canvas Connections

Over the last year I’ve written a number of times about the great people we’ve gotten to connect with through the magazine. I can’t be happier about meeting all of you. One of our goals with canvas is to create a sense of community for people to connect with our content. We’ve tried to accomplish that in a few ways beyond the pages of our magazine.

We’ve hosted a number of Art events in our Huntington office, which doubles as the Footprint Gallery, trying to share some great work of local artists with our readers. We hosted our first “Tasting” event in June pairing food from Whole Foods Market and wines from Peconic Bay Vineyards, with a focus on local and organic as much as possible. Most recently we held our first Open Mic Night bringing poets, musicians and other artists together.

Outside the walls of our office we have helped Greendrinks come to Long Island, holding our fourth event and first Organic Wine Tasting in November; there were approximately 140 attendees it was a great success. We participated in events such as the Organic Turf Show, The Concert for Mother Earth and Global Warming Summit. We’re excited about being part of more events in the future.

These have all contributed to the connection and sense of community we’re trying to create with canvas. Personally I’ve reconnected with some people over the course of the year who I’d known in my former corporate life—many who after their surprise (since I was formerly a “suit”), shared their excitement about what we’re doing.

Some of the most important connections I’ve had a chance to make are with a couple of childhood friends. Life is funny sometimes; we go to school, get a job and live life as it unfolds. This unfolding takes us in many directions, as we all know, sometimes we lose track of people that were important to us. I’m sure where we came from and where we are as people in the moment plays a huge role in that, but nevertheless sometimes great friendships fade that you wish hadn’t.

One of my old friends who reached out to me through canvas has kids about the same age as my son Jake. We’re trying to get together and introduce the kids and I hope reconnect ourselves. Twenty plus years ago I wasn’t sure where I was going to be; certainly it wouldn’t have been working with canvas. But this is how life is funny; I’ve become who I am, my old friends have become who they are and now I hope by reconnecting through canvas we will rekindle our friendship as who we are now.

Tom Pellicane – Publisher, canvas Magazine