Gone are the days starving artists lined the streets to gain recognition. Say “au revoir” to lonely nights spent in studios. Tortured and tattered artists have a new medium that is social and less threatening than city sidewalks or underground venues. Online collaborations, industry names, and social media have begun to step forward and play a major role in the artist community. A voice is being created and heard. Talent is flooding Internet browsers and cluttered creative minds have a new showcase.
Fame Flipped
Movie stars used to be these unattainable figures we placed on pedestals while watching wealth magically fall at their feet. How was any film school graduate supposed to reach the ranks of big honcho studios and brand name directors? It was this other world far away and seemingly out of reach. Now industry names are reaching out to the talent floating the airways.
Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt has created an artist collaborative forum where anyone is encouraged to upload their writing, music, and graphics; essentially anything, and then collaborate with other members on the site. Last year a short film was created between approximately 5 artists on hitRECord.org and because of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s presence in the film industry it was shown at independent film festivals such as SXSW.
Art Turns Social
Brooklyn Art Project has created a social installation for local artists to share their creations and visions with others sharing similar interests. Artists who may have never been discovered now have a home base for feedback and sharing. Think of it as Facebook for your art.
Blogs offer a personal creative space for all those DIY craft projects, even the ones developed in a kitchen by culinary artists. So many talented artists are starting their own blogs and filling this space with their favorite creative moments to share with others. Foodgawker and craftgawker offer a database of blogs with everything from DIY lampshades to Nutella Brownies. Needless to say it’s easy to become lost for hours in all the eye candy.
Whether its Soundcloud for original music, hitRECord.org for film, or twitter campaigns, the opportunities are endless when there is enough imagination and the desire to create.
