Hello email newsletter, my old friend.

Hi there. Happy New Year.

After I launched my Artists In Jackson project in 2015 (10 years ago!), I also launched an email newsletter to keep my subjects and buyers updated. Over time, it became a periodic vehicle to share what I was doing, interested in, or working on.

Then, midway through the pandemic, I lost it. I couldn't bring myself to work on it like I wanted to, and the newsletter slipped away from me. Mailchimp closed my account for inactivity, and I lost all the momentum I had built.

Now, you’re reading an updated email newsletter, created with beehiiv, and I invite you to join me as I get this thing started again. If it’s been to long, and you’re no longer interested, please unsubscribe (I won’t take offense - promise).

With this newsletter,

• I'm shooting for monthly to bi-weekly

• I may try out a few new formatting ideas

• It will include a quick update, a few items I found around the internet, and some new blog posts.

Just like before.

Who Am I?

I’m Dave Lawrence, a Jackson, Michigan-based hobbyist photographer who works on community portrait projects like Musicians In Jackson.

Check out my other projects, my photo blog, and you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Flickr.

I’m always looking for interesting portrait subjects, especially artists, musicians, creatives, and makers - or anyone with an interesting hobby. Know someone like that? Reply back and let me know.

What’s New Since We Last Talked?

• Last January, we flew out to California for Disneyland, Joshua Tree, and a good dose of sunshine.

• Over the summer, we went back to Door County, Wisconsin, for our family vacation. It never disappoints.

• I traveled a lot for work this year: Austin, Mexico City, Burlington, Ontario, and Philly, just to name a few spots.

• And this fall, with Aiden in marching band, we spent some evenings watching Jackson High football.

Recent Blog Posts

• Two foggy ones for you: Stockbridge, Michigan and here around Jackson.

• Salsa Night: “We can do this,” I thought. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

• Encouraging Creativity: Our kids? They were cursed with art lovers for parents.

• Christkindlmarkt: I stopped by St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church’s Christkindlmrkt – a European-style Christmas market with delicious German treats and lots of merriment

Things I’m Into Lately

• Did you sing Auld Lang Syne at New Year’s? Here’s the story behind that annual tradition.

• Drumeo’s chat with Phil Collins about his drumming is everything. So is a heavy metal drummer learning a Paramore song.

• The importance of real things - you know me. I still buy books and CDs.

• Speaking of real things: I splurged and bought a new, small camera bag from Domke and love it.

• Winter is a good time to visit your local museum. Here’s what’s going on at Jackson’s Ella Sharp Museum.

It’s nice to be back. I hope you’ll join me.

Write back and let me know how you’re doing.

Thanks,

Dave Lawrence