Blossoming Art Block: Downtown Hamilton Interviews

What a lovely day it was to take a trip downtown and to connect with leading graphic designers Jeremy Freiburger and Steph Seagram from http://cobaltconnects.ca/contact which is the new connecting element for creative communities. Jeremy has graced us with his talents from NYC and original started out in theatre. Jeremy has also done work for the Nutcracker here in Canada and now works with Steph, former Fine Arts student. They gave us insight on how their industry works and how important it is to keep up with the digital game in computer software. Graphic design surely has gone digital. These days it's important to have a blog or some type of website along with social media, although Jeremy begs to differ. It's no wonder graphic designer Leif Peng also strongly suggests social media is important when working in graphic design and the Hamilton Spector surely agrees. In today's Hamilton Spector the business section had a strong business view that the internet is here to stay despite early 1990s opposing view. Being a big internet user myself I always believed the internet was here to stay as I had commented in my grade 7 speech, in 1997, that the future would one day lead to school being on the internet. Today in 2012 it has become wide spread to gain education on the internet, you can even get university degrees online. Even so it is always good to gain personal work experience it seems like anywhere you go just about anyone wants work experience with no gaps. Not only is work experience crucial, but it's important to stay in your field even if you can gain experience with volunteer work, then it's surely a route worth taking. Resume appeal is still crucial in today's society, sorry folks. Furthermore, what is Cobalt Connects? Well if you have a dream, a goal, an aspiration in the graphic design area and need assistance with obtaining that goal and finding the people to reach out to, Steph and Jeremy are here to help. Not only do they have sharp business appeal, but their office sure is dripping with creativity.

It is a great place filled with experience, business and most of all creativity. 

After my meeting with Cobalt Connects I went downtown and met up at Mixed Media. 

Mixed Media Store is such a great place to find very and I am very unique everything from books, to magazines to art tools and medium. If you need it, they got it and more. There was so much to find and look at you sure could break a big dent in your wallet scouting out Mixed Media. Mixed Media is located in the James North Neighbourhood where artistic businesses have started to bloom. When you first walk in there are many books and bags and pens and pencils. These books are original in thought and very unique and interesting as well as their magazine collections which line up in the store. Further in the store their is older skate boards without wheels which can be used to be decorated and hung on your wall and if you want ideas and inspirations on that, yes they have a book for that too. In the back there is fabric and paint brushes and just about any type of art medium you can find. The store is definitely worth the drive to go back to, even out of town. 

After leaving Mixed Media Store http://www.mixedmediahamilton.com/blog/ I made my way down the busy yet, calm and blossoming streets of Hamilton where I passed by many art inspired stores with specific hours. I also walked by an interesting fabric store and some cafes and came across a delightful art gallery. I was welcomed inside by the owner and his friendly dog. The owner was a former Fine Art student with a love and passion for traditional art. His exhibit displayed for interesting displays of pop and modern art type works. Being a former art history student myself I was very interested to hear how 1970s artist was taking photography and and using paint and photoshop to display wonderful pieces of art and exhibiting them across the world, for around $3000 a pop. Not to bother with him with too many questions as he was busy conducting business I left and ventured out to find my way downtown and find more interviews where I came across what I thought was a digital print shop but was actually a book shop because they were switching locations. Anyways, it was interesting to hear the owner's concern for the obvious transition of downtown Hamilton blossoming into an art block. "Where are other business's to go" and "what about if you want a book to read?". Not only did he sell books but also vinyls, simply starting from a paper route and collecting money and keep track of dues and collecting vinyls and trading and selling. A good book is good for the go train for commuting back and forth. Will Hamilton be the new Toronto? Why not grab a book and travel out to see what we can find on Hamilton's art block.