From De Villo Sloan - Lend Me Your Imagination for a Moment Please.

[cheryl penn]

I keep asking DVS for some sort of explanation about his work. He keeps avoiding  this .  I think this means I have to just get on with it?  The most important thing I can see? Painting and writing in De Villo’s work is a medium of unconscious self-awareness.

The continued use of Rorschach Blots also points to this.  These blots are ambiguous of course – but do you see a person in here? I certainly do. 

Painting IS a self-conscious act – it continually looks over its shoulder to see who and what has gone before whilst at the same time looking within and around for ideas and yes, dare I say it, a sense of affirmation.

 

And Asemics? Well, that’s a writing  system that occurs consciously   - unconsciously .  To combine these two mediums in one series is a very interesting juxtaposition -   the imagination begins to mediate between form and medium.   For me, the imagination sorts and then perceives.  Here is an Asemic Wanderer. I have used this terminology in correspondence before  - entities that are searching for a place in a post-literate society.

 And here?

Here there is the definite creation of form through text.  Illegible text for sure, but structure for certain.

I like the fact that De Villo’s work aesthetically echos the concept of shadow writing. The differing pressures of his letters create a palimpsest effect where some text is in the fore, but a large amount – the rear guardians, those who were there first, fade to make way for the new.  

Thanks DVS – I wait A LONG TIME to get your work, but its always worth it!  

[Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)]

Blotterpo? Amazing work, Sloan! The Asemics are creating wondrous "spin-offs", keep 'em coming, they are a joy to see. And yes, having a REAL art work in one's mail box would be special...though Cheryl's photos here are also AMAZING! ...now inspired to do blotterpo and then add the sandpo, hmmmm, thinking....

[De Villo Sloan]

Cheryl, you are bordering on the profound today: looking backwards and forwards over the centuries.These pieces really were practice in preparation for Asemics 16. I write this again because now Nancy is posting her work too, and it's great to not only see finished chapters but various "outtakes" and spin-off projects from those involved. This is a great medium to share work through scans, but having the real work can't be replaced. So we have our on the ground component of mail-art too,

[cheryl penn]

Hey Nancy - and of course Petit Pea :-) - imagination is I think one of the cornerstones of art.  Generations have dreamed beyond their limits into the world of possibilities. Bizarre, subtle - the opportunities - games of chance - are intricately related to art production that is not based in a severely technical sphere. D.W. - I KNEW that troll had a purpose greater than stealing mail artists shoes :-) X

[Nancy Bell Scott]

All Extremely Interesting, DVS, and I have yet to read everyone's comments, but Cheryl, your interpretations and insights are very educational for me and I appreciate them.  The third and fourth ones above are my favorites, particularly number 3 -- it's lovely and I could stare at it for hours and keep seeing different messages or layers of speak/nonspeak.   In fact the layering of type may be the most appealing thing about it to me -- that you did it, and the way you did it.  Wonderful.

[De Villo Sloan]

thanks for the insights everyone. Now I'm definitely trying more mail-art inkblots. I hope others will try blotterpo too. I have to begrudgingly acknowledge the influence of DW's splatter art here - which in turn probably owes something to DK roadkill - although I draw a firm line when it comes to spitpo. Thanks again, Cheryl.

[Marie Wintzer]

(OMG I think I would be in big trouble if I had to pass one of those Rochschach tests!)

Every time I see one of DVS' work I am completely amazed by the technique, the colors, the texture (his choice of paper totally does it). And it's really unique. No combination with images this time, pure asemics, which is also very interesting. And Cheryl, I love what you did with the shadows and the lights on your photos!! Super work both of you!!

[cheryl penn]

I REMEMBER those things - wow - weren't they great! :-))X

[Lesley Magwood Fraser]

Kaleidoscope.....

[cheryl penn]

Hello Les and Lisa :-)

Another one for your interpretation...

[De Villo Sloan]

Fascinating - it's really an example where everyone sees something different and their interpretations are of equal value