''Arts Magazine'' was a prominent monthly

magazine A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combinatio ...

devoted to fine art. It was established in 1926 and last published in 1992.

History

Early years

Launched in 1926 and originally titled ''The Art Digest,'' it was printed semi-monthly from October to May and monthly from June to September. Its stated purpose was to provide complete coverage of arts exhibitions in America, collated from all relevant news sources.

Growth

''Art Digest'' was later purchased by James N. Rosenberg and Jonathan Marshall (who would subsequently own and publish the '' Scottsdale Daily Progress'' newspaper). In 1954, the title was changed to Arts Digest; then, in 1955, the title was changed to ''ARTS''. The word "Digest" was dropped (as explained by Marshall in the September 15, 1955 issue) due to newer features, design modernization, and a widening audience. "We realized that there was a great need in this country for a serious art magazine to serve the growing public," the announcement stated. "Perhaps," he continued, "the best description of our editorial aims in the new ''ARTS'' can be found in the words ''interesting'', ''unbiased'', and ''authoritative''." Contributors to that issue included J.P. Hodin,

Martica Sawin Martica Sawin is an author and art critic. She is the author of ''Surrealism in Exile and the Beginning of the New York School'' (MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1995) and surveys on artists such as Roberto Matta Roberto Sebastián Antonio ...

Robert Rosenblum Robert Rosenblum (July 24, 1927 – December 6, 2006) was an American art historian and curator known for his influential and often irreverent scholarship on European and American art of the mid-eighteenth to 20th centuries. Biography Rosenblum wa ...

Ada Louise Huxtable Ada Louise Huxtable (née Landman; March 14, 1921 – January 7, 2013) was an architecture critic and writer on architecture. Huxtable established architecture and urban design journalism in North America and raised the public's awareness of the ...

, and Dore Ashton, whose article "What is 'avant-garde'?" was the feature essay. After Marshall and Rosenberg sold it in 1958, the publication was finally named ''Arts Magazine'' in 1961''.'' Regular contributors at the time included Donald Judd, Helen De Mott,

Sidney Tillim Sidney Tillim (June 16, 1925 – August 16, 2001) was an American artist and art critic, known for his maverick painting and independent point of view on modern art in post-war America. Best remembered for his revival of history painting in the ...

, Annette Michelson, Michael Fried, Lawrence Alloway,

Jan Butterfield Jan Butterfield (1937-2000) was an American art writer, teacher and critic. She wrote extensively on twentieth century installation and craft artists, focused on those who worked in California and the American West. Early life and education Bu ...

, and April Kingsley. The magazine's offices were in New York City and it was last published by Art Digest, Co. The magazine was glossy and priced at $4.00 a copy in 1981. The April 1981 issue (see photo) had a cover story called "

Gertrude Greene Gertrude Glass Greene (1904 – November 25, 1956) was an abstract sculptor and painter from New York City. Gertrude and her husband, artist Balcomb Greene, were heavily involved in political activism to promote mainstream acceptance of abstrac ...

: Constructions of the 1930s and 1940s", written by Jacqueline Moss.

Closure

The last issue to reach subscribers was March 1992, featuring Alexandra Anderson-Spivy on artist Rackstraw Downes and

Annie Sprinkle Annie M. Sprinkle (born Ellen F. Steinberg on July 23, 1954) is an American certified sexologist, performance artist, former sex worker, and advocate for sex work and health care. Citing: Sprinkle has worked as a prostitute, sex educator, femi ...

on Jeff Koons. The April issue was published but never mailed. Editors at the time included Dore Ashton, Jerry Saltz, Barry Schwabsky, Bill Jones, Jeremy Gilbert-Rolfe, Peter Selz,

John Yau John Yau (born June 5, 1950) is an American poet and critic who lives in New York City. He received his B.A. from Bard College in 1972 and his M.F.A. from Brooklyn College in 1978. He has published over 50 books of poetry, artists' books, fiction ...

, Elizabeth Frank, and Jeanne Siegel.

Revival

As of 2020, the magazine is in the process of a revival. A new team of writers from leading media publications (e.g. The New York Times) and universities ( Vanderbilt, New York University) has been assembled and website in developed and prepared for the official launch.https://artsmagazine.com/

References

{{Reflist

External links

Article about Louise Nevelson
from ''Art Digest'', November 15, 1943. Louise Nevelson papers. Archives of American Art. Retrieved November 6, 2011. Visual arts magazines published in the United States Monthly magazines published in the United States Defunct magazines published in the United States Magazines established in 1926 Magazines disestablished in 1992 Magazines published in New York City