Archives that take donations?

[Cynthia Sillitoe]

I'm downsizing. Still sorting through what I have, but probably a lot of rubber stamp art, most sent in swaps, so no postmarks. I also have some correspondence art postcards--some made with rubber stamps, some hand-drawn, some fluxus--that do have postmarks. I may have atcs of all styles and media and maybe add and pass projects and address lists sent from mail art shows. 

I hate to toss art, but I can't keep it all. I don't even know the ethics of it all. I mean, no one writes something really private on a postcard. The add and pass projects were started for me with the understanding that I would keep the art, without making copies or anything like that. I suppose I could black out addresses. 

Ideas? Advice? Thanks!

[Mim Golub Scalin]

Good Grief Cynthia, no one has responded.

So by now, a year later almost, what did you decide to do?

I got the university I used to be affiliated to take a big box of

my archives for their special collections, but they don't seem

to be interested in any more. I have two smaller boxes collected

now. I'm feeling the same way. What to do with our received mail.

I even have a box of someone else's collected mail from one person

AND that person sent me back a number of cards that I sent to HER.

Really difficult when one is trying to be minimal which is

why I do mail art so I can make art and mail it away, not have to

find storage for my own art in my house.

I'm going to check with a local community collage. Maybe I can

do a free workshop and then give them my archives.

oooh tricky. 

I'll let you know if I have any luck

Mim

Richmond, VA

USA

[Cynthia Sillitoe]

I decided to tackle it another day and it's still sitting here. Except I'm not sure where, but when I find it, I'm considering seeing if artists--especially new ones--might want one really cool complete project instead of trying to find someone to take a lot of it. 

Thanks for the answer! 

[JAC MAIL]

Sending you a message. I used to be in a group with you :)

[Ilya Semenenko-Basin]

Dear  Cynthia Sillitoe, I have experience in creating an archival fund for Mail Art in the Museum of Moscow. This State museum is very tolerant of contemporary art. At my call, some artists from different countries sent their surpluses to the museum, these were art objects that were already difficult to keep at home. On the basis of the collections received, the museum staff are now forming a fund of Mail Art in the museum. If you want, I will give you the address and put you in touch with the museum curator.

[Ilya Semenenko-Basin]

I am very upset because the Museum of Moscow no longer accepts Mail Art for its funds. This is due to the change of leaders in this museum. The new leaders are very cool about contemporary art and are not going to increase the existing collection; they will only keep what is already there.

[Ilya Semenenko-Basin]

Oh Yes! It was a limited-time adventure. Be that as it may, I will gradually look for new institutions ready to accept mail-art for eternal storage.