FALL 2015

THREE TYPES OF READING AMBIGUITY

BY CHARLES BISSELL AND BETH CAMPBELL

Three Types of Reading Ambiguity is the result of a multidisciplinary collaboration between musician Charles Bissell and contemporary artist Beth Campbell.

The edition is a layered reflection on the differing meanings of “original” and “copy” in the visual arts and music—and a fascinating glimpse into the creative processes of Bissell and Campbell.

Both happen to be previous contributors to Esopus; In fact, Campbell opened the very first issue of Esopus with a drawing from her ongoing series, “My Potential Future Based on Present Circumstances,” which consists of elegant flow charts mapping out a dizzyingly wide range of outcomes resulting from a particular choice she’s made.

Bissell, a member of the acclaimed indie band The Wrens, was interviewed along with a bandmate, Greg Whelan, in Esopus 3 about the intense, often torturous process behind the making of the Wrens’ landmark 2003 album, The Meadowlands.

Bissell is currently putting the finishing touches on The Wrens’ long-awaited, and much-anticipated, new album, which will finally be released next year. For this limited edition, he offered us a longer, unique version of one of its tracks, “Three Types of Reading Ambiguity”—a transcendent exploration of the reckoning with mortality that accompanies middle age. In the edition, that track takes up one side of a custom-designed audio cassette, whose Side B features a fascinating sonic interpretation of the song created by Campbell, whose sculptures and installations frequently explore notions of copies and duplication. The edition also includes an exquisite new 17 x 30” “Potential Future” drawing, reproduced here as an archival lithographic print, related to the song and Campbell's collaboration with Bissell for the project, as well as a foldout poster featuring Bissell’s lyrics reproduced in their original format.

Three Types of Reading Ambiguity is currently in production, and will be sent to our premium subscribers in early November. It will be available as a part of a Premium subscription to Esopus until October 12th. 

LISTEN TO PODCAST PREVIEW OF EDITION