Mail Art News #39

John Held, Jr (posted by K. Nikoltsou on IUOMA)

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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. 

The World of Monster A Go-Go (blog)

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YouTube

Pam Chatfield's YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@pam.the.painter

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Instagram

IG image by gnarbeige, turned into mail art with permission

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IUOMA

John Held, Jr documented by Katerina Nikoltsou 

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David Stanley Aponte documented by Sabela Bana

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Reisegern documented by Mikel Untzilla

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Siggi Liersch in William M's Rubber Postcard #29

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Incoming

from Diana Hale

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from Tomoe Nakamura 

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from Amy Candiotti

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After some delay, my custom rubber stamps arrived from Casey Rubber Stamps. Now I will trim and mount them and start stamping them on outgoing mails!

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Outgoing

to C. Terhune

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sent to P. Chatfield

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not mailed yet

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Random from the Archives

from E. LeGrand, 2016

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Mail Art Microfiction

[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.