User:Eric Lyden/sandbox

The Moment, L.A. Arts Journal was founded in 1988. The sole intention of the original editors of this poetry and art rag was to bring the written word to a wider audience and create a forum for free expression. Influenced by Evergreen Review, The Free Press, The Realist, The Oracle and the early issues of Rolling Stone, The Moment took on a grassroots attitude and a loose look.

From 1988 until 1993, fourteen issues of this "randomly published journal" were given away or sold on consignment at independent bookstores in L.A., San Francisco and Washington D.C.. Charles Bukowski became a regular contributor of poetry and drawings. Other contributors included Sean Penn, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Hirschman, Neeli Cherkovski, Jack Micheline and Gerald Nicosia. Two interviews were done with Timothy Leary, which included some interesting spontaneous poetry. Interviews of Billy Burroughs, Paul Bowles and Edie Kerouac-Parker were reprinted. And poetry, drawings, pictures, stories and cartoons were printed from contributions all over the world.

As the magazine developed, regular contributions came from the local wordsmiths. The underground voices of Los Angeles and San Francisco sent us their heartfelf expressions. The project was always lively and always fun. The motto of this influential mag was, "Live the moment, ride the waves….live and learn."