Lumpen magazine is an independent, critical arts and culture publication, published 3-4 times a year. Lumpen’s 5-15,000 copies per issue are distributed in Chicago, LA, Olympia, Portland and NYC.

Lumpen is the oldest project of its publisher, the Chicago-based nonprofit, Public Media Institute. More than simply a magazine, Lumpen works in coordination with a wide array of media projects, festivals, events, exhibitions and various other publications produced by PMI.

During my time in various roles at PMI, Lumpen, and Proximity, I had the pleasure of working in collaboration on these projects, publications and events by PMI:

– Version, an international festival about art technology and social issues.

– Select Media Festival our annual media arts festival

– Lumpen TLVSN, a cable-access television series and web tv channel

– Co-Prosperity Sphere, an experimental cultural center. (As well as Eastern Expansion and Northern Exposure)

– Proximity Magazine, an enjoyable art mag

– Matériel Magazine, another awesome art mag

– Pr,  an art broadsheet newsletter

– The (con)Temporary Art Guide Chicago, an annual directory of contemporary art spaces in Chicago

My work with Ed Marszewski and The Public Media Institute began in early 2008 after returning to Chicago from Montana where I worked in new media research and event coordinating for Project Vote Smart, a nonprofit political education organization. I started as a contributing writer the end of 2008 when I promoted to managing editor. As managing editor I initiated and oversaw a complete visual and editorial redesign by Chicago design firm Plural.

lum·pen adj. 1. Of or relating to dispossessed, often displaced people who have been cut off from the socioeconomic class with which they would ordinarily be identified: lumpen intellectuals unable to find work in their fields. A member the underclass, especially the lowest social stratum. 2. Vulgar or common; plebeian.

LUMPEN TLVSN (interview) – The Yes Men at Co-Prosperity Sphere from lumpen on Vimeo.