RE: posting mailart recieved online

[C. Mehrl Bennett]

F.Y.I. (but it's ok, i love you anyway): I don't normally document mailart received online, and I don't normally notify my correspondents via email or social media each time I receive mailart from them. The reasons are three-fold, though interdependent, thoughts:

1) I began my mailart practice in the 70's, way before computers were an u·biq·ui·tous commodity. My brain just isn't wired like younger generations!

2) I have many mailart correspondents, and don't want any to think I am playing favorites. The mailart network peeps are not judges of what is good, bad, or mediocre; in the way art galleries, critics, or institutions end up doing when "curating" mailart. SO, I try NOT to post mailart receipts online, because then I'd have to do it for everyone. That would add another layer to the **clerical work I already do now for outgoing pieces.

3) Isn't the primary exchange supposed to be snail mailart? That exchange involves patience, as opposed to the immediacy of an email or other social messaging. The mailart object itself is an ephemeral by-product of our exchange. If it gets delayed, or returned for insufficient address or postage, that is simply part of the process. I DO value my physical mailart archive, keep it organized by contributor & year of postmark, and have found a place for it so it's secure after I die. But I know that the 'archive' is a by-product of the actual 'act' of exchange with my m.a. peers, and may never have more than 'ephemeral' monetary value in the eyes of the 'official' art peeps.

**When I began to send out more than ten mailart missives a week, it became necessary for me to create multiples with my printer. Half of what I send out requires my printer in any case for poems, visual poems, or TLPs***, which often involve collaborations with other mailartists and so I send them copies.. So I DO keep an excel spreadsheet to record the date, address, & contents of each piece of mailart that I send out. I took note from others who do a version of this, like Julie Jeffries of ExPostFacto and ficus strangulensis.) I need to be sure I don't send the same item(s) to people more than once. It is also useful for storing addresses, because occasionally someone forgets to leave their return address on their mail, or the handwriting obscures a letter or zip code, etc. , which can be frustrating. Still, it's possible to look up addresses via I.U.O.M.A. ning site, which I've done before for new contacts.

***("Tacky Little Booklets" which are twice folded letter size paper, printed on both sides, then one of the folded edges get trimmed to allow pages to turn)

I wrote this originally as an email response to a new mailart contact, and she replied that she was "relieved" to know that she wasn't expected to let people know via email (or online social media) everytime she received something! Unfortunately, I think the IUOMA group has something to do with the start of this added layer to the mail art exchange. BUT STILL, some people simply enjoy sharing it online, and that's OK. Occasionally it's fun to see my own mailart online. AND I grow tired of telling people not to feel pressured to scan or photograph, then post everything... people will do what they want to. Just so they don't feel disced if I don't post their mailart, you know?

[Marcia Rosenberger]

I appreciate your explanation, dear friend. Like you, I also create multiples or series and I realized that I should keep a list to organize these records. I'm still learning how to keep my collection organized and thanks for the tips.

[C. Mehrl Bennett]

Well, it wasn't that hard after all to put a title on this blog!

[C. Mehrl Bennett]

Thanks All, for the comments you made in response to my "untitled" blog (not sure HOW to title it). Apologies for not "approving" your comments earlier, but somehow I didn't realize they were waiting to be approved until this morning -- when I noticed "pending comments" waiting for approval. I appreciate the positive feed back!

[Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)]

that's ok...that's real mail art :-)

no need to blog, or post online, or send emails, 

art-in-the-snail-mail is real Mail Art!

(and always a joy see you, C.M., in the mailbox xxx) 

[William M]

well said. i always think of posting stuff on line as a bonus not a necessity.

[Angie Naron]

I agree with you. I also began creating rubber-stamped and collaged (altered souvenir postcards and envelopes addressed to friends) in the late 1970s. I, myself, am celebrating my 70th birthday this month. I did not know, when I joined IUOMA, that some of the pieces I would be receiving would be an envelope filled with "little works of paper art". I still consider "mail art" as the act of altering or creating on the piece you are going to be mailing. Have a good day!

[Richard Canard]

08.02.22 Dare Ms. C. Mehrl Bennett, ...wha??? you mean to say that there are no rules in mail art? (save the ones that one  may choose for him/herself). Wide open & free??? Sounds alot like Mail Art  used to be  & intended (some 50 some years ago). Thanks for your  conscious & gentle sharing & explanation. SinCelery, Richard Canard..............Post Scriptum: My so-called "great grandchildren" hardly ever take their noses out their phones or computer games or whatever it is they are  doing with that "thing" in their hand. 

[PATRICIA LANDON]

well said and thank you.

[Carien van Hest]

Just do as you please!