While most people make New Year’s resolutions to lose weight or quit smoking, SF State senior Jason Fairbrother resolved to do something for his fellow Gators.

The 22-year-old becca major is the creator of www.sfstateart.com, a Web site that exhibits creative art made by SF State students for free.

“I woke up one day and decided I’m going to do this,” Fairbrother said. “I think it is important for our students to have an outlet to express art.”

Music, poetry, short films and photography are among the works that make the cut and Fairbrother welcomes any artist looking for exposure onto his Web site.

As a musician with many creative friends, Fairbrother’s main purpose for creating the site was to give artists like him a chance to be seen and heard.

“I want people to see what is coming out of my school,” Fairbrother said. “Our school’s Creative Arts program is high ranking in the country so we should show off our students’ talents.”

Fairbrother works on the site during his down time and pays for all the funds out of his own pocket. He said running the site can get a bit pricey and he hasn’t had the money to properly promote it.

“I used to live in The Village on campus right above Subway and I would have a big sign promoting my site from my window,” Fairbrother recalled. “I think that’s how a few people saw it. From there it was spread by word of mouth.”

Fairbrother’s open mind allows all types of artwork to be submitted and said that he places little restrictions on what he decides to post.

“Art is art,” Fairbrother said. “If a song has curse words, it’s no big deal. It’s all about how you interpret it.”

Sfstateart.com’s home page gives the viewers a quick synopsis about the site and provides links to seven types of artwork, like poetry and graphic art. Once a link is chosen the viewers have the option to look at various artists’ work. Fairbrother writes a brief description on the artists’ inspiration, their interests and what they’re studying.

Marcus Inglizian, a third-year television and radio major, is one of the artists on the Web site. Inglizian has been a photographer for four years and feels it has been a positive tool to help him share his works with the world.

“I feel like sfstateart.com is a great opportunity for students to display their creativity as well as get exposed to the creativity of other students,” Inglizian said.

Inglizian is a friend of Fairbrother and says that he plans to post more of his architecture and nature inspired photos in the near future.

Fairbrother said he considers every artist on his page to be amazing but he gives special recognition to a select few by marking them as a “featured artist” on the home page.

“A featured artist’s work has to really catch my eye and stand out,” Fairbrother explained. “Eventually I want to create a voting section on my page so that the viewers can pick who the featured artist should be.”

Courtnee Rizzo, an anthropology and English literature major at SF State, has illustrations and graphic art on the Web site and is also one of Fairbrother’s featured artist.

“Fundamentally, I think the site is a brilliant idea,” Rizzo said. “Jason gives an outlet to San Francisco’s very own local and emerging artists, and people like me who have no training, and no art background, but still have something to say.”

Rizzo has been offered an opportunity to design the cover of an album for a local Bay Area band because of the work posted on sfstate.com. She also said that the site has helped her organize her portfolio. Nevertheless, she still has concerns about the site.

“I don't think the site has reached its full potential by any means,” Rizzo said. “I've talked to Jason about not only featuring the art, but also giving site viewers more resources to comment and get in touch with the artists.”

Rizzo feels that with more man power and help from people at SF State the site will go on to be a valuable entity for SF State students.

Fairbrother says he is deeply devoted to sfstateart.com and wants to keep working hard on it even after he graduates from the university in Spring 2009.

“I know that I am going to need help if I want to continue with this Web site,” Fairbrother said. “I am looking for graphic artists to help with the website and want others to assist with keeping up with it.”

Currently, Fairbrother is learning how to put up other links and tools to help make the Web site easier to use. His goal is to expand the site, make fliers and get more students to submit their artwork. He hopes that one day the site will even be a featured link on SF State's official Web site.