American Craft relaunched with a new design for its October-November issue.
Andrew Wagner, founding editor at dwell moved to NY and took over as the new editor-in-chief of the magazine.
Wagner started this new venture with a Q&A clearly stating what were his choices for this new design.
This sincere introduction reveals some of the interesting interrogations the team had when reworking on the mag. Points regarding the title for example, and the choice of de-emphasizing the word american, “(…) considering the current less-than-stellar stature in the world of the United States“. After such a rare acknowledgment, Wagner answers with an irrevocable yet somehow humble statement, “(…) we are Americans“, then moves on to answering the question regarding the choice of inviting a french person on the cover, “(…) we decided it didn’t matter. For us, the power of craft is universal.”
Such answers, even as cheesy as they sound, give me confidence that somehow, through aesthetic discussions, we might reach a common understanding of our time.
Craft is carried by such a large amount of people – look at places such as Flickr and the myriad of blogs covering one’s special talent -, yet it is often diminished by we all know who, for not being able to convey the true essence of human creation, thus, it invigorates me to see that projects such as this one step forward.
On another note, it’s also lovely to read Wagner divulging that the inspiration for the mag’s new cover design came in part, from another great NY based magazine I love, Capricious.
(All images screen captures from american craft magazine)
THE THING is a quarterly periodical in the form of an object.
For the first issue, the publication invited LA based artist Miranda July to create an everyday and shippable object that somehow incorporates text – which will be common to all issues.
The idea is rather exciting and for $120 (+ $40 shipping within the US) you are committed to 4 issues and the collaborations of Anne Walsh, Kota Ezawa and Trisha Donnelly.
Although this project already started last August with a delicious sweatshop free wrapping party at Southern Exposure in San Francisco, you still have until October 26th to subscribe and receive the first issue.
Check also this project, The Present Group in the same vein, yet not as aesthetically appealing.
(All photographs taken by Corinne Schulze, from THE THING’s wrapping party)
Art Review 15 is out and ready to browse for free, on your machines. Register here if you haven’t already.
Although the magazine put on its Friezed colors – read the piece on Mario Garcia Torres who was awarded with the Cartier Award 2007, a few LA based artists made the round. Walead Beshty is featured in a special focus on photography, along with Yto Barrada, Guy Moreton and Vera Lutter. The last summer group show at john connelly presents, Late Liberties, a take on the nonpictural practice, is reviewed for the magazine.
(All images from Art Review: Digital. Left is Kim Fisher, Damaged (pink), 46, 2007, oil on linen, 213×191 cm, Courtesy jon connelly presents, NY. Right is Walead Beshty, Six Sided Picture (RYB), 2007, 185×155 cm)
Sean Landers @China Art Objects (September 8 – October 20, 2007)
(Note: these faces might look familiar to some of you (the geeky ones indeed). Patrick Tribett was arrested in July 2005 and Michael Edward Thompson was arrested last May, both were charged for inhaling toxic vapors.)
