Happiness is a warm...kitten? from Richard Canard (Carbondale, Illinois, USA) + "Fake Richard Canard Series" public apology

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail-art by IUOMA member Richard Canard (Carbondale, Illinois, USA)

June 14, 2013 - In recent months, I have been blessed with one outstanding work after another from mail-art veteran Richard Canard. These pieces have brightened the MinXus-Lynxus blog as well as IUOMA postings.

Richard Canard is probably best known in the mail-art network today for his correspondence comprising insightful and often witty philosophical statements and observations on the art world. This work also includes social commentary, and that is how I view the wonderful card above. Here is the reverse side that helps explain:

Mail-artists from the USA will immediately recognize Richard Canard is making a reference to the gun and ammunition control debate that is polarizing the nation, an issue that has led to a deep examination of the core documents of democracy. In very few words, Richard conjures the lineage of the gun in American culture with the reference to the gangster Al Capone. Ultimately, I see him as a conceptual artist and poet.

This opens the door to connections with earlier myths of the outlaw West; Billy the Kid comes to mind. We see the paradox of a culture of violence vs. individual freedom. Andy Warhol and poet Jack Spicer, among many others, have been attracted to this mythology; even Ray Johnson was intrigued. Richard Canard's work does affirm for me the notion that if we are to fully understand the obsession with guns, we need to examine American culture from a historical perspective.

As ever, many thanks to Richard Canard!

MAIL-OUT TO RICHARD CANARD

Authentic Mink Ranch souvenir (Bunk House poker card) sent to Richard Canard.

Recents blogs of work by Richard Canard referenced above:

http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profiles/blogs/haptic-asemic-trashpo-...

http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profiles/blogs/authentic-fake-ray-joh...

[De Villo Sloan]

I didn't expect anyone would be interested. Here is a card I received from Richard after the release of the "Fake Richard Canard Series." It's just not Richard in terms of his usual good nature. I was horrified at what I had unleashed.

No! Richard doesn't sound whacky. I sound whacky trying to imitate Richard. 

"'Trashpo' artists are sorta like 'the bland leading the bland!" I thought, OMG. Richard has always been such a supporter of Trashpo. What have I done.

But, really, I think it's behind us.

[De Villo Sloan]

Sharp call BG! Friday the 13th was intentional, as I was dreading writing the letter & on a fateful Friday the 13th would have doomed it, or made it appropriate on a day that does not exist. But it was to get the right set of numbers that time was bent a little. Now that's a set of numbers, as I understand, it RJ would have appreciated.

Oh, I have ATONEMENT to do with RC on that dreadful series. Kid don't try this at home stuff. 

[borderlinegrafix]

Richard is one lucky fellow to receive such bunk house paraphernalia.  Any reason today's date on your letter is wrong?  The upside-down flag stamp is one of my faves for signalling distress.