Received: Mail-Art Book Chapter for "What Alexander Conquered 2010" by Lauriana Glenny (Hillcrest, South Africa)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail-art book chapter by IUOMA member Lauriana Glenny (Hillcrest, South Africa)

November 28, 2010 - Cheryl Penn is coordinating a number of collaborative book projects involving mail-artists from across the globe. One of them is "What Alexander Conquered 2010," and chapters are beginning to arrive in my mailbox. Lauriana Glenny has produced this wonderful piece providing a glimpse of South Africa and her home in Hillcrest:

Lauriana has provided some very original content and a story using words and images, mixing the personal and the mythic. In the design and composition of the book itself, it is very evident to me she is a student of Cheryl Penn's. The turn for Oakland? "I was just trying to get to Oakland, man!" Sorry, wrong continent. Handmade books are certainly becoming a high art in SA:

Being in the US and never having visited SA, this is just fascinating to me.

Chariots and gates - Lauriana is definitely weaving the Alexander theme into her narrative. I guess with the gates and all, you don't have visits from the mail-art monkeys that keep an eye on Cheryl, oh well. No monkeys. But there are other attractions:

A perfect shot for the chapter's conclusion. Missives from SA always arrive in beautiful envelopes with beautiful stamps:

The chapter left the warmth of SA to arrive with the early snowfalls in NY:

A wonderful chapter from your life, Lauriana, that was clearly made with great thought and care. I greatly appreciate this mail-art gift!

Mail-art color of the day: Lemon (TYJS)

Mail-art psychic: "They like to travel in pears."

[Marie Wintzer]

You're my hero....

[cheryl penn]

Hey Marie - take some boot/shoe polish on a sponge and 'dirty up', especially the edges. Its great fun.

[De Villo Sloan]

Thank heavens for the comment stream: I had meant to mention how much I liked the slide show concept. Cheryl, books don't travel in pears; bookworms travel in pears ;)

[Marie Wintzer]

I like the slide show idea a lot, and the envelope is great too, I wonder how she did that.

[cheryl penn]

P.S. Books do travel better in pears :-))

[cheryl penn]

Great blog AGAIN De Villo. Lauriana did a book course yes - but her work is all her own - it looks like she is better at photo-shop than I can ever dream to be - a fantastic chapter to the Alexander saga. Artists' Books are growing in popularity here - SLOWLY - but having artists contributing from all over the world - that takes them a stage further. Next year has to be The Year Of The International Collaborative Mail Artist's Book - yes?

[Karen Champlin]

Yes, exactly. I completely understand. For a real stretch I look at Erni's colorful collages and Arttower's bright colorful paintings.

[De Villo Sloan]

Karen, isn't it interesting how certain geographic areas seem to produce distinctive art? And remember I named you and Julian Grant: The Chicago School.

[Karen Champlin]

These women in South Africa are extremely talented. Beautiful work in all areas...the photo images, the stamping, the statements, stitching. It is just all put together to create a wonderful piece.