See the word

Joining the throng of art publications massed on the border of our consciousness and seeking our attention with ever glossier pages, brighter colors and thicker bindings is a modest, black-and-white, inexpensive and reader-friendly newsletter called dc Journal. Originating at detroit contemporary gallery (5141 Rosa Parks Blvd., Detroit) and edited by gallery director Aaron Timlin, this eight-page minimag brings together essays (Jeffrey Abt’s highly useful “Deciphering Art World Codes”), artist statements (sculptors Sergio De Giusti and Hugh Timlin’s personal accounts and journal entries) and poems (reprints from Dispatch Detroit of art-related works by Jim Perkinson, David Watson and Jim Gustafson). A weighing of the merits of critical theory by Paul Snyder begins an important discussion, one that really should be ongoing in any art scene. And Matthew Smith broadens the field with a statement about creativity in our town. Interested folks can have the journal for $5 per year (four issues) and can communicate with the editor via e-mail at [email protected], by phone at 313-898-4ART or check the gallery’s Web site at www.detroitcontemporary.com. George Tysh is the Metro Times arts editor. E-mail him at [email protected]