On Irish Magazines: Source, SuperMassiveBlackHole, and Blow

An open dialogue between the three photo-magazines in Ireland: Source, SuperMassiveBlackHole, and Blow. Approaching the format from diverse perspectives, these magazines have made their own specialised niche in the publishing universe. We will learn from their work in print and online, their origins and future plans, and their view on contemporary Irish photography. The talk will commence with a presentation by each of the participants, after which the conversation will be opened to the floor.

BLOW

Established in July 2010, Blow is Ireland’s first A3 photography magazine. Aimed at photographers of all disciplines, Blow has set out to offer a platform for both Irish and international image makers to have their work seen, debated and discussed.

Blow endeavors to unite seasoned photographers and passionate enthusiasts by providing a carefully selected collection of images to challenge and excite. The running theme of this magazine is photography itself, in all its guises.

Info

Date: 6pm, Sunday 24th July

Book & Magazine Fair
FilmBase, Temple Bar,
Dublin 2

Location Map

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This quarterly publication launched a teaser ‘preview’ issue ‘hold your breath’ in July 2010 to coincide with the first annual PhotoIreland Festival.

SuperMassiveBlackHole

SuperMassiveBlackHole is Ireland’s leading international online photography magazine. It is available to download for free as a PDF in both screen and print resolution. Born in 2009, SuperMassiveBlackHole is dedicated to the photographic imagery resulting from the time-based processes found in many interdisciplinary art practices today.

SOURCE

Source is published by Photo Works North, an organisation first constituted in the summer of 1991. The purpose of this organisation was to promote photography in Northern Ireland with its principle objective being the starting of a photography gallery in Belfast.

The last of the organisation’s aims was the publication of a newsletter. This newsletter was published for the first time in the Summer of 1992. It was eight pages, black and white throughout, and given out for free. The organisation raised money through a print lottery; tickets were sold for a draw for donated photographs including work by Martin Parr, Willie Doherty and a self-portrait by Lee Friedlander, produced in a photobooth in Wales and donated by a member of the committee.

Source grew in size and was soon on sale in newsagents. By the fourth issue in 1995 an office had been acquired in the centre of Belfast and financial assistance was provided by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for the production of the magazine and its associated programme.

At this stage all work for the magazine was done voluntarily. In 1996 Proteus – a European Union funding organisation – offered a grant that funded the positions of an editor, administrator and education officer. This funding continued until 1998. At the end of 1998 Source relaunched with a new landscape format, a redesigned layout, more review content and more colour reproductions. This time the funding was supplied by the Arts Council lottery fund.

Since 1998 Source has grown in size and modified its design but is still a landscape format magazine with a mix of written content and portfolios of images. Since 1999 Source has also organised exhibitions and talks in Belfast and toured exhibitions of Irish artists to galleries in Europe. In 2000 the old office was redeveloped and Source moved into a (semi-derelict) warehouse space. It is hoped that this is a temporary home (very cold in winter, too hot in summer) and that in 2002 Source will move once again, this time to a more permenant location.