Layers of Meaning

selvedge magazine

Apologizing for the relative silence lately in Layers of Meaning: for about a month now, I have been frantically working on a manuscript for an online course. The course covers everything from UNIX to databases. I have found it almost impossible to switch my brain off one track and onto the other. But!! I am done - back to art and fiber and the stuff that makes life fun!

One of the bright spots of this busy period has been the arrival of my preview copy of Selvedge magazine. Selvedge is a gorgeous new journal from England that focuses on the art of textiles. There are no "how-to" articles - or even why to articles. The articles instead tend to be fairly cerebral and are reviews of art and or arts theory.

It's hard to find much online besides Selvedge's one page home page. The best part of this page is "To receive your FREE SAMPLE issue of selvedge, please click here" Fooling around in Google led me to a back door for Selvedge. The Selvedge philosophy seems a bit thin, but I did identify with their target audience: "Artists of International Stature and Innovative Newcomers" The sample articles online, unfortunately, are just brief summaries. I cannot guess what the "stockists" are (vendors?). That page looks like a lovely travel brochure.

A page for authors aspiring to be published in Selvedge possibly reveals the most about the future of Selvedge: "Selvedge is an independent, 100-page full colour magazine published six times a year. The magazine is image led and has an uncompromising design.

Directed towards an international audience, Selvedge covers fine textiles in every context with illustrated features on fine art, fashion, interiors, ethnographic textiles, important collections, travel and shopping. The latest book reviews, exhibitions and comprehensive listings feature in every issue. The magazine provides a wide-ranging, unbiased and critical overview of the textile world....

Commissioning
Decisions relating to commissioning are based primarily on the quality of the images submitted. Selvedge is an image-led magazine and no writing however good can justify inclusion unless accompanied by extremely high quality images. "

Hmm - an arts magazine based on images. Sounds good. I truly would send my $75.00 to subscribe, if only I were that artist of international stature or a woman of independent means. MEanwhile, I'll just relish the sample issue.