Asemic Writing for Mail-Artists

Comment

Comment by Nancy Bell Scott on August 11, 2011 at 1:42pm

Yes, thanks again from me too. You are putting into words precisely why I was so immediately and profoundly drawn to asemics, DVS, which is something who knows how long it would have taken to do on my own. It might not even have been possible.

Comment by Bifidus Jones on August 11, 2011 at 1:33pm

Intro to #2 is exquisite, De Villo. "You will see beautiful and highly expressive cursive script where letters, words, and phrases emerge, mirage-like--hinting at a message to the reader--only to fade elusively back into incomprehension and fragmented shapes that and fall from the unconscious". That line speaks to me as particularly true. Thank you for sharing your talent and your words. Both treasures.

Comment by prettylily on August 11, 2011 at 12:15pm

I meant eloquent.  My eyes are blurry and the spell chick has the day off!

Comment by prettylily on August 11, 2011 at 12:07pm

De Villo, you are a multi-talented chap!  Thank you for writing these eliquent introductions.  What would we do without you? 

Comment by De Villo Sloan on August 11, 2011 at 11:52am

Hi everyone, I'm not posting a list, but I am receiving your chapters - WONDERS to behold all of them. Cheryl and I planned on the intros from the inception of the project, so it's just part of the process. Thanks again, DVS.

Comment by cheryl penn on August 11, 2011 at 8:05am

Ok DVS - ANOTHER FAB - keep them coming - we're are PRIVILEGED that you are writing the Introductions might I say! Thank you AGAIN!  :-) XXX

Comment by Mim Golub Scalin on August 11, 2011 at 4:38am

Wow, DVS, this is pretty impressive. I can't wait to see this volume completed! I'm exceedingly honored to be a part of it.

Comment by De Villo Sloan on August 11, 2011 at 4:16am

Dear contributors to Edition #2, here is the intro for your books. Feel free to cut and paste if you want and use as documentation for the book:

 

Asemics 16

Collaborative Mail-Art Book Project

 

INTRODUCTION TO EDITION 2

 

In this second edition of the Asemics 16 mail-art project, you will find remarkable work by artists from around the world who have shared their talents and ideas to explore and expand the esoteric and fascinating practice of asemic writing.

 

We were very fortunate to benefit from the involvement of highly regarded artists and writers who work on the borderland where text and image meld. I offer special thanks to John M. Bennett and Cecil Touchon.

 

Asemics16 is made even more unique because it also attracted artists producing highly innovative work in areas including painting, collage, photography, and conceptual art. They brought tremendous excitement and enthusiasm. Their work opens vast possibilities for the future as we enter an era where traditional notions of poetry, fiction, and the text are reframed around the concept of post-literature.

 

The realm of asemic writing includes the invention of imaginary languages with corresponding symbols and systems for their arrangement. Asemic writing suggests a language, might at times reveal traces of known language, but ultimately cannot be read as any existing language or extinct language that has been recorded.

 

The Asemics 16 book project was launched in May 2011 by South African artist Cheryl Penn. As the result of her study of U.S. artist Ray Johnson, Penn has led a number of highly successful book projects through the global mail-art network. The International Union of Mail-Artists (IUOMA), founded by Ruud Janssen of the Netherlands, served as an ideal headquarters in cyberspace for an effort that required extensive coordination and communication.

 

One fascinating aspect of the project made possible through IUOMA was group discussions that preceded individual work on chapters (and later sharing drafts). These included forming a consensus definition of asemic writing where participants explored topics including the relationship of found and natural objects to asemic writing; the relationship of asemic writing to visual poetry and concrete poetry as well as haptic and object poetry; and applications of cultural theory to illuminate practice. Examples of work by earlier authors and artists were discussed, in particular Cy Twombly, Henri Michaux, and the collaborative work of Brion Gysin and William S. Burroughs.

 

This second edition is rich in approaches to creating asemic writing. You will see beautiful and highly expressive cursive script where letters, words, and phrases emerge, mirage-like – hinting at a message to the reader – only to fade elusively back into incomprehension and fragmented shapes that rise and fall from the unconscious. Other artists take a material approach, fragmenting the existing letters into new symbols and syntax. Many of the artists have focused on placing their asemic work in a relationship with other images, often creating a narrative context and inventing various hybrid visual-textual forms.

 

In the pages ahead is a dialog about the nature of language and the human experience by artists from an incredible array of cultures and perspectives. I invite you to delve deeply and enjoy their tremendous contributions.

 

 

 

De Villo Sloan

August 10, 2011

Auburn, New York, USA 

 

Comment by prettylily on August 10, 2011 at 5:00pm

Asemic #4 received from "E" this AM.  A wonderful chapter.  I now have 2 chapters, in my #4 file, and I am working on mine.  Thank you "E"!

 

Comment by MaryAnne on August 10, 2011 at 12:59pm

Ginny, your chapter will be with you soon ...

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