Lay Flat 01: Remain in Light, edited by Shane Lavalette and Karly Wildenhaus, quickly sold out of their edition of 1000, published just this past January 2009. Now Lavalette, the founder and editor, is working with guest editor Michael Bühler-Rose for Lay Flat 02: Meta. The issue is centered around photographic work that is “conceptually engaged with the history, process and conventions of the medium itself.”
As with the first publication, some of the production costs of this collectible journal is funded by donations. Be part of this creative venture and support Lay Flat. Patrons contributing $50 or more by November 15 will receive a screen-printed Lay Flat tote bag. To donate electronically, visit www.layflat.org and click “DONATE” on the left. Any amount big or small will get you listed on the donor list which is turning out to be a “who’s who” of photography people.
Shane Lavalette has no shortage of ideas. Aside from being a photographer himself, he plans to release the first artist book from Lay Flat (as an independent imprint) in Summer of 2010 and has curated the exhibition Ladies and Gentleman at the Carpenter Center for Visual Arts at Harvard University from November 1-November 29, 2009. 
From the website: “Ladies and Gentlemen consists of a selection of found studio portrait cards – 12 women and 12 men, each measuring approximately 4.5 x 6.5 in. – as collected by photographer Shane Lavalette. The cards were produced in the late 19th Century by various photographic studios around New England, many in Vermont where Lavalette is originally from. The images often depict subjects gazing out of the frame, frozen and lost in thought. Brought together, the photographs ask us to consider the personalities and roles of these individuals as well the blurred line of femininity/masculinity that exists on their surface.”
You can also follow Lavalette on his blog, Journal.