But where do you start? Why not print a calendar of interesting events in the area? Yes, and then steadily, stealthily, content began to creep onto its pages. A little here, a little there. And then one fateful day the duo asked me to write a column for their little magazine—Chronogram! How could I refuse them?
I think the column was called "Another Way to Look at Things"—or some such. To my surprise there were some people who liked it, and some people claimed they got something from it. I certainly did. It got me clacking away at the typewriter. And I must confess I am still at it. So, as they have done for many others, Jason and Amara gave me a very sweet opportunity.
Twenty years, huh? Well, well. Hooray and more power to you all.
Frank Crocitto is a playwright, poet, and author of many books, including Insight Is Better Than Ice Cream (Candlepower, 2000). His column, "Frankly Speaking" appeared in the magazine from its inception until 2005.
Stuart Bigley
When Brian asked me to write something about Chronogram's 20th anniversary, I was taken back more than 20 years. Jason often mentions that the idea for Chronogram came out of something I said during a conversation we were having about the possibility of he and Amara taking over the designing of the Unison program guide. As someone who is rarely reluctant to take responsibility for a good idea, I usually just smile and nod. In all honesty, I don't remember saying anything too profound that day, but on the outside chance that anything I said actually did help to birth what has evolved into one of the Hudson Valley's most important arts and cultural assets, then I am grateful to have been part of that process.
That being said, ideas are cheap. What is of real importance is the doing—taking an idea and through hard work and perseverance realizing its potential. Chronogram has become such an integral part of the Hudson Valley arts scene that it is difficult to picture our community without it. Jason and Amara have taken a seed of an idea and put together a highly professional production team headed by Brian Mahoney that has continually put out a monthly magazine whose main focus is our community, but whose scope is global. I always look forward to an extraordinary mix of what is new and upcoming in music, art, poetry, politics, and the environment. The cover art is always thought provoking and visually unique. Chronogram's monthly appearance around town has become much anticipated by all the arts loving community in the Hudson Valley. It is one of the many things that make our area such an amazing place to live and to visit. I thank everyone at Chronogram for all their continuing hard work to bring this gem to us. I wish Chronogram many, many more years of success. We all love you.
Stuart Bigley is and artist and cofounder of Unison Arts Center in New Paltz, where he served as executive director from 1980 to 2012.
Meira Blaustein
I remember Chronogram when it was still a small size magazine, brochure-like almost. Even then I always picked it up looking for the best things to do in the Hudson Valley.
It was right around the time when the magazine changed from small (and I mean very small) size to the large format that it is now that I began working on the creation of the Woodstock Film Festival. I remember heading to their old office in New Paltz, going up the steep set of stairs, climbing over the piles of sneakers as I passed the yoga studio, to arrive at their small, crowded office and sit down with the young and friendly editor, Brian Mahoney, telling him about this exciting new film festival that we were about to launch in the Hudson Valley. I knew one of their reporters, Lorna Tychostup, and so I felt that I had an in. I asked Brian to support the infant festival. "Give us coverage, give us ads, you'll see, it will be great," I said. Alas, Brian approached it a bit cautiously, suggesting he would wait and see how the first year unfolded.
