration or to read over and over again. This magazine...IS DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO BE 5280. Move over 5280, our magazine is going to rock this world.

What’s in between past and future? This magazine should always be moving into the future. Interesting thing bout this mag. is that the class can compare and contrast the past ten years ago; stuff like that. This should show how Denver has continued to move and go forward in time.

Culture - What is the focu? Maybe it should be the focus of the particular magazines that show people that we are producing stuff on an international level. We need to show Denver its own talent. Whats going on? The focus of the Denver art scene and how its more broader now… a cultural sense and worth mentioning to the public. We want culture as much as we can get. Culture is a broad term too, however. The younger and different demographic should be able to get excited about this magazine. The magazine is also about showing the unknown, the underground so to speak that doesn't get the credence it usually does! It's about Denver and everything cultural.

Is it a conflict of interest talking about the past? The contrast is important? We want to keep it open; keep the past, but can change it later. We want to show this interesting contrast. Thirty percent is an average, it's not set in stone. This is a framework…and not all over the place, but with somewhere to go with it.

What is the criteria? Anything that relates to Denver and its culture. Basic premise…can we market this? I certainly think we can! I already have tons of people that are excited to see it, or even be involved and inserted into the magazine/website. PLEASE EVERYONE; DO NOT OVERLOOK THE WEBSITE! This is going to be an amazing project.

Through the chaos , I made an effort to go and sit in on the head editors meeting to figure out a name for the magazine.

• O Magazine…
• I seriously hope this is a JOKE... >_>

• Deviate
• Um...
  

• Detour
  
• already a magazine

• Depart
• boring...not to mention loaded.

• Revolve
  
• already a mag. , and SAD DAY! I like this one! D:

• Transition
• Already magazine, and kind of expected.

• Switch
  
• Adam didn't like it, I think it's pretty cool

The consensus with everyone was that the name should follow the concept, but kind of hard to manage that.

Oh god kill me NAO(!) So STRESSFUL(!)

CREATIVE DIRECTORS AND DESIGNERS - THE LOOK OF THE MAG

They want: bright colors, saturation, illustrative, hand written type. If the name was Switch they were suggestion a two side issue. Going with the boundaries of the two sided. THANK GOD FOR THE DESIGNERS! :D They are coming up with some really cool stuff!

Something different. Horizontal versus the vertical layout. ? Hmmm… It sounds interesting enough for me!

They want two fronts… NO back; Past and Future? YAY for the illustration also being integrated into this project as well! Expressive about culture and us and who (WE) are…the illustration beings in the personal human element…hand rendering goodness. EPIC FOR THE WIN <3 :3

The magazines that with every year things change:
The general focus changes the identity, but everything else changes and that is a different take. GO WITH SWITCH DARLINGS GOO GOOOO GOOOOOOO!

AESTHEITIC’

• Bright saturated color
  
• Photo + Illustration
• Personally interesting. Not another art magazine.

ARTICLE DEADLINE? Schedule… coming up with stuff

RANDOMNESS GOBBLETEY GOOK

• Marketing wants a site REALLY fast...WE ARE WORKING ON IT SHANE! WE PROMISE! <3
• Articles set the tone
• There can be collaborative spreads...DING!@ Anyone doing that?
  
• We are figuring what we are doing. FINALS WEEK FOR PRESS(!)

That's about it on all the details and information so far!

Sincerely,
T3h Jami3Sama, Aka Sama Williams

DAY ONE – What's Up People?

The first day of brainstorming and getting to know everyone in their positions was an interesting endeavor. I tried to make it around to everyone, since it is my job to know who’s doing what, and what’s going on, but I did feel overwhelmed with everything. So with that being said I was able to get around to mostly everyone and started to establish relationships in regards to how the magazine was going and the directions.

The designers, typographer, and the layout team worked really hard to figure out an identity. Jeff joked saying that the mag. would be in comic sans. If you’re not a designer it won’t be funny to you, but really it made me laugh hardcore.

After a while I meandered my way towards where the editors were and snuck in on what the magazine was going to be called and reflect. The consensus was that the magazine was going to deal with art in Denver and it’s culture. Names like “De Rail” or “Depart” came up for titles; both of which, in my opinion are slightly cheesy, but we will see what happens!

Everyone seemed to be talking with everyone chatting and getting to know one another and what not. Shane and I helped with titles. Shane suggested “Dart” which I freaking love to death, but our “El Hefe” didn’t say much about it. I still think we should go with it, but its very very unlikely. Personally I think any title we pick is going to be loaded in one way or the other. Including “Denver” in some way or form in the name is a little obvious and expected. My mind is abstract so it comes up with stuff all the time and how things can be loaded. So we shall see what comes of this awesomely LARGE project.

Sincerely,
Sama Williams, AKA Jamiesama