Karnival of Trash Mail Art Call: Non-GMO Trashpo by Vikki Johnson (Morrison, Colorado, USA)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail art by IUOMA member Vikki Johnson (Morrison, Colorado, USA)

February 8, 2017 - A big, warm Howdy and a secret MinXus handshake are extended to Ms. Vikki Johnson of Colorado, USA who graces for the first time the humble pages of my blog at both IUOMA and M-L. Vikki Johnson makes the day even better, if that were possible, because she has sent work for the Karnival of Trash. What a wonderful addition!

I never tire of the work received from “Big Name” and “Iconic” correspondence artists that has come to characterize the greatest show on earth. But it is as gratifying to document an “emerging” artist’s first foray into the dumpster.

Even if one might, subjectively, sense a certain tentative quality to the work, I must disclose to Vikki Johnson that I believe she is spot-on in capturing the Trashpo (anti-)aesthetic and spirit. This creates an occasion, too, for us to remember and celebrate the egalitarian and mutually supportive nature of mail art.

I also meditate upon Vikki Johnson’s work considering the notion of healthy trash or non-junk trash. Is such a thing possible? Only DK could tell us for sure. Vikki Johnson also included a picture of a dog or her dog and a snowflake. Or is it a trashflake?

Lately, for some reason, I have been thinking about the mail artist Irene Dogmatic who made such a splash “back in the day.”

Thank you Vikki Johnson!

[De Villo Sloan]

I was hoping you would, Richard. Thx.

[Richard Canard]

11.02 17 Dare De Villo S., ...ah, yes---"Irene Dogmatic". ... I  remember her well. Apparently it is possible that all this mailart nonsense can lead to some good fine art end. Sincelery, Richard C.

[De Villo Sloan]

Concerning Irene Dogmatic - she appears to be alive and well. She was most active in the m-a network in the 70s and has moved on to other things.

http://www.irenedogmatic.com/

[De Villo Sloan]

Vikki, thank you so much for participating in the KoT. It's winding down, but I didn't want anyone to think it was just for established people.

This points to one of the big misconceptions concerning Trashpo: You got it; Trashpo is working with found material. By design and in the spirit of m-a, ANYONE can do it. No mystery. DKult, yes, is more esoteric.

Yes, with Trashpo we went through all the issues around mailing actual garbage that is decomposing. That is discouraged, although last year DK did send me a box of rotting food.

I discourage sending rotting stuff. And NEVER eat anything someone mails you.

Irene Dogmatic might even be an IUOMA member, although I don't think she sends a lot of mail. I remember seeing her work back in the m-a related zines with Ray Johnson & the Fluxus people - really classic stuff. And I think she was really into dogs. She is in Berkeley; I am pretty sure.

I thought your dog pic was about the (defunct) D-Kanine program. When we were trying to recruit Kulters, we allowed them to count their pets as chapter members.

Thx again Vikki.