A Rock Collection
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Maia Asshaq & Benjamin Gaydos

We are extremely excited to collaborate with Sensate Journal and offer supplemental digital content for Flint Magazine.

Flint is an unbound multimedia magazine in a box. The magazine was modeled after Aspen Magazine, the highly influential art journal “in a box” from late 60s, Flint Magazine examines contemporary art practice and criticism. However Flint Magazine offers a poetic antonym of sorts – where Aspen is a tree, Flint is a rock.

Taking cue from Roger Caillois’ The Writing of Stones, Issues 1 + 2 of Flint explore the rock as a medium for art, mysticism, place, and history. Rock is a natural archive; it records history as layers of sediment, and as a sculpted form. This hard, waxy chert is shaped by the water that courses above it resulting in a complex and beautiful form. The oldest existing representations of visual symbolism and material technology are found in the form of carved stone that date back to 250,000 BCE. It preserves time, space, and artifacts in the same way the internet accumulates information – always collecting and storing without editing itself. Rocks compact history, yet still maintain a beautiful and unique form.

Rocks not only inspired the content and research for Flint Magazine, but also the design. We experimented with the tactile and the intangible – exploring how to formally present different mediums – while making sure each individual contribution maintained its integrity.

Flint also facilitated an opportunity for unique collaborations between designers, craftspeople, artists, and writers. Flint’s contributors span the globe, from Brazil to Zimbabwe.

We would like to thank the artists, craftspeople, designers, filmmakers, musicians, poets, printers, programmers, scientists, storytellers, and writers who contributed to Flint: Kyohei Abe, Scott Andrew, Agnes Bolt, JT Bullitt, Mike Bullock, Lynn Crawford, Annie Curle, Traci Currie, Olayami Dabls, Warren Defever, Paul Elliman, Kottie Gaydos, Gale Glover, Paul Goodrich, Ilana Halperin, Nikki Hart, Daniel Horton, Masimba Hwati, Chido Johnson, Gwynne Johnson, Ethel Irene Kabwato, Matt Klimas, Francisco Lopez, Darlene Lorence, Cynthia Marangwanda, Margot Miriel, Francis McKee, Patricia No, Pope.L, Megan O’Connell, Pauline Oliveros, Filipa Ramos, Joseph Reinsel, Donna Roberts, Amy Sacksteder, Nina Sarnelle, Karen Stein, Megan Stockton, Valentine Umansky, Ana Vaz, Kawandeep Virdee, Ron Watters, Richard Weston, What Pipeline, George Wietor, Rebecca Worby, Denise Yezbick, and Julia Yezbick.

To experience Flint Magazine in its physical form, please visit dittoditto.org or flintmagazine.org

 

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Flint Magazine Issue 1 + 2
(Special Issue)
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Rock Collections: Three Stories About Rocks – Jason Dilworth
A Idade da Pedra – Ana Vaz and Filipa Ramos
Long Distance Operators – Francis McKee
Rock Record – Joe Reinsel
Iron Teaching Rocks How to Rust – Olayami Dabls/Julia Yezbick
Pauline Oliveros’ Rock Piece – Lindsay Karty
SEEK: A Self-Fulfilling Prophesy – Institute of New Feeling with Rebecca Worby
Heroes, Gods, and Beasts: An Appendix – Benjamin Gaydos
Would You Call it a Place – Megan Stockton and Patricia No with Matt Conzett