Because y’all were so groovy last week and we had so much fun—well, I did, anyway—I thought I’d give away something really cool this week.
Way back in The Day, I organized a mail art exhibit at the (now defunct) local cooperative contemporary gallery, Gallery 1114. This was at a time when Mail Art Was My Life. Well, pretty much: the daily mail delivery was definitely An Occasion, and some days were like Christmas, with the mail box full of everything from plastic dishes (sent through the mail unwrapped) to elaborately-hand-colored stamped postcards to round-robin boxes—I hosted The Coffee Club, where we sent around coffee-themed mail art. Man, it was fun!
[Man, that was some great shit!]
Like almost everything else, though, it went its own way. So imagine how happy I was to see this book:
Go here to read about it.
It’s most just 2-D mail art, but it’s still pretty cool, never mind that much of it looks the same to me: if you read Hi-Fructose or Juxtapoz, a lot of this is going to look familiar to you. I don’t know what it’s called—“American Surreal”? “manga-inspired”? Don’t know, but it makes me sad that so much of it looks so much alike. Even when I love something, I don’t want everything else to look like it.
But it’s a cool book, and you’ll have fun looking at it. Post a comment. Tell me about mail art. I’ll pick Friday--
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14 comments:
Ohhhh - I would just love this! I hardly ever mail anything (well not bills) that isn't decorated up somehow. Have a good week everyone! Remember to laugh...
My dad did mail art and didn't even know that is what it was called. He decorates envelopes with illustrations; my favorite was the one he sent to Burpee, on a catalog request; he got a personal letter back along with the catalog! My aunt would tell us that the people at the post office she worked at loved to see his mail come through. Of course this was while people still handled the mail. Please put my name in the pot, thanks! :)
I would love this book! I have been hearing more about mail art recently and wondered what the fuss is all about (something I might like to do!) It would definitely give me a reason to watch for the mail and something to do while recouping from surgery.
No surprise, I'm waaay behind you and just getting into mail art. I make a postcard using a page from a childs board book this weekend. I'd love to have the book for encouragement (not exactly inspiration as I don't want to do what someone else did either)
Darla
I love mail art. Though I rarely mail anything now, even bills are paid online...
Last summer, up where we have our cottage they put together a mail art show. People were given blank postcard sized pieces of cardboard and asked to transform them and mail them in. It was great fun, though unfortunately I never did get to see the show.
oh, I haven't been commenting on the giveaways since I won the journal, but I really would love this book:) I've never tried ,ail art, but it's on my list of things to learn about and try-your giveaways are so awesome and generous-thanks:)
take care!
Trish
Me! Me! Me! I would LOVE this book. I've been involved in mail art for more than a decade, I had no idea that such a book had been published. Please put my name in the hat for the drawing.
Pick me! Pick me! :-) Love mail art. I'm old school in that I still use snail mail for letters, handmade cards, journal swaps, etc. There is nothing as delightful as a fun, colorful piece of mail among all those bills.
i love the idea of this book! it speaks to me not just for the art aspect, but also the fact that it's about MAIL! i've been a stamp collector for 40+ years, and i love all things related to mail.
25-30 years ago, when i first got into rubber stamping, i used to decorate all my envelopes. the recipients, most family of course, loved getting mail from me, especially when i matched the postage stamp to the artwork ;)
unfortunately i fell away from that practice, so maybe this book would light a fire under my lazy butt! please throw my name in the hopper. thanks, rice.
Ok So you know this is my original passion and how I got connected with what you were up to.(Thanks in part to Beth) I would just treasure this book!
Hey--I know what size is legal for postcards and that I have to pay extra if it is "humpy, lumpy or bumpy" as my favorite postal clerk at Dominion Station says. Bet this book could show me a thing or two though.
P.S.Check out the cool new polar bear postcard stamps.
Wow! Mail Art! I remember loving to draw pictures on envelopes as a kid, thinking how many people at the post office would marvel at my 10 year-old artistic magic. But my favorite mail art was never sent through the mail. When I was in 6th grade, my class went on an overnight camping trip and I was terrified with homesickness. So my mechanical engineer (and wonderful artist) Dad wrote a short note to me about the fun I would have and how I could tell them all about it soon. The envelope was the best part-- he decorated it with Bic Pen drawings of each family member: himself (with his pipe), Mom, my sister Suzanne, my baby sister Amanda (featured with that baby-fountain hairdo that baby girls have and 2 teeth) and my sweet Lhasa Apso doggie Pufn. I still have the envelope and note; made all the more special to me because Dad was so reserved-- it was so rare for him to say that he loved me, and I have proof! This was the first of many special mail art creations from Dad.
This looks like an awesome book.
I don't have anything to contribute regarding mail art, but may I tell you one of my fantasies? No? Too bad. I'm going to tell you anyhow.
I would love to visit various people's homes and see what they have on their bookshelves. Just spend a day or so at each home flipping pages and taking notes. This book is a great example of why. I'd never heard of it. Interesting people have interesting books.
male art - now there's something i could easily comment on.
but 'mail art'...? usetah draw all over postcards from GS camp to Mom. usetah send sides from cereal and other food boxes. also usetah send mail.
maybe this book would inspire me to send male art as mail art..
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