Doing a Mail-Art Show>>>Need Your Help!!!

[jon foster]

Hey there mail-art friends, et al.

I just heard that this summer I will be helping co-curate a mail-art show at Wake Forest University in the wonderful city (my city) of Winston-Salem in my wonderful state of North Carolina. Although I’m not asking for submissions, just yet, I am asking for any pointers or ideas etc. about how to make the show as good as I possibly can.

Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated. Please be honest and direct.

Thank you all for pulling me along in this whole mail-art thing. I’ve been mailing things out to people for over two years and it’s been a great experience. Now it’s time to spread the world to my community about all that goes on with us mail-art people.

[taidgh]

I think including the locals whether it be schools or art schools is a great idea. I think VMH mentioned it. Even getting an art call in the paper or local advertiser with an example going while you are giving talks and generating interest. You can take the exhibition in many ways with themes and how you show it - like in categories or a section for the local schools, for iuoma mail artists etc. Half the fun or the battle if you may is organising the show and it is less head destroying if you have a clear idea which way you want to hang the work a good while before the hanging of the show. Of course ideas change and when you do put up the work you'll find certain things work better than others. I have quite a lot of experience hanging and curating art if you need any advice or someone to brainstorm some ideas I'll be happy to lend a hand (a virtual one). Best of luck. Oh, and booze is mighty important to get people in the door!

[vizma bruns]

Jon, stranger things have happened...you may have to start organising sponsorship from French Champagne houses. Back me up here, Dean.

[Valentine Mark Herman]

Thanks for the invitation Jon. Pop it in an envelope with the air ticket you're going to send me: thanks!

[jon foster]

@Vizma-if all you guys come over, I'll make sure to get more champagne for the show.

[vizma bruns]

:-))) Better hurry Steph, not much left!

[vizma bruns]

Champagne is for your real friends and real pain is for your sham friends.

Your real friends will send you mail art Jon!! And drink your champagne! ;-)

[Valentine Mark Herman]

Greene King , Adnams and Newkie Brown for ever!

[jon foster]

@VMH-Thanks for the great suggestions. I haven’t really thought about getting all of the schools involved. I need to look into this avenue. One of my main worries is that I’ll put the word out there and then no one will send anything. I know I can get a lot of folks to participate through here, but after that…who knows.

As for a theme, I have no idea on this one either. Personally I really hate themes because they’re kind of restricting. They’re always like send a card of a manatee (only) measuring this by this, it can only be in pink, and I have to have it in three days. I never send to themed shows so…I may stay away from that especially considering that this will be the first any of the spectators have heard of mail-art. But if I go with something, it will have to be the whole “twin” item.

I have no idea how things will be displayed? I’m kind of working with a group of people and I’ve just heard that this was a possibility.

Ahh, part of the 25^th Anniversary, I like this idea. It would work perfectly. Thanks for that one.

Thanks so much there superguy, you’ve got me thinking about a bunch of stuff.

 

@Jane Smith-Yes, yes, yes, I agree with you totally. I really hope that I can get a lot of different styles since I want to see this show as an introduction to the “form” not sure what to call whatever we do, that most people will have. Oh don’t worry, as soon as I get all of the details ironed out I will be in touch.

 

@Vizma Bruns-For sure, a blog will be in the works. I want the show to be one where everything is shown to best exemplify the inclusive nature of mail-art. I will have a blog for every single entry. No, this isn’t the place where they did horrible things to the witches, you’re thinking of Salem Massachusettes. In Winston we only do horrible things to our hearts. We’re known for Krispy Kreme donuts, Camel cigarettes, and a somewhat regional hot sauce, Texas Pete.

 

@Dean Marks-Winston, or North Carolina in general, is more of a beer drinking sort of place. Lots of hardworking dudes and dudettes! I’m not even sure if champagne goes well with mail-art? What is the official alcoholic beverage of mail-art?

 

[Dean aka Artist in Seine]

Don't laugh, this is good advice and would work in Ringshall just as well !!  On second thought, better stick with Greene King and Adnams.  Val, back me up here.

[Rebecca Guyver]

Oh Dean when are you holding your next mail art show?  It will put a new spin of Brits coming over to France to stock up!