SERIES NARRATIVE

The Journal of Radical Shimming was, apart from a means of documenting transformative counter-histories, a tool in print-form in which to instigate discussion on how we encounter and define these histories; accepted, or otherwise. A forum to propose simple tools, the JRS aimed to instigate possible future histories in the making.

Established in 2007 at the beginning of Red76’s initiative Revolutionary Spirit (2007 – 2009), the JRS acted as a tool for the group to convene, consider, and promote ideas between public actions as well assist in materializing publics, a means of linking disparate publics which might manifest from one Red76 project to the next.

The publication coveted immediacy, relegating dominant modes of production – such as “spell-checking,” and “editing” – into the dustbins of history in favor of using itself as a public notebook for all to see for whatever the configuration of Red76 was at the time. Its desire was to think and produce simultaneously, opening itself towards the discussion of ideas, and the re-formatting of previous considerations in public. Gladly willing to contradict past formulations and statements, the JRS existed as deadly serious, tongue-in-cheek provocation in paper-form.

The Journal of Radical Shimming was founded in Portland, Oregon. It was first distributed through a commission from the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia and the Cooley Gallery at Reed College. Released intermittently, the JRS was edited and most often designed by Sam Gould, in continued collaboration with Dylan Gauthier, Gabriel Mindel Saloman, and many others.

Always free of charge as a conceptual distribution strategy, the content of the JRS was decidedly not online. A form of tactical media, one could find it by becoming part of its process, acting as a distributor, or “randomly” on public transportation, in your mailbox, or slipped into a copy of the NY Times.

A complete collection of the Journal of Radical Shimming may be accessed at the library of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

COMMENTARY

DOCUMENTS

COLOPHON

Editor: Sam Gould
Number of Issues: 18
Circulation: Dependent on each issues theme and intent. End of run circulation 23,000+.

Frequent Contributors: Dylan Gauthier, Gabriel Mindel Saloman, Mike Wolf, Dan S. Wang, Matthew Stadler.