What began in 2017 as a way for local artists to share resources has grown into a thriving creative hub that now includes a gallery, thrift store and independently published magazine. This month, Looky Here in Greenfield is celebrating the release of the fourth edition of its collaborative publication, showcasing artists and writers from across the Valley and the world.
For co-founders Hannah Brookman and Vanessa Brewster, the newest issue represents both a milestone and an ambitious evolution of the project.
“We started as a group of artists and musicians who were looking for a place for artists to gather and share resources,” Brookman said. “We started collecting art supplies for their thrift stores, and we decided to invest in a Risograph printer as a shared resource that would be publicly available for artists to make saleable work.”
Since then, the publication has steadily expanded in both scope and complexity. While previous editions experimented with different three-color printing combinations, Issue No. 4 marks the first time the magazine uses all 4 colors: yellow, fluorescent pink, teal and black. The result is the largest and most technically demanding edition the organization has produced to date.
Printing in an oversized 8 1/2-by-14-inch format and stretching roughly 80 pages, the magazine includes visual art, poetry, essays, comics and many other creative works. Rather than imposing a predetermined theme, the editors allow one to emerge naturally from the submissions they received. This edition, however, is heavily guided by optimism.
“We wanted it to be hopeful. We wanted it to be colorful,” Brewster shared, explaining that the team looked for work that reflected beauty and positivity while assembling the issue.
The publication process itself is painstaking. Brookman estimates that file preparation alone required weeks of separating every image into color layers before printing could even begin. Each page is run through the printer four separate times — once for each ink color — requiring constant adjustments and test prints to achieve the desired effect.
“Sometimes, a page can take two and a half hours,” Brookman said. “And that’s just one page. On my best day so far, I printed eight pages.”
Despite producing 250 copies, many are earmarked before they reach the shelves. Contributors receive copies, while others are distributed to subscribers, libraries and supporters before the remaining stock is offered for sale.
This year also marks the first time Looky Here assembled a dedicated magazine committee to help curate submissions. The volunteer cohort, supported through stipends funded by the Greenfield Local Cultural Council, broadened the editorial process by soliciting work, reviewing entries and discussing how pieces fit together.
According to Brookman and Brewster, the collaborative approach changed not only how the magazine was assembled but also the spirit behind the layout. Rather than viewing submissions in isolation, committee members considered how artwork and writing complemented one another, creating conversations across the pages and reinforcing a cohesive experience through the publication’s distinctive visual style.
Although contributors span the country and the globe, the organization continues to emphasize the artistic community rooted in western Massachusetts. Brewster noted that rural artists often have fewer opportunities than those in larger metropolitan areas, making spaces like Looky Here especially valuable.
“It’s important to highlight the people who are in the Valley and the surrounding area,” Brewster said.
The release celebration, taking place on Saturday, June 20 at 1 p.m., extends that philosophy beyond simply unveiling a finished publication. Instead of centering solely on readings from contributors, the event will invite attendees to participate in a collaborative bookmaking activity inspired by the “exquisite corpse” drawing game. In this game, participants take turns adding sections to a figure — typically a head, torso and legs — on a folded sheet of paper without seeing previous contributions. Dedicated stations will allow visitors can contribute their own artwork while enjoying refreshments.
For Brewster, gathering in person is essential to the project’s mission. “I think the whole thing is all about analog and bringing it back to in-person events,” she said. “I think that people want tangible things and memories that they make with their community.”
Ultimately, Brookman hopes visitors leave with more than just a copy of the magazine. “I hope that people realize it’s worth the effort to make something yourself,” she said. “You don’t need permission to do something.”
As Looky Here prepares for future editions — including a themed fifth issue already in the works — the organization continues to invite new participants to submit work, attend workshops and become part of a growing creative network built on experimentation, collaboration, and the belief that anyone can make art.
