Mystery Mail-Art from New York City Stuffed with Ray Johnson Material

[De Villo Sloan]

Postcard picture of Ray Johnson

July 28, 2014 - I received an envelope from New York City stuffed with mail-art and Ray Johnson ephemera. (These are postcards and copies of articles; the days of receiving authentic material from Ray Johnson or having people pass it along to you, of course, have long since ended.) I can’t determine who sent this, and work by several different artists and writers is included. Collective packages like this are typical of the “Old School.” I greatly appreciate having this. Here is the reverse of the opening scan:

I am only posting a portion of all the material received.

Some of these are classic shots that can be found elsewhere, but it’s great to have the cards. I will pass some along in the mail. The reverse:

Here is a card with work by Ray Johnson:

The reverse:

A lot of stuff from the 60s and some preoccupation with death.

Another classic shot. The reverse:

The reverse:

Then there is a poem by Ron Emolo, who is a mail-artist and poet in the New York City area:

The reverse:

W.S.? Not me. A phone number was included, which I thought best to block out. Then there was a pad that was designed by the Sticker Dude.

 

Clearly, this entire package is a giant promotion of Ray Johnson; but I have no problem with that. The articles are really interesting, and there are multiple copies. The idea must be to pass them along. This piece is by William S. Wilson who was a close Ray Johnson associate. It discusses the history of mail-art and Ray Johnson’s place in it:

Another interesting article:

Here’s is the envelope:

Tremendous material here, especially to learn more about mail-art and Ray Johnson. Thanks to the sender: "I'm just an errand boy sent to collect a grocer's bill." I am thrilled to receive and share it.

[De Villo Sloan]

Yes Ruud, later on it was confirmed this was sent by William S. Wilson. He sent mail to some IUOMA members in 2014. I think Jon Foster and Amy Irwen also received mail from WSW.

[Ruud Janssen]

The address of William S. Wilson , or Bill Wilson from NY.

[De Villo Sloan]

Thx VM. It's a mystery, but this brought back my earliest memories of mail-art out of NYC. The stuff came in big pouches & might have work by a dozen people & it never had a clear sender or any instructions about what to do with it, although there seemed to be some sort of a&p, chain letter thing going on. (These would often include reams of stuff by Hannah Weiner, to give you a sense of territory.) I was a kid and clueless.

I think the message is part of a letter Ron Emolo sent to someone else & has nothing to do with me but was put in the envelope. Wasn't it a Ray Johnson thing to send letters intended for a different recipient? For example, I write a letter to Diane Keys but mail it to you. Anyway, this has the feel of old New York & is a walk down memory lane in that regard.

The Ray Johnson material is fab, that's what matters & I'm happy to be able to share it.

Thx again.