Basic paper airplane 2005–2023

Joshua James Amberson founded Basic paper airplane with the idea of "launching something small and simple into the world and seeing where it lands”. This project served as a distraction from running a small poetry press for four years. Initially launched in Olympia, Washington, and later produced in Portland, Oregon, Basic paper airplane was a 13-issue fanzine featuring personal essays, interviews, reviews, and reflections on themes such as family, Americana, and the evolution of print media. Each issue focused on specific themes: Issue 1 included a mix CD and a "fully functional paper airplane"; Issue 5 explored odd Americana; and Issue 13, titled The cassette issue, examined the art of the mixtape, the importance of the boombox, and the intimacy of the Walkman. Every issue of Basic paper airplane offered a unique reading experience.