Greatest Hits & New Asemics by Kerri Pullo Rivera (Tucson, Arizona, USA)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail-art IUOMA member by Kerri Pullo (Tucson, Arizona, USA)

March 30, 2014 - Kerri Pullo is a stellar correspondent. I am sure many IUOMA friends will agree. She sent me this wonderful mail-art package that is a perfect blend of nostalgia and new directions. The postcard-size piece above is a muted portrait (what can the significance of this be?) of none other than Kerri. Here is the reverse side:

Kerri Pullo is a very versatile artist, and here you can see a suggestion of Trashpo. She also included a stamp she made of her award-winning submission to the MinXus-Lynxus Can YOU Draw the Mink? Famous Artist Talent Scout Contest (which preceded the Who Has The Best Hair Contest). Her iconic mink is worth a close-up:

Through her mail-art involvement, Kerri Pullo has emerged as a highly praised asemic writer (subject to some controversy as the result of her encounter with Australian poet Pete Spence. (( Oh well, welcome to the Poetry Wars, Kerri)). To my delight, she included some new asemic work in this package to grace the archives:

Stunning! Kerri Pullo’s work is influenced by Islamic/Arabic art. It’s interesting how many veteran visual poets these days, Karl Kempton for example, are expressing admiration for Arabic calligraphy. And of course Brion Gysin’s asemics, which many consider the beginning of the modern era, are derived from Arabic (and Japanese) characters.

Here is another piece included in this wonderful package. Kerri Pullo also seems to be influenced by abstract art, and this piece reveals the connection between her painting and asemics. Here is the reverse side:

After some thought, we conclude this (above) is Kerri Pullo’s asemic signature; she uses it often.

Here is a strip of canvas bearing her trademark asemic calligraphy.

The reverse side shows another iteration of her signature.

And to make this a perfect mail-art package, Kerri Pullo enclosed some cryptic, found material. Here is the envelope:

And the reverse:

Kerri Pullo’s mail-art is always thoughtful and fun. I deeply appreciate receiving new work from her. I also appreciate the reminders of some truly great times we’ve had through the mail and online. Deepest thanks for this phenomenal envelope of wonderful material.

[Kerri Pullo]

Thank you all so much!!!! De Villo your words always mean so much to me and inspire me to do more! My favorite part of creating this package is the envelope...it happens to be some Latin homework my son Julian did in 5th Grade (he's in 8th now...so I've been storing that up for some time!). I kept his Latin binder from that year because I just had a feeling I would use it for some kind of art work!

[De Villo Sloan]

Kay, that's why I appreciated this so much. There were about a dozen surfaces to scan including the envelope. Kerri managed to create themes running through the pieces, or so it seems to me. That's an approach that can be taken moving beyond the postcard.

She is also a fantastic painter/calligrapher, so I'm glad you saw this - some connections to your work.

[Kay Steven]

great sunday afternoon post to browse. quite a range of work to engage with.

[De Villo Sloan]

Thanks Carmela. I think it's a great collection too.

[Carmela Rizzuto]

Wonderful creative collection of works!