Yellow Springs Magazine - Our Village's Answer to the New Yorker, and Then Some!

[Carolion Grailbear]

Today has been one of those great clearing and organizing days (no, my taxes aren't done), and a great day for connecting with other arts people and getting projects lined up.
For about a year now, I've been getting ideas and connecting with other writers around the concept of a village magazine: a publication that celebrates and philosophizes about village life in somewhat the same way the New Yorker celebrates and philosophizes about big city life.

The following is a quote from an email I sent Jo Caputo:

// Jo, I was talking with Chris Hertzler earlier today about a recording project and the village economy and so forth, and told him about the idea I've had for a while now of putting together a village magazine, to be published monthly, and - eventually - distributed nationally. A village version of the "New Yorker," in a way. We have the writers, photographers, visual artists, etc., to make a superior product. In the conversation with Chris, a new element entered the picture: online publication, with audio & audio-visual articles. Or perhaps a print version with a pocket for CD / DVD.

I'm not the one to put it together - I'm just inspired (c:* - but I'm thinking the Arts Council and the Chamber of Commerce might find this interesting to think about. We are so wealthy in arts resources here! What a publication we could put out! //

If this idea sounds cool, then let's start talking about it in the arts and green and philosophy networks, and see what develops.
Carolion

[Carolion Grailbear]

Check your inbox for more Sue Rudolf info. (c:*

[Corrine Bayrak aka Jafabrit.]

I don't know her Carolion and I haven't seen her work? Do you know if she has her work on a website anywhere?

[Carolion Grailbear]

How well do you know Sue Rudolf? Her multi whatchamacallit integrated embroidery pieces are masterful - and she belongs to the national embroidery guild.

[Corrine Bayrak aka Jafabrit.]

I understand. If you had caught me a couple of years ago I might have taken it up, but this year is one I need to dedicate to developing my skills (been a little too distracted with all the volunteer work and shows).
Talking about craftsmanship, the area I want to work on is integrating embroidery into assemblage and working on my embroidery skills.

[Carolion Grailbear]

That's not to say that I'm abandoning the Ezine idea at all, at all - but the Folkschool takes priority, and it's hungry for companions and new thought - honoring the work of old Pastor Grundtvig (founder of the folkschool movement - Denmark, 1800's) and Myles Horton (Highlander Folk School, Monteagle TN - important in assisting the Civil Rights Movement as well as educating union members) and also the work of the various folk high schools in Europe, and the growing folkschool movement in the USA. A number of YS villagers are familiar with John C. Campbell Folk School in N. Carolina.
I'm inspired by Grundtvig and Horton to see folk education as good medicine for We-The-People. I also think there's a vital tie between folk education - fine artisan/craftsmanship - conscious villageness and wilderness awareness education.
Hmmm. Sounds sort of like Yellow Springs...

[Carolion Grailbear]

My Ezine energy transformed itself into a new networking site for the time being, at least: FOLK SCHOOL -
http://heartofjoy.ning.com/
- a networking hub for folkschools in the USA and around the world.

[Carolion Grailbear]

We're all busy - so this idea is taking more time to form up. We could start small - as a website or even a blog - with a great editor. Those of us interested in this project are probably all hooked up with various other networks, and so can provide links to our product in comments and articles in those networks. Think about it: LinkedIn, Facebook, Gather.com, etc etc etc - many connections who all have other connections. So our "advertising" woud amount to word of mouth[keyboard], just like everything else in the village.

[Carolion Grailbear]

Oh - didn't mean to drop the ball on this - Actually, the discussion's going on, just not all on this site. There have been some good suggestions. There needs to be a focus which will not only interest people enough to submit material and/or subscribe to the Ezine - but which will touch people's hearts. Especially the hearts of those who will be putting in the time and energy of developing and running it. There's got to be some kind of passion to make it work.
I know my focus would be WHOLE LIVING with subcategories like Folkschool and Conscious Villageness.....But that might not be everyone's deal.

[Carolion Grailbear]

You know, I trust your experience. I always weigh in at the over-idealistic level - (c:* -
I'm guessing that, to be very practical, there are at least 5 funding sources we should consider (mix and match, yes?):
1. Advertising
2. YS Arts Council sponsorship
3. YS Chamber of Commerce sponsorship
4. Local & State grants; possibly National grants; and private foundation grants
5. Subscriptions - i.e. Personal, Organizatonal, etc.

[Corrine Bayrak aka Jafabrit.]

I think if there is a funding to advertize/promote it and it has solid support it will have a better chance for readership awareness and adoption by the public as a valid and valuable contribution to the community.
The arts council blog is still an unknown basically even after 3 years (despite heavy online promotion, online presence, and very good google listings), and is not really considered as a viable venue by the public or artists in general ( I am basing this on the lack of response/lack of contributions to the blog except by me personally and a few people/low online traffic/and lack of strong support and public promotion where relevant). I guess this is where my experience in regards to running a online blog that is specific to arts and yellow springs might be helpful.