Catalog of the Historic Phoenix Art Museum Mail Art Exhibition - Are YOU There?

[De Villo Sloan]

Cover of the Phoenix Art Museum Mail Art Exhibition Catalog (October 1 – November 24, 2014) curated by John Held, Jr. and Vanessa Davidson

October 12, 2015 - Deepest thanks go out to Mudhead (aka Chris Reynolds) and Alyssum (Alyssa Moinet) (Payson, Arizona, USA) who so thoughtfully sent me a copy of the catalog documenting Focus Latin America: Art Is Our Last Hope. This was a major and historic mail art exhibition featuring work submitted by 444 artists from 35 countries. The Phoenix New Times recognized the show as one of the best in Arizona during 2014.

A quote from the catalog is worthy of emphasis: “Focus on Latin America: Art Is Our Last Hope is the first exhibition of contemporary, international mail art at a major United States institution since the landmark 1970 Ray Johnson New York Correspondence School exhibition at the Whitney Museum in New York.” Looking through the pages, I see the names of many artists familiar to me. I also see the names of many I do not recognize, and these offer possibilities for new friendships as well as network expansion and integration.

Phoenix Art Museum Mail Art Exhibition Catalog (October 1 – November 24, 2014). (Click to enlarge)

Phoenix Art Museum Mail Art Exhibition Catalog (October 1 – November 24, 2014)

Phoenix Art Museum Mail Art Exhibition Catalog (October 1 – November 24, 2014)

The catalog came in a FAB envelope by Mudhead and Alyssum:

And the reverse:

Again, many thanks to Mudhead and Alyssum for sending this great information! And don’t miss Alyssum’s blog to see more of her work:

http://everyonemoment.blogspot.com/

[virginia milici (virgy)]

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Thanks you

[De Villo Sloan]

Thx Richard, and I see you were in the show. Congrats.

One thing. The catalog states: “Focus on Latin America: Art Is Our Last Hope is the first exhibition of contemporary, international mail art at a major United States institution since the landmark 1970 Ray Johnson New York Correspondence School exhibition at the Whitney Museum in New York.”

I think there have been many mail art shows at "major institutions" since 1970. The Phoenix Museum exhibition is very impressive; don't get me wrong. I am not trying to take the wind out of anyone's sails. But I don't think that's accurate or I don't understand the point then.

[Richard Canard]

12.10.15 (Columbus Day...a U.S.P.S. Hollow Day)  Dare Mister  Devillo Sloan, Thanks for posting.  I find the declaration: "Art Is Our Last Hope"  to be very powerful. Best to you . Richard Canard

[De Villo Sloan]

BTW - I was in this, only my first name is listed as my last name and my address is Mudhead's address in AZ. I'm just glad to have been in it. No complaints.