Calls for ''mail art'' project where you participate and get nothing in return !

[Predrag Petrovic]

Recently I am seeing many calls for various ''mail art'' or , if you will, ''postal art'' calls for projects and participation of various nature. To nearly all of those, we are promised that our works will be exibited, or, put on some internet page, whether it is ''Instagram'' , ''Facebook'' or any other platform or site. And that's it ! We will not receive anything through the mail. Yet we are required and called to participate. No jury, no return, etc , standard ''blah-blah-blah' ! Well, it may be fine to some people, let them participate. I will not. Because, to me, it is not real Postal art, or mail art or whatever you may call it. Wait, I am sending my work, artwork, poem, whatever, it took me lot of time to create , plus I am paying the postage and then someone at the ''other side'' receive it and then just scan it, or take a photo of my work and put it on internet, and that's it !? Hmmmhg, Not my cup of tea. Real mail art should be interactive, both sided. To be straight, I am not against it, but if you want to have my work sent through International Postal System (real mail) , and you don't want to send me anything back, then at least send me an I.R.C. (International Reply Coupon) so I can use in the place of postage. That would be somewhat fair. Do not expect me to send you my work just to be put on some internet site, without sending me the proof of my participation in the form of ''Documentation'' , catalogue, or at least paper sheet. Because, if you want something for nothing, then it is not mail art, it is then something like ''one-way'' story.