Papersafe Issue #7: The Wild

The simple and understated title of this issue was the prompt given to contributing artists and writers. Their goal was to look beyond the obvious and ordinary connections between the idea of “the wild” and the accordant visual representations. Could a series of portraits be considered wild? Could abstract, process-driven images be considered wild? Did photographs of wild nature fit within this issue without being cliché? In addition, Nomadic Bookshelf — a transitory bookstore dedicated to disseminating photobooks throughout the country through book fairs and pop-up events — was invited to select five photographers for The Wild with no limitations or parameters. This process, involving chance and the unknown, was wild in and of itself. The work selected from Papersafe's call and the work chosen by Nomadic Bookshelf exist seamlessly within this volume; together the selections create a cohesive visual exploration of the theme. Photographs and writing by Sophie Barbasch, Chris Berntsen,