New Indyish Artist plus - Newsletters that Don’t Suck!

Today is a bright new day, the leaves on Mount Royal are yellow or dust by now, it’s warm and it’s just gone November. With brand new organizational hubris, which I have mustered in a new dedication to streamlining efforts and working like a super team with help from my coach (yes, seriously) at Indyish today in pockets of effort spread around the city we are simultaneously sending out new invites, drafting up a monthly newsletter, preparing a new art game and a new Mess, and upgrading users who are participating on the site in a way so heart-warming it could make Hal Johnson and Joanne Macleod get back together. (According to More or Les they broke up, and that’s sad.)

So anyway, with all this smooth-so-far goodness in the air, it’s fitting that I got this great newsletter from new-Indyish artist, and chief of our Boston contingent (currently a posse of one, but watchout!) Jacob Vaughn Gushue, who if you read this blog is known to you as Project-Transaction. To me this newsletter of his is wicked, not just because he mentions us (yay!) but because it is an example of an ideal. It’s personal, without being long or uncomfortable, it’s honest but confident, it backs up self-promotion with real politics in a way that makes me want to support him rather then making me squirm with sell. I really admire the way this was done, and thought the indie artists out there might find it good context for their own brave forays into mass communication. Plus, it lists some great indie stores and resources. Enjoy and cheers!

Hello and howdy.

Recovery from surgery is going well. I can’t really print yet, but I’ve been networking like a motherfather. (thanks, gabe.) I recently joined an online community known amongst the hip as Indyish.com. Indyish is based in Canada- which takes me up to the international level. Canada had better tell all of those other countries out there to watch out!

Project TransAction has also joined forces with Small Town Studios, which is a global arts collaborative based out of Acton, MA. They are up to some good things, and carry handmade items by artists worldwide. Project TransAction apparel can also be found at MixtGoods.com, along with some really fantastic goods that are all handmade and fresher than a newborn.

IndieCollective.net has just released their online indie shopping guide, and I highly suggest that you check it out for your holiday shopping needs. Remember that it is always good to give, but always better to give indie.

October has been a slow month, but my engines are revving and I plan to end 2007 with a bang. I’m hitting up the Jamaica Plain Craft Fair at First Church in- you guessed it- JP- on December 1st. Come out and show some love for JP. Also, MassArt’s Annual Holiday Sale is coming up (December 3-8,) and if you want some hot gifts for the cold winter, you shouldn’t miss this.

So- please take a moment to check out the website again- as I am adding and improving like it’s my job. (oh yes, it is.) Remember that the best way to shop is to support small and local business. It may not be as convenient as Target or “the Mall,” but the gifts will be better and the cause is important for sustaining our economy. Please consider Project TransAction for your holiday gift-giving, and feel free to forward this to peeps who may be interested.

peace.

Jake

ps- bold above is my emphasis (obviously). Also, I’ve always been a fan of the Lickety-Split newsletter. Check out their Multiples party tomorrow night!