RayJ Against the Machine or Is Richard Canard Ribbing us? (Carbondale, Illinois, USA)

[De Villo Sloan]

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

May 24, 2015 - Curbing minimalist tendencies, Richard Canard sent me this wonderful piece some time ago that I am just now getting around to documenting. Richard’s usual gift for wordplay and ironic brilliance is expressed here using a strategy drawing from Popart, manipulation of found materials and the visual syntax of vispo. He again reveals himself as an absolute master of the avant modes that have been absorbed into mail art. That all this comes together as a wry homage to “Sweet Baby” Ray Johnson launches this piece into the realm of the Instant Classic, IMHO. Here is the envelope:

And the reverse:

I also include a card Richard Canard sent that is a bit more serious.

Pointed political, social and cultural commentary can be found in the Richard C. canon. He has an itchy trigger finger, as they say, when it comes to firearms, a trait he shares with others in the American grain such as William S. Burroughs, Ernest Hemingway and Richard Brautigan.

Thanks as ever to Richard Canard for sending this FAB work!