Aperture, the renowned publisher of photography books and publisher of Aperture magazine, finds itself mourning the death of its longtime executive director, Michael Hoffman, while planning the celebrations surrounding the nonprofit photography publisher's 50th anniversary. Hoffman died November 23, 2001.
Aperture was founded in 1952 by photographers Minor White, Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange and others. Hoffman, a former student of White, took over as executive director of Aperture in 1965 and launched the book publishing program. He took a moribund organization that was heavily in debt, and over the next 35 years transformed Aperture into one of the leading publishers of work by distinguished international photographers.
"We're saddened by the loss of Michael Hoffman, but we're inspired by his legacy," said Janice Stanton. A member of the Aperture board and former intellectual property lawyer, Stanton has been appointed interim executive director. She said the Aperture board was in the process of considering candidates, including herself, to direct Aperture on a permanent basis.
To mark its 50th year, this fall the house will publish Photography Past/Forward: Aperture at 50, a survey work that will focus on Aperture's influence over international photography. Aperture will also mount a traveling exhibition of the works included in the book and publish two special issues of Aperture, its quarterly magazine.
Stanton told PW that this year Aperture will publish about 19 books (eight are reprints). Aperture has a backlist of more than 300 titles, including classic works by many of the most famous photographers in the world. First printings range from about 2,000 to 5,000 copies, said Stanton. "But initial printings are just the beginning. Our titles continue to sell for many years," she said. U.S. distribution is handled by FSG.
Stanton acknowledged the slump in the art and illustrated book market, but she told PW that the market for Aperture's brand of upscale publishing "is soaring. There is enormous interest in photography by our market. There is certainly a slump in the mass market. But we've been a pioneer in publishing elegant, high-quality books and we will not change."
Consumers can purchase Aperture titles directly through its online bookstore at www.aperture.org.
