Sensitive Skin Magazine Archive
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
Sensitive Skin magazine was a short-lived publication created and edited by Buddy Kold and Norman Douglas in 1991. The magazine published short fiction, poetry, screenwriting, reviews, essays, drawings, and photographs by established and emerging writers and artists, mostly from New York. The Sensitive Skin Magazine Archive consists of general documentation of the administrative activities of the magazine, as well as submissions and production files related to specific issues.
Historical Note
Sensitive Skin magazine was a short-lived publication created and edited by Buddy Kold and Norman Douglas in 1991. The first four issues were printed under the title "Peau Sensible" (French for "sensitive skin"), which had been translated to the English for subsequent issues. John Farris, Patricia Winter, and Darius James joined the editorial fold in 1992, while Mr. E. Oso took over editorial duties for the final issue in 1994. Kold remained the publisher throughout these years.
The magazine published short fiction, poetry, screenwriting, reviews, essays, drawings, and photographs by established and emerging writers and artists, mostly from New York. Sensitive Skin also frequently partnered with The Living Theatre to host release parties/ benefits where many of the published authors would read from their work and/or perform. St. Mark's Poetry Project and the Fez also hosted readings in conjunction with the magazine.
During its brief existence, Sensitive Skin published seminal downtown New York writers including John Giorno, Eileen Myles, David Rattray, Chris Kraus, David Ulin, Sparrow, Mike Topp, Ron Kolm, Richard Hell, Bob Holman, Wanda Phipps, Taylor Mead, among many others. Many of its published writers are part of the transgressive New York school, but a high degree of humour and wit also pervaded each issue. From haughty, pseudo-manifestoes to faux interviews, Sensitive Skin was careful not to take itself too seriously. Referring to the tongue-in-cheek subtitle of issue #2--"The magazine of art and literature that makes reading as fun and easy as watching TV!"--the editors, displaying this balance struck between the disturbing and the droll, write: "our magazine is not necessarily fun, or easy, to read. But for those who still search for interesting literature, and for the profound, the dark and the disturbing, Sensitive Skin is the place to look." (Box 1, Folder 5)
Arrangement
The folders are arranged in alphabetical order by folder title. For the most part, original arrangement of material has been preserved. Much of the material arrived already grouped according to corresponding issue, and this arrangement has been maintained.
Scope and Contents
The Sensitive Skin Magazine Archive consists of general documentation of the administrative activities of the magazine from 1991 to 1995, as well as submissions and production files related to specific issues. Each issue folder may include correspondence, promotional material, original submissions (some annotated by editors), master copies, receipts, press, as well as other production documentation.
Subjects
Genres
People
Places
Titles
Donors
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restricitions.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection, created by Sensitive Skin Magazine, was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Sensitive Skin Magazine Archive; MSS 201; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Bernard Meisler in 2008. The accession number related to this gift is 2007.201.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Processing decisions made prior to September 2018 have not been recorded.
Revisions to this Guide
Repository
View Inventory
Business-related documentation, circa 1991-1995, inclusive
General
Incl. business certificate, ISSN Application, resumes, and other related files
Clippings, 1992-1995, inclusive
Correspondence - Misc., circa 1991-1995, inclusive
Financial Documentation - Stores and Distribution, Advertising, 1993-1996, inclusive
Grant Documentation, undated, inclusive
General
Incl. Financial documentation; NYSCA (1985-86) and NEA (1988-89) applications for Ikon Press
Issues #1-5, 1991-1993
Issue #5 - signed by contributors, 1993
Mailing Lists, undated, inclusive
MIscellaneous, undated, inclusive
Peau Sensible #1 (Nov./Dec. 1991) - submissions, receipts, master copy, 1991
Peau Sensible #2 (Winter 1992) - submissions, 1992
Peau Sensible #3 (Spring 1992) - submissions, correspondence, master copy, 1992
Peau Sensible #3 (Spring 1992) - submissions, correspondence, clippings, 1992
Peau Sensible #4 (Summer 1992) - submissions, receipts, master copy, 1992
Peau Sensible #4 (Summer 1992) - artwork submissions, 1992
Peau Sensible #4 (Summer 1992) - rejected submissions, 1992
Promotional - Readings/Event Announcements, 1992
Sensitive Skin #5 (Summer/Fall 1993) - submissions, correspondence, 1993
Sensitive Skin #2 (Spring/Summer 1994) - submissions, correspondence, master copy, 1994
General
[original folder titled "Sensitive Skin #6]