NEED YOUR HELP

[Mary J. Grellner]

Need some ART donations for a group CROSSROADS ARTS COUNCIL, who is having a fundraiser get a permanent venue. Please be kind enough to mail something?  We hope to sell in August to raise money.  Thank you
Mary J. Grellner
254 Green Summit Dr.
Wentzville, MO 63385  USA

[De Villo Sloan]

First, my apologies to Mary Grellner. This is not personal. I know she's an IUOMA member of longstanding and is good a networker. Erni B. adored her. But...

Bradford, I think you are playing language games. She is asking people to contribute art that will be sold (for what purpose is fairly vague although I'm not suggesting anything sinister - a "permanent venue"?)

We've had situations before where people have done a mail art call and then announced they would sell the work. People usually object to this strongly.

Mark Rossmiller mentions "commodification" and I think that's the operative concept here.

Have a mail art show to promote your organization. Sure. But don't see the stuff. That is the beginning of cultural exploitation.

Don't use Iuoma as a GoFund Me Page to get access to a lot of kind-hearted people. That happens on FB.

Again, apologies to Mary.

[Mary J. Grellner]

Dear Bradford:

Yes, it is a request for art...we are having an Art Sale to raise money. Thanks for asking.

[Mark Rossmiller]

*Art for a fundraiser

[Bradford]

Did I miss something here?  I read it as a request for Art, not money.

[Mark Rossmiller]

I strongly agree with DVS.

I did my time as a semi-professional artist, and found that it changed the way I viewed my art in a very negative way. Art for commodity is very different from what mail art offers the community.

I am, however, not above begging for postage for the purpose of outputting more mail art than I could afford to on my own without the help. Doing so allows me to reach a broader audience than I could if nobody gave me postage stamps.

[borderlinegrafix]

I agree with DVS.  Earth Art, Street Art, Urban Art and Conceptual Art all endeavored to release art from the museum walls and traditional protocols.  Mail Art went even further.  Mail Art was the precursor to the internet, in a way, and should not, in my opinion, be tainted with money the way the internet is, and the monetary concerns of regular life outside the digital bubble.  Just sayin'.

[De Villo Sloan]

There's a saying in the mail art network: "Mail art and money do not mix."

If IUOMA turns into a "Go Fund Me" for people begging for their little causes, it's going to be obnoxious.

Personally, I'd rather not see postings about money (unless it's to keep IUOMA on the air).

Just sayin.

DVS