From "Footprint Series" by Helder Coelho Dias (Coruche, Portugal) + Mail-Art All Star footprints

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail-art by IUOMA member Helder Coelho Dias (Coruche, Portugal)

June 19, 2013 - I received this absolutely stunning piece from Helder Coelho Dias's "Footprint Series," which has already received praise at other mail-art venues. This is truly a mail-art gift beyond measure because Helder sent me the first work in the series. 

The foundation of the work is, of course, the impression of Helder's Coelho Dias's footprints on a phone book page. This is impressive in itself, I think, because he explores anti-art and found materials.

"Footprint Series" brings into question every conceivable element of traditional art. Rather than the use of his hands, his feet are the primary means of expression. The relationship of the body to the work of art is reconfigured, and there is a performance art aspect that extends the boundaries of the art. The placement of the work on the floor seems to question the exalted place and privileged position of painting. Many more interpretations must occur to viewers when they consider the conceptual aspects of the work. The reverse side offers documentation:

Yet there is much more to the work beyond the conceptual and anti-art levels. Helder Coelho Dias is a talented artist in the traditional realm as well. I think many would agree the work is aesthetically pleasing. The colours are luscious and subtle. His drawing adds considerable visual interest. The fiber piece and the gritty particles create wonderful textures and give the work a truly haptic dimension. As with many mail-artists, text is incorporated in the work, thus bringing the strengths of visual poetry into the mix.

What I find most remarkable is the way Helder Coelho Dias is able to integrate so many different elements and approaches into the work and still achieve a masterful unity. Here is the envelope:

And the reverse:

I am honoured that Helder chose to send me this piece from his "Footprint Series." I offer my deepest thanks and assurance the piece will be treated with great respect and carefully preserved.

Some other footprint mail-art

By Marie Wintzer aka St. Empress Marie Antonette, Cherry Blossom, Sweet Pea, Pea, Toxic Red Riding Hood (Saitama, Japan)

By Moan Lisa (Iowa City, Iowa, USA)

[Helder]

Greeting to all, It's been a while that I don't create Anykind of Mail Art, but soon I Will Back ! De Villo Can you please Delete the picture that has my address & signature ? Thanks

[Helder]

Here is the LINK to the NEW GROUP :)

FOOTPRINT- my mail art ID

[DKeys]

I think it's a great idea!!

[Helder]

Well im now thinking about to start a new group here on IUOMA, the FootPrint Space and encourage all Mail Artists to change their footprint when send a mail art piece to someone...but i dont know if people will received this very well lolol

[DKeys]

I love that you are using both feet Helder!!!!  too funny. It is a very playful/childlike thing to do, just like finger painting.  I think this might lead you to full body painting!! yes, every journey begins with a single step, so on my way to Portugal to see your yoga studio covered in painted footprints!!

[Helder]

A footprint to me Diane? cool :) "Arch-eology at its best!" lolol who knows if this footprints will go down in history of mail art...lol By the way now, this are the mail artists that received my footprint series:

.footprint nº 1: De Villo Sloan (USA)

.footprint nº2: Diane Keys (USA)

.footprint nº3: Stephanie Black (USA)

.footprint nº4: Kerri Pullo (USA)

.footprint nº5: Sarah Churchill (UK)

The series will probaly have 5 more footprint pieces, you can see here the already sent:

http://artinthemail.blogspot.pt/

p.s. here is another picture for the FootPrint performance:

[De Villo Sloan]

Oh yeah, DK. That little doll hand reaching out of the box sat right underneath the monitor here at the Overlook Hotel for probably a year. I finally archived it & life is a little less like a Twilight Zone Episode. (Dark wall has a phobia about Chucky movies BTW.) And sometimes around 3 am I would swear that plastic hand.... never mind.

Don't worry about OCDing over your refrigerator. D-Khaos is the true order of the universe. 

[DKeys]

DVS--rememember when I sent you that replacement hand after the DKoder ring scandal? well, I keep my DKult stamp inside the severed doll foot ironically. 

walking towards Portugal

[De Villo Sloan]

Yes indeed, Viz.

Those shots of Helder's painted feet - love the colours - add a lot to seeing what this footprint mail-art is about. Arch-eology at its best!

[Helder]

Thanks for the nice words Diane and Vizma. Yes the feet is something that intereste me, one of the reasons is because these "members" are the first ones to contact the earth skin, working like antennas they receive and distribute telluric energies emanating from it, while acting as sinks of excess energy accumulated in our body, which is why it is very important to walk barefoot whenever possible, preferably in direct contact with the ground without any protection commonly used on our feet, and our spine and also thanks.