New+Notable
03.12.13
Better with Age? An Icon Reinvents at 60
Last month, 60 years after its founding, Aperture Foundation relaunched its flagship publication Aperture, one of the world's leading photography magazines. Conceived by Executive Director Chris Boot, and editors Michael Famighetti and Melissa Harris to offer a more focused experience of great photography in print, the new Aperture sports a bold, new redesign, with more pages, new columns, even more inspiring images, and insightful thinkers on the key themes and ideas in photography today, all written with a broader audience in mind.The award-winning London designers A2/SW/HK have re-envisioned the magazine as a luxurious print object defined by its tactile presence, dynamic typography unique to Aperture, and high-quality reproductions.
Each quarterly issue will feature at least 50% more pages and will be reformatted to a larger trim size. Now printed in Europe by Optimal Media, Aperture will be produced to even more demanding specifications.
Presenting fresh perspectives accessible to the photo enthusiast and culturally-curious alike, each issue will examine one theme at the heart of contemporary photography, explored in two sections: "Words," focused on ideas, interviews, and debate, and "Pictures," offering a stunning and immersive photographic experience of individual artists' projects and series. New columns include "Studio Visit," "Collectors," "Dispatches," "Object Lessons," and "What Matters Now?"
The debut issue includes contributions by Charlotte Cotton, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Eva Respini, Jeff Wall, Christopher Williams, James Welling, and Akram Zaatari, among many others.
"In a time when photography is abundant on digital platforms, images in print--ink on paper--continue to offer a uniquely actual experience. We also believe that a magazine can engage photography's changing narrative through thoughtful, accessible writing," states the Editors' Note. As part of the magazine's relaunch, long-time Managing Editor Michael Famighetti has been appointed to the position of Editor. Melissa Harris, Editor-at-Large, will continue editing one issue per year, with her focus shifting to Aperture book projects. In addition, some issues will be guest edited; while others will be produced offsite, through the prism of a specific city or institution.
Beginning in April 2013, with an exhibition at Aperture Gallery and a series of public programs, the magazine will become more closely integrated with Aperture's live and online programming: the debates, ideas, and work published in print will be explored through events at Aperture Gallery and other venues, as well as online at www.aperture.org.
