“Of all lies, art is the least true.” ~Gustave Flaubert~

 

 

Left: Thomas Hart Benton, King Phillip (1922). Collection: St. Josephs University Art Gallery.

 

ARTES Launches New Look, Newsletter

ARTES, a fine arts magazine is undergoing some radical changes in its appearance. There is a dismissive expression, “…as useful as yesterday’s newspaper.” As everyone knows, content availability on the Internet serves a different purpose than yesterday’s news. Not only is it stored in the ‘cloud’ for something like perpetuity, it has redefined the ‘Information Age’ by functioning like a gargantuan repository for all of civilization’s likes and dislikes, issues and debates, and intellectual content, while serving as a platform for personal perspectives on all things imaginable in this universe (and beyond!). artes fine arts magazine

The challenge at ARTES is that most—if not all—of the material that is published for our readers remains relevant for months or years to come. In the parlance of the computer experts, it remains ‘evergreen,’ providing useful, ongoing information about artists, art movements, theater performances, current events, social/historical tie-ins, museums and their collections, to name a few. The previous format that many loved and had gotten used to began to fail the editors and readers as a useful tool to access that information. The data base has grown, since its founding in 2009, to encompass nearly 400 feature articles, critiques and editorial opinions. Like any good library, the information is only as meaningful as your ability to access it. Under the old format, much of that was being lost to inadequate topical search technology. In other words, ARTES had outgrown its charmingly simple format and could no longer work in unison with Search Engine algorhythms to call up what resides in the sizable content archive that is now the magazine. We made the choice to say goodbye to our basic layout to adapt to the changing world of data retrieval technology, in order to continue to grow.

Another key addition to the format of the magazine is the addition of a ‘Subscription’ box for a regular ARTES fine arts magazine newsletter. Remembering that we’re all flooded with information each day, ARTES policy will have its newsletter going out to subscribers on a monthly basis. A handfull of key articles will be highlighted. with a few words to entice the reader to visit the site. Apart from that little digital reminder…there will be very little hype, we promise! The value of having your email address confidentially registered is to give you a tiny slice of what is currently at the ‘top of the charts’ in the visual and performing arts worlds, as an ocassional reminder.

This is a work in progress. While the look and feel of ARTES has changed, so, too, has the editorial challenge of formatting and coding articles for publication. It will take time for information flow to match our shared expectations. Your comments and feedback are invited; and as has been the case from the beginning, writers are invited to contribute their reviews and editorial critiques of fine art, architecture and functional design, wherever it is appearing in the world!

At ARTES, the welcome mat is always out and the porch light on for readers and writers, alike. Welcome to the new ARTES and watch us continue to grow!

Thanks for reading,

Richard Friswell, Publisher & Managing Editor

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