TradeArt

"TradeArt" is an underground art magazine first published by TradeArt Incorporated in March 1999. TradeArt began in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC just as artists were demanding more arts coverage in mainstream newspapers. With The Washington Star out of publication, a public not yet won over by The Washington Times, and USA Today offering mainly snippets of national news, The Washington Post was the area's leading news source. Artists had to compete for limited coverage of the arts and cultural events.

Free creative expression

TradeArt allowed artists to design their own news source. It was based on sourcebook advertising, a tool of the trade for commercial illustrators, photographers and designers offering creative services to advertising agencies, design studios, and publishing companies. Unlike sourcebooks, TradeArt mainly targeted classically trained artists. Poets, painters, sculptors, dancers, musicians and actors were encouraged to express their arts ideas without the judgment of art critics and without censorship.
With its barter ads allowing artists with limited financial resources to acquire products without exchanging money, its no holds barred editorial content, and its free diffusion in public spaces, it was an irreverent voice in the conservative political capital. The Washington Post quickly hailed it as a "chance for artists to showcase and barter their work." [TradeArt, a bimonthly magazine that offers artists a chance to showcase and barter their work, The Washington Post, Washington, DC, Aug. 8, 1999] [ News about the bimonthly art magazine spread across the nation. The Fort Wayne-The Journal Gazette noted that "TradeArt" opens doors for artists." [TradeArt opens doors for artists, Fort Wayne-The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Aug. 10, 1999] Other newspapers focused their headlines on "TradeArt's" barter ads, which allowed artists to trade art for professional services. [Artists barter work in swap newsletter, Lansing State Journal, Lansing, MI, Aug. 8, 1999] [New magazine helps artists show, barter their works, San Antonio Express News, San Antonio, TX, Aug. 10, 1999] [Artist's swap shop, The Modesto Bee, Modesto, CA, Aug. 15, 1999]

From underground to overseas

In 2000, TradeArt's publisher reorganized as a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Publication was interrupted between 2001 and 2004, when the public charitable organization led artists on an international solidarity project with children. [World Volunteer Web: Children speak out on world affairs with help from volunteers [http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/browse/countries/france/doc/children-speak-out-on.html] , Jul. 1, 2003. Retrieved on 2008-08-27]

In 2005, TradeArt Incorporated transferred the publication rights to TradeArt Abroad, an international association established in France in 2004. TradeArt Abroad aimed to extend TradeArt to artists in countries where poverty is an issue. The international recreated "TradeArt", The voice of the international artist community" as a bilingual quarterly. [Bibliothèque nationale de France [http://bibliographienationale.bnf.fr/series/p4_07.h/cadre700-1.html] Retrieved on 2008-08-27] The bilingual version, edited in English and French, was published in Paris in January 2007. With a seed grant from the European Commission, its first objective was to open doors for artists affected by the persistent socioeconomic crises in France. [UNESCO Culture Section [http://portal.unesco.org/culture/fr/ev.php-URL_ID=31677&URL_DO=DO_PRINTPAGE&URL_SECTION=201.html] Retrieved on 2008-08-27]
Association TradeArt Abroad relinquished the publication rights to TradeArt Incorporated in 2008.
TradeArtISSN 1523-4347Founded: 1999Format: 7 x 10.75"Colors: Black and whiteCirculation: 2000 bimonthlyPublisher: TradeArt Incorporated

Links

* [http://www.trade-art.org Official web site]

References