The Litribune releases second issue

By Laura Citino
Western Herald

For nay-sayers, the success of a first timer can always be attributed to beginner’s luck — the true test of accomplishment lies in whether or not a second go can put the first to shame.

“The Litribune,” an up-and-coming literary arts and activism journal based in West Michigan, will put that theory to the test at its second issue release party on Friday at the Michigan News Agency in downtown Kalamazoo.

For the young, active, and artistically-inclined of Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids who caught its premier issue back in July, the “Libtribune’s” modus operandi is already well-known: to bond communities and revitalize artistic expression in West Michigan through the publication of local artists and the promotion of local grassroots organizations, businesses, and events.

According to the founders, who are all based in and around the Kalamazoo area, this second issue promises to build on its previous success. Those familiar should prepare themselves to be even more impressed by this issue’s scope and creative horizons.

“We’re really excited about this one,” said Dan Climie, co-founder and public relations coordinator for the “Litribune.”
“We’re making it bigger and better.”

A unique aspect of the new issue is the renewed emphasis on visual art. The cover artist, Jeff VandenBerg, also runs a record label out of Grand Rapids, and has used this influence to create a thematic aesthetic based on vinyl records and the cover art of LPs and 7-inch discs.

“This one has a lot more color. It’s much more art-based,” co-founder Ben Davey said. “There is going to be a lot of vinyl-type art included in this issue.”

VandenBerg will be in attendance at the release party, along with several poets and other writers who are published in the issue. This spirit of collective collaboration and artistic interaction remains at the heart and soul of the Litribune.

“It’s always been our belief that collaboration between artists is a more meaningful experience for everyone involved,” Climie said.

The sophomore issue also sees the “Litribune” expanding its content. There will be more poetry, non-fiction, and journalism-style articles about the creative scenes in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. the “Litribune” keeps eyes and ears in both of these cities, as one of its major goals is to link their respective creative aesthetics.

“We’d like to bring some of the Kalamazoo spirit to Grand Rapids,” Climie said.

Although some patrons of the “Litribune” may have been confused by an earlier “second issue release” at The Strutt Café and Bar in Kalamazoo last week, the founders clarified that that was an in-between issue, and an opportunity for a group of poets and writers previously published by the “Litribune” to stage a reading.

“We actually released sort of an issue 1.5,” Climie said. “But this is our second official issue.”

The decision to hold the release party for the second issue at the Michigan News Agency in downtown Kalamazoo was a no-brainer for the founders.

“There’s a great atmosphere downtown,” Climie said. “Ben [Davey] used to work there, so we already had a connection.”

The owner of the Michigan News Agency, Dean Hauck, was more than willing to host the reading in her store, which has been a fixture of Kalamazoo’s downtown creative energy for more than 60 years.

“[Ben Davey] and I met to talk about how we at the agency could help the “Litribune” reach a bigger audience,” Hauck said.

The release party is part of the Michigan News Agency’s Creative Endeavors Project. Hauck began the project a few years ago as a way to reach out to local writers and artists. Anywhere from 30 to 40 local artists are involved at any given time, with their roots stretching all the way from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Ann Arbor.

The participating authors have their books sold in a special section in the store. Hauck returns all profits right back to them without taking any percentage of the sales for herself.

“The Michigan News Agency is simply the vehicle for the entire project,” Hauck said. “That’s how I promote what I consider to be a good group of artists.”

As if the “Litribune” and the Michigan News Agency needed to be more locally-minded, the release party also takes place as part of October’s extended Art Hop — the Kalamazoo arts extravaganza that dominates the downtown area the first Friday of every month.

“The Art Hop is something we always try and get involved in,” Climie said. “People can come in and out and question the artists they meet.”
According to Climie, the Art Hop tends to bring a different crowd than the “Litribune” is used to — more relaxed and usually older, the typical patrons of the Art Hop can add a new vibe to the “Litribune’s” already buzzing community scene.

Besides remaining committed to publishing local artists and drawing attention to West Michigan politics and organizations, the “Litribune” frequently sponsors events throughout Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, such as concerts by local musicians and staged readings.

If the release party, artist meet-and-greet, and general good vibes of the Michigan News Agency piques enough interest, Climie suggests getting in touch with the staff members of the “Litribune” to discuss new opportunities for involvement.

“Getting involved in what we do is the best donation somebody could give us,” he said.

The next step? — discovering a new way to redefine West Michigan’s cultural perspective, and getting in touch with the “Litribune.” As was the case with Hauck and Davey’s collaboration for the October Art Hop, the “Litribune” is always on the lookout for more ways to reach out to Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids’ mutually thriving art scenes.

“We’re always looking for new people to get involved with fresh ideas,” Davey said.

Further involvement and contact information is available on the magazine’s Web site, thelitribune.wordpress.com.

The bigger the “Litribune” becomes, the more positive creative change it can affect. For Climie, the synergy between the publication and the community only increases with each subsequent issue.

“Everything is falling into place,” he said. “We’re having our own little revolution here in Western Michigan.”

The release party for the second issue of the “Litribune” will take place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. during the Art Hop at the Michigan News Agency.
There will be free snacks and drinks available for all visitors, and the second issue of the “Litribune” will be for sale.

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Posted by heraldstaff on Sep 30 2009. Filed under Weekend Scene. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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