BB&N Junior Launches Online Arts Magazine
The BB&N Art Spot highlights student art across a variety of mediums such as "Waif" by Bess Rosenzweig ’09, a watercolor, ink, and colored pencil piece.
While most students savored their free moments this year as a respite from studies, Jessica Brodsky ’10 spent her spare time in a slightly different manner—figuring out how to build an online magazine.
“The hardest part of the process was learning how to create a website from scratch,” says Brodsky. “I had no knowledge of HTML but managed, with the aid of a book, online tutorials and some outside help, to put the website together.”
The result? BB&N’s first student-run online magazine, the BB&N Art Spot. Housed on the School’s password-protected Knightline site, the publication presents a smorgasbord of content; student art galleries, art related writings and images, art events in the Boston area, highlights on BB&N graduates’ art-related experiences, and more.
“The website was originally an arts magazine called the Caption. It was started by Dave Seliger ’08 and passed on to me when he graduated,” explains Brodsky. “I decided to turn the magazine into a website because a website is easier to access and update, and it is also more environmentally friendly.”
Thus far Brodsky’s efforts have been rewarded and she describes the School community’s reception as “very positive,” noting that “both students and teachers have commented that they find the content interesting and like the website format.”
Brodsky is quick to acknowledge the help of many folks in building the BB&N Art Spot, particularly technology specialist Ann Petrone, drawing and painting teacher John Norton, the contributors, and the staff (pictured at right). Paint Norton, for one, as very impressed with the final product.
“Jessica is amazing—she generated this whole idea on her own, as far as I can tell, and then put it together over Winter break. She asked for input…and used it well to create a web site that reflects the kind of things that art students are interested in and also is light on the environment,” says Norton. “I like the way that she has brought other students into the project too—publicizing and exposing art-making at the School.”
Although Brodsky is pleased with the initial launch, she views the BB&N Art Spot as a work in progress and wants to take advantage of the web format with additional content.
“I want to expand the website to include more information about performing arts,” she says. “And I'm hoping to add a music and video section where students can share their work.”
As a junior this spring, Brodsky will have all of next year to expand and perfect her website, and she has high hopes that the site will continue to grow and evolve after she leaves BB&N.
“I would love for someone to continue the website after I graduate, but I also understand that it is a bit time-consuming, especially if you don’t know HTML,” she says. “I hope that whoever inherits BB&N Art Spot will take it in his or her own direction, whether this means keeping the website, returning to a printed format, or doing something completely new.”
For a peek at the Winter 2009 edition of the BB&N Art Spot, click here.
Calendar
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Photos
The BB&N Art Spot staff from left to right: Katie Richard ’10, Emily Polk ’10, Karen Su ’10, Jessica Brodsky ’10 (Editor), and Danielle Rabinowitz ’10.
The BB&N Art Spot features alumni/ae artists making waves after they leave BB&N.
From the online gallery, "River Front" by Jake Murphy ’09: "By starting out with older-looking, smaller buildings in the middle ground and ending by drawing big towers in th background, I wanted to emphasize the way that cities build on their tradition and their history."