RECEIVED: Fluxus Affair and Alex Chapter Mail-Art from Test Tower (Centralia, Washington, USA)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail-art by IUOMA member Test Tower (Centralia, Washington, USA)

 

January 15, 2011 - New IUOMA friend Test Tower sent me a spectacular package to start our first mail-art exchange. As you can see above, the reverse side of his envelope is an add-and-pass announcing the conclusion of 2010 - the year of Vittore Baroni's Art Detox. Some interesting work by Litsa Spathi included. The inside of the envelope contained Test Tower's chapter for the "Alex," international, collaborative book project, coordinated by Cheryl Penn of South Africa, and which at this time needs no introduction for IUOMA members. Here is the chapter in proper order: 

Alex project participants have used their homes, towns, and regions as the setting for their chapters. Test Tower uses the opportunity to showcase the Pacific Northwest.

The artists have chosen all sorts of plots, or lack thereof. For me, Test Tower veers toward a sci-fi apocalypse (Road Warrior on the right?) or is it another effort - following the footsteps of Bifidus Jones (Minnesota) - to create a mail-art epic?

This is a take-no-prisoners kinda thing. Test Tower definitely explores the idea of statues here, or at least he prodded me to think about them.

The devastation described is almost complete, but it's re-assuring to know there is a resistance somewhere.

And a warning to heed. I thoroughly enjoyed this mail-art by Test Tower. He sent it to:

Test Tower has an AMAZING mail-art blog - you can find both Heebeejeeland and his Fluxus Affair project. Great mail-art and commentary:

http://www.heebeejeebeeland.blogspot.com

[De Villo Sloan]

Hi Bifidus and SA26, I'm glad you appreciate Test Tower's work as much as I do. I think he really outdid himself with the Alex chapter and the envelope material - good point about his use of color. The Art Retox is indeed a keeper; I can't believe I have to pass it. I know he was ill, and I hope he continues to recover.

[cheryl penn]

Great blog De Villo - Test Tower's chapter despite his illness was a FAB to receive - the envelopes are of course keepers too.

[Bifidus Jones]

Wowzer-- Great blog and wonderful mail art. Test Tower is one of those artists who can make offbeat colors look courtly and timeless.