Esopus is a twice-yearly arts magazine featuring fresh, unmediated perspectives on contemporary culture from a wide range of creative professionals. It includes artists’ projects, critical writing, fiction, poetry, visual essays, interviews, and, in each issue, a themed CD of new music.Published by the non-profit Esopus Foundation Ltd., the magazine has a simple mission: to provide an unfiltered, non-commercial space in which creative people and the public can connect in meaningful, productive ways.
Every issue of Esopus features a themed CD compilation with songs commissioned by a veritable Who's Who of musicians from the alternative music world. You can access these otherwise-unavailable songs by acts like Grizzly Bear, Neko Case, Dirty Projectors, Busdriver, Frightened Rabbit, Kimya Dawson, and the Mountain Goats by launching our music player. You can also find links to each CD on our comprehensive track list. Enjoy!
7/6/10: FLIP THROUGH ESOPUS 14 ONLINE
It's difficult to explain the visceral quality of Esopus to those readers who've never actually held a copy of the magazine in their hands. With that in mind, we decided to create this video, which gives viewers a sense of the experience of flipping through an issue. In this case, it's Esopus 14: Projects, which is currently on newsstands.
5/1/10: CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK
Drop by the Esopus Facebook fan page and check out photos and videos from recent Esopus Space events—and find out how you can win a free issue of the magazine!
3/22/10: UTNE NOMINATION FOR ESOPUS
We are thrilled to announce that Esopus has been nominated for a 2010 Utne Independent Press Award for Arts Coverage. (This follows a UIPA nomination several years ago for Design.) The awards will be announced in late April; we'll let you know how we do!
2/27/10: VIDEO FROM SAM AMIDON CONCERT
Thanks to all who made it out for Amidon's captivating set at Esopus Space on February 22nd. The performance included recitations, pure fiddle-playing and Amidon's acoustic rendtions of songs ranging from "Saro" and "Wedding Dress" to an R. Kelly cover complete with an audience sing-along. See a video of Amidon's performance of "Wedding Dress" on our Facebook page.
2/10/10: AN EVENING WITH PETER HUTTON
Thanks to everyone who made it out to the screening of Peter Hutton's films last night at ESOPUS SPACE. Peter projected 7 of his truly remarkable films, including "Boston Fire" (1979), "Lodz Symphony" (1991-93), and "Study of a River" (1996-97). He also treated the packed house to extraordinary raw footage from a recent trip he made to China. See photos from the event on our Facebook page.
1/1/09: HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2009 proved to be an exciting year for the Esopus Foundation—a recap of some of the highlights can be found here. We wish everyone a wonderful holiday, and hope to see you in the coming year!
12/24/08: HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
We'd like to thank all of our readers, contributors, supporters for making 2008 a wonderful year for the Esopus Foundation. We wish everyone a fantastic holiday and hope to see you at an Esopus event in 2009!
12/12/09: KAY ROSEN BOOK SIGNING
Esopus Space hosted a book-signing party for artist (and Esopus contributor) Kay Rosen on Thursday, December 10, whose fantastic new artist's book, Kay Rosen AKAK, has just been released by Regency Arts Press Ltd.
11/21/09: VIDEO FROM NATUREBOY CONCERT
Esopus Space was thrilled to inaugurate its concert series on Nov. 18th with a performance by Natureboy, the musical project of Sara Kermanshahi, whose self-titled debut album was released in 2009 (and who also contributed a track to the Esopus 13 "Nostradamus" CD). You can watch video excerpts here.
10/28/09: "SIDE BY SIDE" NOW OPEN
"Side by Side," a group exhibition featuring works from five artists—Jeff Gibson, Oliver Herring, Peter Krashes, Alex Masket, and Mickey Smith—who contributed to Esopus 13, is on view at Esopus Space through December 17th. Gallery hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 12-5pm (and always by appointment).
5/14/09: ESOPUS 12 LAUNCH PARTY
Thanks to everyone who attended the Esopus 12 launch at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe. It was a great party!
2/4/09: ESOPUS 10 GOES GOLD
Esopus 10 has been awarded a prestigious Gold Medal "for Superb Craftsmenship in Production" from the Graphic Professionals Resource Network (IAPHC). Appropriately enough, the award was shared with Printcrafters/Westcan Printing, the extraordinary company in Winnipeg, Canada, that has printed every issue of Esopus.
11/18/08: THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING
The holidays are just around the corner. Why not give your friends and family a gift subscription to Esopus? We'll send a personalized note announcing your gift that includes any personal message you may want to send.
11/3/08: ESOPUS AT E/AB FAIR
Esopus recently participated in the 11th annual Editions/Artists' Books Fair (Oct 31-Nov 2) at the Tunnel in NYC. During the event, we sponsored a site-specific project by Esopus 11 contributor Jason Polan: "100 PEOPLE I SAW AT THE E/AB FAIR." To learn more about it, or to purchase a copy, visit Jason's website. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hello!
8/5/08: GLIMPSES INTO THE WRITING PROCESS
George Orwell once described writing as “a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness.” Two selections from our sold-out "Process" issue, now viewable online for the first time, offer a glimpse into that incredible (yet ultimately rewarding) struggle. Read Christopher Isherwood's work journals from his celebrated 1964 novel, A Single Man, here, and check out the 22 drafts of Generation, by the Walt Whitman Award–winning poet Suji Kwock Kim, here.
6/23/08: TWO ESOPUS DISCOVERIES NOW ONLINE
Esopus has been incredibly fortunate over the past five years to introduce the never-before-seen work of a number of truly amazing artists. We've just uploaded original articles featuring two Esopus discoveries—Mark Hogancamp and Alex Brown—to our online Flash player. Check out Mark’s extraordinary photodioramas from Esopus 5 here, and Alex’s stunning battle drawings from Esopus 7 here.
6/10/08: ESOPUS "OBJECT"-IFIED
Esopus has been named "Publication of the Year" by Specific Object. This is an extraordinary honor and we are truly thrilled to receive it. Find out more here.
6/3/08: 'GOOD NEWS' TRACK ON KEXP PODCAST
Seattle-based public radio station KEXP has included The Real Tuesday Weld's "Love at the Death Hotel" (the first track from the #10 "Good News" CD) on its 100th "Music that Matters" podcast. This is the second time an Esopus song has been featured on one of the influential station's podcasts; "Lisa,' the Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers song from our "Imaginary Friends" CD, was on "Music that Matters #2". Download from iTunes.
5/15/08: ESOPUS 10 LAUNCH PARTY
Contributors, readers, and friends of Esopus gathered at White Columns in Manhattan's West Village recently to celebrate the release of our tenth issue. View photos from the event HERE
4/17/08: NEW BACK-ISSUE CONTENT ONLINE
There are now three more articles from sold-out back issues available online: From Esopus 2, Edward McPherson recounts his torturous 10 consecutive viewings of Mystic River in "Ten Rivers to Cross"; from Esopus 3, Andrea Dezsó offers her hauntingly beautiful artist's project "Mamushka"; and from Esopus 4, acclaimed NYC chef Jody Williams brings her experiences of learning to cook in Italy to life in "Cuoca." Check back soon for two more selections, both featuring Esopus "discoveries."
4/11/08: ESOPUS 7 SELLS OUT
Esopus 7 is now sold out. Back issues of Esopus 8 or Esopus 9 are still available here. (A limited number of copies of all sold-out issues are available in exchange for donations to the Esopus Foundation. Find out more on our donation page.
3/10/08: 'HOUSES' FOR SALE
Artist and past Esopus contributor Chris Doyle has just announced a new series: “Housing Development Project.” For it, Chris will offer 30 “subscriptions,” each of which entitles purchasers to one new 9” x 9” watercolor house drawing every month for 12 months. Chris has generously offered to donate half of the total cost of each subscription to the Esopus Foundation. Learn more about this amazing offer HERE.
11/20/07: PHOTOS FROM KITCHEN EVENT
Our second annual "Evening with Esopus" on Tuesday, November 13th, featured a reading by actor/director Tom Gilroy of "A Short Film about Andy Warhol," the unproduced Jim Lyons screenplay published in Esopus 9, and a set of music by Brooklyn musical duo High Places. The evening also included rare screenings of work by Taiwan-based filmmaker Tsai Ming-Liang and conceptual artist Kay Rosen. VIEW PHOTOS HERE
It's difficult to explain the visceral quality of Esopus to those readers who've never actually held a copy of the magazine in their hands. With that in mind, we decided to create this video, which gives viewers a sense of the experience of flipping through an issue. In this case, it's Esopus 14: Projects, which is currently on newsstands.
5/1/10: CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK
Drop by the Esopus Facebook fan page and check out photos and videos from recent Esopus Space events—and find out how you can win a free issue of the magazine!
3/22/10: UTNE NOMINATION FOR ESOPUS
We are thrilled to announce that Esopus has been nominated for a 2010 Utne Independent Press Award for Arts Coverage. (This follows a UIPA nomination several years ago for Design.) The awards will be announced in late April; we'll let you know how we do!
2/27/10: VIDEO FROM SAM AMIDON CONCERT
Thanks to all who made it out for Amidon's captivating set at Esopus Space on February 22nd. The performance included recitations, pure fiddle-playing and Amidon's acoustic rendtions of songs ranging from "Saro" and "Wedding Dress" to an R. Kelly cover complete with an audience sing-along. See a video of Amidon's performance of "Wedding Dress" on our Facebook page.
2/10/10: AN EVENING WITH PETER HUTTON
Thanks to everyone who made it out to the screening of Peter Hutton's films last night at ESOPUS SPACE. Peter projected 7 of his truly remarkable films, including "Boston Fire" (1979), "Lodz Symphony" (1991-93), and "Study of a River" (1996-97). He also treated the packed house to extraordinary raw footage from a recent trip he made to China. See photos from the event on our Facebook page.
1/1/09: HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2009 proved to be an exciting year for the Esopus Foundation—a recap of some of the highlights can be found here. We wish everyone a wonderful holiday, and hope to see you in the coming year!
12/24/08: HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
We'd like to thank all of our readers, contributors, supporters for making 2008 a wonderful year for the Esopus Foundation. We wish everyone a fantastic holiday and hope to see you at an Esopus event in 2009!
12/12/09: KAY ROSEN BOOK SIGNING
Esopus Space hosted a book-signing party for artist (and Esopus contributor) Kay Rosen on Thursday, December 10, whose fantastic new artist's book, Kay Rosen AKAK, has just been released by Regency Arts Press Ltd.
11/21/09: VIDEO FROM NATUREBOY CONCERT
Esopus Space was thrilled to inaugurate its concert series on Nov. 18th with a performance by Natureboy, the musical project of Sara Kermanshahi, whose self-titled debut album was released in 2009 (and who also contributed a track to the Esopus 13 "Nostradamus" CD). You can watch video excerpts here.
10/28/09: "SIDE BY SIDE" NOW OPEN
"Side by Side," a group exhibition featuring works from five artists—Jeff Gibson, Oliver Herring, Peter Krashes, Alex Masket, and Mickey Smith—who contributed to Esopus 13, is on view at Esopus Space through December 17th. Gallery hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 12-5pm (and always by appointment).
5/14/09: ESOPUS 12 LAUNCH PARTY
Thanks to everyone who attended the Esopus 12 launch at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe. It was a great party!
2/4/09: ESOPUS 10 GOES GOLD
Esopus 10 has been awarded a prestigious Gold Medal "for Superb Craftsmenship in Production" from the Graphic Professionals Resource Network (IAPHC). Appropriately enough, the award was shared with Printcrafters/Westcan Printing, the extraordinary company in Winnipeg, Canada, that has printed every issue of Esopus.
11/18/08: THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING
The holidays are just around the corner. Why not give your friends and family a gift subscription to Esopus? We'll send a personalized note announcing your gift that includes any personal message you may want to send.
11/3/08: ESOPUS AT E/AB FAIR
Esopus recently participated in the 11th annual Editions/Artists' Books Fair (Oct 31-Nov 2) at the Tunnel in NYC. During the event, we sponsored a site-specific project by Esopus 11 contributor Jason Polan: "100 PEOPLE I SAW AT THE E/AB FAIR." To learn more about it, or to purchase a copy, visit Jason's website. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hello!
8/5/08: GLIMPSES INTO THE WRITING PROCESS
George Orwell once described writing as “a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness.” Two selections from our sold-out "Process" issue, now viewable online for the first time, offer a glimpse into that incredible (yet ultimately rewarding) struggle. Read Christopher Isherwood's work journals from his celebrated 1964 novel, A Single Man, here, and check out the 22 drafts of Generation, by the Walt Whitman Award–winning poet Suji Kwock Kim, here.
6/23/08: TWO ESOPUS DISCOVERIES NOW ONLINE
Esopus has been incredibly fortunate over the past five years to introduce the never-before-seen work of a number of truly amazing artists. We've just uploaded original articles featuring two Esopus discoveries—Mark Hogancamp and Alex Brown—to our online Flash player. Check out Mark’s extraordinary photodioramas from Esopus 5 here, and Alex’s stunning battle drawings from Esopus 7 here.
6/10/08: ESOPUS "OBJECT"-IFIED
Esopus has been named "Publication of the Year" by Specific Object. This is an extraordinary honor and we are truly thrilled to receive it. Find out more here.
6/3/08: 'GOOD NEWS' TRACK ON KEXP PODCAST
Seattle-based public radio station KEXP has included The Real Tuesday Weld's "Love at the Death Hotel" (the first track from the #10 "Good News" CD) on its 100th "Music that Matters" podcast. This is the second time an Esopus song has been featured on one of the influential station's podcasts; "Lisa,' the Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers song from our "Imaginary Friends" CD, was on "Music that Matters #2". Download from iTunes.
5/15/08: ESOPUS 10 LAUNCH PARTY
Contributors, readers, and friends of Esopus gathered at White Columns in Manhattan's West Village recently to celebrate the release of our tenth issue. View photos from the event HERE
4/17/08: NEW BACK-ISSUE CONTENT ONLINE
There are now three more articles from sold-out back issues available online: From Esopus 2, Edward McPherson recounts his torturous 10 consecutive viewings of Mystic River in "Ten Rivers to Cross"; from Esopus 3, Andrea Dezsó offers her hauntingly beautiful artist's project "Mamushka"; and from Esopus 4, acclaimed NYC chef Jody Williams brings her experiences of learning to cook in Italy to life in "Cuoca." Check back soon for two more selections, both featuring Esopus "discoveries."
4/11/08: ESOPUS 7 SELLS OUT
Esopus 7 is now sold out. Back issues of Esopus 8 or Esopus 9 are still available here. (A limited number of copies of all sold-out issues are available in exchange for donations to the Esopus Foundation. Find out more on our donation page.
3/10/08: 'HOUSES' FOR SALE
Artist and past Esopus contributor Chris Doyle has just announced a new series: “Housing Development Project.” For it, Chris will offer 30 “subscriptions,” each of which entitles purchasers to one new 9” x 9” watercolor house drawing every month for 12 months. Chris has generously offered to donate half of the total cost of each subscription to the Esopus Foundation. Learn more about this amazing offer HERE.
11/20/07: PHOTOS FROM KITCHEN EVENT
Our second annual "Evening with Esopus" on Tuesday, November 13th, featured a reading by actor/director Tom Gilroy of "A Short Film about Andy Warhol," the unproduced Jim Lyons screenplay published in Esopus 9, and a set of music by Brooklyn musical duo High Places. The evening also included rare screenings of work by Taiwan-based filmmaker Tsai Ming-Liang and conceptual artist Kay Rosen. VIEW PHOTOS HERE
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PYRAMID PORTRAITS! Don't miss "Clayton Patterson: Pyramid Portraits," an exhibition of never-before-seen photographs of the extraordinarily inventive drag queens who performed at New York’s legendary Pyramid Club in the mid-1980s. PLEASE NOTE: The show has been extended to August 5th! MORE INFO |
| Follow That Bird!, "Diego Gravinese" (from ESOPUS 14) |
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