Summer days are here in the northern hemisphere, at my specific latitude and longitude, which could mean some seasonal slowing down of mental activity, and thus more minimalist blog posts on my part, but I do aim to keep them going weekly. My incoming mail has reduced to a trickle, which is fine. That gives me some time to get "caught up," a theoretical state of being where one is able to send something to everyone who has sent them something, said to be impossible by the mail art elders.
I'm seeing more perforation and I like it. To be a mail art grandmaster, one doesn't necessarily need a perforation machine, but it does help. I hear whispers that this person has one, that person has one. I ask the intergalactic space lords and space ladies who manage the fortunes of the inhabitants of the universe, "When will I get one?" Their silence can be translated as "You can't hurry the ownership of a perforation machine, you just have to wait." And so wait I will, happily documenting my mail art adventures and observations.
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Blog-o-sphere
Here's a monster of a post from Monster A Go-Go, including several pieces of mail with notes AND a bonus video interview. A must watch for mail art enthusiasts.
[Disclaimer: I do not claim to have shamanic powers. This is not about me. This is a work of fiction, written with the help of ChatGPT. I have made a number of edits for clarity and to keep the story on the desired track. -T. Brown 6/15/2023]
In Memory of Zephyrus
In a sprawling metropolis in Eastern Europe, there dwelled a mail art shaman, known as Zephyrus, who possessed an extraordinary gift. He could peer into the depths of a person's soul simply by examining the artworks they sent him in the mail, blending ancient shamanic practices with the power of the internet.
His apartment, tucked away in the suburbs, served as a sanctuary where Zephyrus communed with the mail artists who sought his counsel. The walls of every room, completely covered with post cards, decorated envelopes, collages, drawings, and text, danced with pulsating colors, reflecting the vividness of the souls he encountered.
With every item received in the mail, Zephyrus connected to the artist's essence, channeling their emotions and experiences by means of some indescribable practice. The more interaction he had with an artist, the deeper the healing that could take place. Even a single unanswered mail brought forth a glimmer of solace, as the act of sharing one's innermost self was in itself a transformative release.
Zephyrus, however, was not infallible. He was but a human vessel for the shamanic energies that coursed through him. Sometimes, the weight of the art and the souls it carried overwhelmed him. In such moments, he retreated deep within himself. The need for self-care was paramount.
Artists who dared to venture beyond the realm of postal communications were met with the greatest opportunity for healing. A visit to Zephyrus' apartment allowed for deeper connections to form. The shared space fostered an atmosphere of profound understanding and trust, where souls intertwined and ancient wounds found respite.
For those courageous enough to stay with him in one of his two guest rooms, the healing was profound. Within the walls of his sanctuary, time lost its meaning as Zephyrus guided them on a journey of self-discovery.
His presence in the mail art network is truly missed. If you have any experiences you would like to share, from having interacted by mail or spent time in-person with Zephyrus, send them to mailartnews@gmail.com. Thank you.
More mail is on the way! Wow, those new stamps sure are neat. Especially the one that says 'Psychedelic Mail'. Be careful, I hear some of the hippies are putting acid on the stamps before you lick em...
Good luck with catching up. It never seems to happen. lol
I feel your pain for the perforation machine. I would gladly donate an organ for one, but these old body parts would not make a fair trade, so there are no takers.
Hey, thanks for posting my YouTube. I wish more mail artists would make videos. I noticed a few have started to, but after a few videos the tumbleweeds start settling in.
I thought I had expressed my thanks for including my blog post here. Hmm. (Or perhaps that was posted elsewhere...on IUOMA?) It was an honor, sir. CHEERS!
City of Cascadia central post office (1:87 scale model) by Jack Lattemann The other day, Cascadian denizen, Nonlocal Variable , suggested that I contact Jack Lattemann, also known as Cascadia Artpost , a name I had seen here and there during my relatively short mail art career of ten years, and so I thought yes that would be great. I'd like to learn more about this mysterious Cascadia Artpost. What is it all about? Jack was super generous in providing information and dozens of images of his creative output, and so I present you with an overview of Cascadia Artpost, plus a few interview questions, followed by the usual weekly mail art news that you've come to expect...nay, demand! From Jack Lattemann (JL) : Between 2008 and 2014, I posted entries on a blog, “Welcome to Cascadia Artpost” (two versions), which provide some background on the first years of Cascadia Artpost. I discontinued the posts in 2014 because they were taking too much of my time, even though I had retire
drawing by Jimmy Hackney Thomas Brown (TB): Hi Jimmy. Your profile on IUOMA says you've been a mail artist since 2023. How did you learn about mail art? Jimmy Hackney (JH): I was dropping off some art at a friend’s ( Steve O. Black ) house for an upcoming event. We began talking about some of the projects he was working on. Then, he comes to one of his storage bins and asks me, “Have you ever heard of mail art?” I said, “No, what is it?” He pulled out fascinating pieces of art. My mind was completely blown. I could not believe that this kind of thing existed. I asked, “People send you these!!?!” It was like hearing music for the first time. He told me that he was a member of IUOMA and suggested that I join. So, I did. He said, “Find someone to send art to.” “Easier said than done, right?” As it turns out, it was indeed that easy. I picked out an address and let it rip. I can’t remember who the first person was that I sent mail to. I sent out approximately 20 at that time. Howe
Sunshinysam on IUOMA I'm just a one man operation, so I can't cover all the posts made by all the mail artists. I can however make note of the things that grab my attention the most. Occasionally people send me links and factoids. Per nonlocal variable , there exists an archives of the copy-culture publication known as Photostatic (1983-1998). Definitely worth a look. Diana Hale has a perforator. Adam R. has a Wizbang perforator, a gift from Michelangelo Mayo. Questing for a perforation machine...there are some leads. There's a nice looking, heavy duty one made in India , but attempts to land on a page where one could order the item has resulted in a slew of disorienting incoming emails. Shipping costs could be prohibitive. Then there's word from Heather Wilkie in the Mail Art News group on IUOMA that a person on etsy is selling small scale perforators. The seller offers two or three different sizes, plus a circle-shape perforator. Very interesting! Kind o
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More mail is on the way! Wow, those new stamps sure are neat. Especially the one that says 'Psychedelic Mail'. Be careful, I hear some of the hippies are putting acid on the stamps before you lick em...
ReplyDeleteHmm. Thanks for the idea...i mean warning.
DeleteGood luck with catching up. It never seems to happen. lol
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain for the perforation machine. I would gladly donate an organ for one, but these old body parts would not make a fair trade, so there are no takers.
Hey, thanks for posting my YouTube. I wish more mail artists would make videos. I noticed a few have started to, but after a few videos the tumbleweeds start settling in.
I thought I had expressed my thanks for including my blog post here. Hmm. (Or perhaps that was posted elsewhere...on IUOMA?) It was an honor, sir. CHEERS!
ReplyDelete