Tree Time for the Encyclopaedia of Everything

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Comment by De Villo Sloan on March 4, 2013 at 8:23pm

Some of it might be the internet. The reality today is that the mail-art you send an individual will probably be blogged & thus published for anyone who finds it. Some can pretend that there is "the internet" and a separate thing called "mail-art" but for the majority they are fused. Basically, you are releasing it for public scrutiny. With the "old" mail-art, heck, it was underground. 

Comment by Rebecca Guyver on March 4, 2013 at 7:39pm

It never occurred to me that you weren't.  And I realised as I was en route to the post office to mail the stuff to Cheryl that it's that moment of sending something off into the abyss that fills me with expectation, so, I guess I do care what people think more than just a little bit. Is it the anonymity and that the network is amorphous that takes the fear of rejection away or maybe it's what you say the blurring of art and life.

Comment by De Villo Sloan on March 3, 2013 at 3:40pm

I was advocating for sharing everything. Don't get me wrong on that.

Comment by Rebecca Guyver on March 3, 2013 at 3:13pm

Really interesting what you're saying and I think I agree with it all, although there is something in me that likes to share everything, even the process stuff, the quick wins as well as the long unsuccessful slogs. I don't know why except that it feels more honest and perhaps I am not in competition (as a woman who has straddled different domains, with something of a confused identity). 

I know that it's a fascinating time what with being able to dip into these communities rather than being on one's own.  The collaborative aspect - not even necessarily working together on something but working alongside maybe that helps to take away some of the self-doubt. 

Look forward to revisiting Wordsworth as, like so much, it seems to have been usurped by other things. Don't expect wax.

Comment by De Villo Sloan on March 3, 2013 at 1:41pm

& speaking of the French Revolution, Wordsworth's "Prelude" is a case. I think he got down all the contradictions of that precursor to the modern world, having lived through but also witnessing it from a safe distance. "Prelude" is supposed to be the beginning of a much longer biography. But he only finished the beginning. But it still works as a stand-alone piece.

Comment by De Villo Sloan on March 3, 2013 at 1:21pm

With the "mainstream" culture or the "old" culture we're generally programmed to measure ourselves against the great "masterpieces" that are again, supposedly, perfect. In this environment of competition, we only dare show our "best" work for fear that we won't be granted a place in a hierarchy.

Mail-art definitely pushes you to question that approach. There's more the idea of process. Sure, you can question the idea about being finished (closure), completeness (minimalism begs that), what are the domains of art and life - are they separate? Shedding old constructs is maybe the most difficult of the tasks. 

In vispo I see a lot of "remix" work right now - where people are taking an earlier work and remaking it. That's one way to extend the process.

I know artists can feel tremendous pressure and self-doubt. But as with William Blake's "mind forged manacles." those are limits you place on yourself. And you can unlock them. 

Comment by Rebecca Guyver on March 3, 2013 at 9:45am

Thanks.  RE: conversation about the 'professionalism', labour, love of what goes out to others, it is always such a juggling act.  I seem to have to get things out of my system, but am also sort of out-of-body and know it's absurd to ever believe you can finish an idea. So I weigh it up and FINISH even if I am not totally satisfied, especially if it is mailart that I will never see again.  I guess I am quasi satisfied and would like to think it will be appreciated, but you never know and if I worried too much about that I'd go nuts. I just hope it gets to SA.  I still mourn my 28 pages for the second zine. I have scanned it all and may post it on thepostalledger later on. I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about a more abstract approach.  I hope I don't feel compelled to do that! I have colour studies to play with! DVS something for the French Revolution is cued up next. 

Comment by Suus in Mokum on March 2, 2013 at 9:26pm

I love boekies! LIKE

Comment by De Villo Sloan on March 2, 2013 at 9:19pm

This looks fantastic, Rebecca. I'm looking forward to seeing the entire work. I suppose CP-SA will blog it.