RECEIVED: Mail-art Collage from Erni Baer (Hamburg, Germany)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail-art by IUOMA member Erni Baer (Hamburg, Germany)

 

April 11, 2011 - Erni Baer and I have been friends for what seems like a long time. We have exchanged different types of mail-art. This is the first time I have received a collage by Erni, and I am very pleased. This is a postcard-size piece and composed in the "Old School" style using scissors and glue.

 

In my estimation, Erni Baer is a master of collage (and I learned about decollage from him too). He works in the tradition of Kurt Schwitters with the added twist of heavy influence from the Beat Generation. Having seen numerous examples of Erni's work posted at the IUOMA, I've concluded Erni uses a near-formalist method of arranging his materials based on geometric planes ( ghost of cubism passed through the Schwitters line?).

 

What is likely most important is that these forms allow for inexhaustible juxtapositions of images, and Erni certainly has a discerning eye for finding compelling images in his environment. Erni is also very involved producing haptic poetry these days. He is using this haptic werewolf logo I've seen several places and like very much, so I'm glad to have an original:

 

 

At long last I have a mail-art collage from Erni Baer! Many thanks! Erni has a great website with tons of interesting material:

 

http://www.erni-baer.de/

[De Villo Sloan]

Excellent that surely is context. I like the street art part of it.

[De Villo Sloan]

Is it outdoors? Is that Hamburg graffitti? Great pic - I'm struggling for context.

[De Villo Sloan]

The Haptic Werewolf is great and all the better that it was found. I'm thrilled to finally have one of your collages. I enjoyed this one very much.