What Is The Hand Magazine?

Adam Finkelston (L) and James Meara working on the first issue of The Hand Magazine in 2013.

The Hand Magazine is based in Prairie Village, Kansas and has been in publication since 2013. The Hand is published four times a year in February, May, August, and November. It is owned, published, co-edited, and distributed by Adam Finkelston. James Meara is lead designer and co-editor. The Hand is dedicated to being the world’s premier forum for “alternative” and historic photographic processes and all types of printmaking. We want to encourage inspiration, education, and community for artists using unique, mixed media, experimental, and idiosyncratic “reproduction-based” techniques. We do also print digital art work and art work where the subject matter has been manipulated, directed, or staged by the artist.

The Hand is proud to be a reader supported, ad-free, independent publication. Subscribers have the ability to submit to all of the issues on their subscription for no additional fee. Artists who wish to submit to a single issue can do so on a single-issue subscription. This way, everyone who submits gets a copy of the magazine whether their work is printed or not. We try very hard to run a magazine that we, as artists, would like to be part of. This model allows us to accept and print more art by more artists. This gives the magazine more variety, a broader appeal, and a more open identity. We are not interested in criticism, manifestos, theory, or ideology. The Hand is about helping artists, showing a wide variety of new, exciting work, and building community through our shared love of the arts. We are fiercely independent with no outside sponsors or ties. We run almost no ads, except the rare ad for a like-minded publication, web site, gallery, or event.

The Hand Magazine is here for artists. In addition to publishing four times a year, we also curate or jury exhibitions to show artists work, and maintain a strong social media presence on Facebook and Instagram to promote the work of the artists who contribute to our pages.

Please consider contributing to our cause. While we are not a non-profit, we are, again, in it for the art! We appreciate your support! Long life to The Hand!