New Asemics-Vispo by Nancy Bell Scott (South Portland, Maine, USA)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail art by IUOMA member Nancy Bell Scott (South Portland, Maine, USA)

January 17, 2015 - Nancy Bell Scott is not as prolific as many of her contemporaries; so when she issues a new batch of her totally distinctive asemics-vispo (that's what it is to me anyway), it is a special occasion indeed. The three pieces above are painted on thick, textured paper and measure approximately 3 X 6 inches. They are wonderful examples of Nancy's complex, abstract expressionist-derived style. Chuck Welch aka the Cracker Jack Kid is among those who have noted her roots in abstract expressionism. Two of the pieces have material on the reverse sides:

Nancy Bell Scott’s abstraction and calligraphy combine to create beautiful and complex explorations at the borderland of visual image and text. Her very recognizable asemic writing at first seems like chicken scratches that vary in intensity, yet the overall result is deeply expressive. As one learns to “read” her work, the vision and possibilities open. She also included larger work that arrived enclosed in a transparent, paint spattered folio:

And the reverse:

Beneath the cover we find vispo rooted in collage:

Another consistent aspect of Nancy Bell Scott’s work is her use of found material from the Age of Print. In the context of her asemic-vispo, the receiver is often guided into a meditation on language, image and expression. Her choice of text that is distressed and/or damaged suggests decay and disintegration, which functions both tonally and thematically. The childlike, scrawled writing in the piece above mirrors Nancy’s all-to-human scratchings and allude to marginalia.

Initially, I wanted to begin by calling Nancy Bell Scott the Emily Dickinson of asemic vispo. She certainly has a place in the “new wave” of asemic writing that has circulated through the Eternal Network in the past several years. That place has been attained through her experimentation, hard work and development of a style and a body of work. The Dickinson comparison is flawed, of course, and intentionally grandiose in order to make a point; it also references Nancy’s New England, USA location. However, Nancy Bell’s Scott’s poetic vision is in the Dickinson-existential tradition and the comparison does provide an access point. Her work continues to evolve and she delights her audience with each new wave.

The envelope is also very attractive:

And the reverse:

As ever, my deepest appreciation goes to Nancy Bell Scott!

[Petrolpetal]

This is so beautiful. Nancy's work is extraordinary. Your blog is wonderful too.You see and articulate so much. I recognise what you say as true - but you see so much more than me!