Applicable Inter-Connect Art Links of the Week

Background

Over the past year I’ve bookmarked and categorized over 1,500 interesting websites. I find a lot of these via linker sites like BoingBoing, /., Kottke, etc. And friends are always swapping tidbits of art and music and humour with me.
In September I took one of my subject focal points—art and design links—and started a mini weekly mailing list among a small circle of art school colleagues. The premise: five relevant (to our studies and interests) art and/or design links, emailed once a week. I call it Applicable Inter-Connect Art Links of the Week (AICALOT-W, pronounced ‘Ache a lot W’). The following are my in-development thoughts about the whole thing.

Audience

The intended audience is somewhat specific: fellow art students. But that’s only my starting point. Anyone—artists, designers, construction workers, bike racers—can receive and probably get something out of the links.

Intention

The primary focus behind the links, I think, is that they are chosen to inspire. Everyone should be able to get something out of them: a smile, a groan, a spark. I try to always choose links that, even if the project or piece itself seems trivial/off-topic/cliché etc., there is something about it that leads to other ideas, concepts, questions and answers.

Criteria

There are some other criteria for the links, some of which I’ve processed unconsciously. For one, the website itself needs to be at least halfway usable. I’ve excluded a few websites because their Flash or QuickTime file took more than 10 seconds to load while I stared at a white screen. Or maybe I couldn’t even bookmark the specific project, but only the homepage.
The links must have at least one thing: images. I don’t want to force my readers into a huge page of text unless it also has images. I also avoid special plug-in sites, or wading through Flash introductions. People are busy, they need to get the gist in 10 seconds and/or be enticed to learn more.
I keep a loose definition of what constitutes art and design. And I don’t mind being openly subjective or contrary with my choices. What each link has is a kernel, however small, that I find interesting. My hope is people can find the reason(s) for inclusion behind every link, and probably develop their own reasons as well.
It’s called Applicable links because they have something to do (however small) with what I and my friends are studying, building, exploring and into, both in and out of class.

Sign Up

If you’re interested in receiving this weekly mailing leave a comment below. Be sure to fill out the email address field (kept confidential). Or, contact me personally (jeff – at – jeffwerner – dot – ca) to sign up. And please send me links if you like.