I just realized that it has been almost a month since I last posted a blog entry. I’ve been focused on the initial stages of various new projects that will carry us through to the end of 2014. Due to this, I have neglected updating my blog as often as I would like. Let me share what I can talk about now.
Spectrum Fantastic Art
For those who are unaware of Spectrum, its goal is to promote the fantastic arts and provide an annual high quality art book that showcases the best contemporary artists for the year. Spectrum is divided into eight categories, which include Advertising, Book, Comics, Concept Art, Dimensional, Editorial, Institutional and Unpublished with a Gold and Silver Award given to the most outstanding work in each bracket. Spectrum was created and has been successfully helmed by the directors, Cathy and Arnie Fenner for the last twenty years. With Spectrum 20 coming out this fall, Arnie and Cathy will be officially retired from the annual. I will officially be the new director with Spectrum #21. All aspects of the book, from the Call for Entries, selecting the judges, organizing and running the selection process with the jury, to the design and publishing of the book, will be my responsibility.
At the moment, much of my energy is focused on the Spectrum transition. My current priority is wrapping up the new Spectrum website. (spectrumfantasticart.com). This is a complete retrofit to bring the site to a modern look, with a fresh news section, a historical area for past volumes, new videos from shows and featuring artist interviews, a “Meet the Spectrum Jury” page, a new submission upload area for taking on digital Call for Entries submissions, and a focused spot highlighting the new Spectrum Advisory Board. The Spectrum #21 judges and new Advisory Board will be announced when the new site goes live on October 1. There will also be a handful of surprises that will be rolled out over the course of this year and the next.
Stay tuned for the announcement regarding the new site and details about the Call for Entries for Spectrum #21.
New Books from Flesk Publications
We are working on four new books that will come out between the spring and summer of next year, yet it’s a little early for me to talk about them. I’ll start sharing the details come November or December, when I hope to have them fairly wrapped up. I prefer waiting as long as possible to make announcements since I don’t want to be locked in to an early template. I like to shape and tweak every book over a slow burner, plus the freedom to change direction on a project up until the moment the artist and I are fully satisfied.
Future Kickstarter Campaigns
The next Kickstarter campaign is being planned to start at the end of November. The artist and details will be unveiled by mid-November. All I can say for now is that it is a book project that I am very anxious to get going on. What I can say for now is that I have known and admired this artist for ten years and it is a pleasure to finally have the opportunity to work with him.
I hope you are all enjoying your Labor Day Holiday. I look forward to updating you on these projects, and more, in the near future.
Enjoy,
John
John Fleskes
Flesk Publications
Text copyright © 2013 John Fleskes. All Rights Reserved.
Exciting times John. Good luck. Can’t wait to see the new site and all that goes along with it. The cryptic hint at a new Kickstarter book really makes my mouth water.
Thanks for the encouragement, Bill. I hope your personal book ideas are coming along well.
John