Received: Mail-art collage with vispo elements from Helen Amyes (York, Western Australia)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail-art received from IUOMA member Helen Amyes of York, Australia

November 1, 2010 - Helen Amyes - along with Karen Champlin - became an IUOMA member about the same time I did. I became familiar with her vibrantly coloured paintings (which I can only think to compare to Matisse) and her beautiful collages, which I admire so much; and I knew I wanted to be friends. Through vispo, through Monkey Purges, through the inevitable What is Fluxus?, I think we've managed to become good friends. I know she is very busy with art projects outside the mail-art world, along with her husband Paul's work - a really amazing photographer - so I am always thrilled to receive a new installment of Helen's work. This piece, as you can see, is a collage - in Helen's very recognizable style - with some - if not vispo - then visual-verbal elements. I believe Helen was working with letters and handwriting in her work long before she ever heard the "v" word. I always appreciate Helen's kind notes too:

Helen probably heard more than she ever needed or wanted to know about Black Mountain, but I'm thrilled we were in the show together. Thank you for this mail-art, Helen. I look forward to the continuation of our friendship. Helen: When Cheryl Penn gets back to IUOMA after teaching her book arts courses this week, maybe she can award you one of those gold stars she talks about. I certainly will nominate you as a recipient, for your outstanding work in Mail-art diplomacy. Of course, your mission was of a highly confidential nature, yet all the same executed with tact, genuine caring, and compassion. In a strange case with an already strange history, I name you the artist who singlehandedly and successfully negotiated The Minnesota Accord (aka The Treaty of Minneapolis). Much appreciated.

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