The Journal of Contemporary Art has been publishing interviews with and special projects and writings by both emerging and established artists of international repute since 1988. It was originally created by two artists, Philip Pocock and John Zinsser, as an alternative to the glossy art magazines which contain much critical writing and images, but gave none or little information on the thoughts of the artists themselves and the process of creating works of art. It was envisioned as a forum for artists to talk with each other, and for curators, critics, collectors, and students to serve as a source of intimate and personal information on artists and their work. The interviews are conducted by other artists, curators, and critics.

The Journal has been online for the last two years. THE THING with its emphasis on encouraging and revitalizing the discourse on art, is a natural site for an online edition. Starting with the most recent issues, we are in the process of making all published issues available for online reading and downloading. As a text-based magazine with only few images, the Journal is an ideal medium for distributing information online. In the beginning, making the interviews available to a larger audience, was the main consideration of producing an online edition of the Journal.

Increasingly, however, the need for utilizing the unique possibilities of electronic communication became a force in getting involved in the world-wide-web. It's graphic interface, the inclusion of hypertext, images, video, and sound, and its openness and interactivity make the web an ideal platform for a publication like the Journal. We are planning to open a web-site on THE THING in the very near future, which will, aside from giving access to the contents of all published issues, host online projects by artists, image libraries, and offer the possibility of interactive interviews and dialogues with and between artists, critics, and curators.

The web gives us an opportunity to publish inexpensively and reach an unlimited audience, one that is not restricted to the small world of visual arts. While it will not (yet) replace the printed edition, the online version of the Journal will play a role in redefining the existing models of art magazines, galleries, museums, and exhibitions.

Klaus Ottmann
Publisher and Editor
Journal of Contemporary Art
klaus.ottmann@thing.nyc.ny.us