STIR YOUR LIFE WITH VAL (& AND SPOON IT UP LATER)

[Erni Bär]

I dig what Val Herman does here at IUOMA, and there were times when we had more contact than recently. But it doesn't mean we ignore each other - NO AT ALL! Today I found this in my letterbox:

I admit having thought at first that Val sends me a pair of chopsticks but after the opening things looked different:

I harbour the strong suspicion that Mr. Herman is a secret admirer of famous Russian installation artist Ilya Kabakov aka "The Man Who Never Could Throw Anything Away":

If I'd sent all this stuff the spoon would've been one I had used myself before. I that so, Val the Pal? THANK YOU muchly for this mail art. I dig it having sent out my own used toothbrushes before to someone (not you!).

[Erni Bär]

I had seen Kabakov's exhibition in Hamburg. Don't really know whether he NEVER EVER threw anything away. I did throughout my life. Otherwise both of us could have been buried underneath all that Erni-junk easily. I shall keep the spoon and all the other things, of course. Owning another tea spoon I'll not have to make immediate use of the one you sent. Thanks again, Val!

http://www.google.de/search?q=ilya+kabakov+the+man+who+never+threw+...

[Valentine Mark Herman]

It's an unused spoon, Erni. Wash it, eat with it, wash it again if you like, and then remail it. I saw Ilya's Permanent  Installation in, I think, Oslo a few years ago, an was amazed. Sometimes i do throw things out, alas, as my Permanent Insallation (aka my study, aka Val's junk room at the top of the house) just isn't big enough for all of my stuff.

[Erni Bär]

No, Domingo is with his original people again these days. I change my toothbrushes every few weeks and began to keep the used pne for "purposes". This jar is a work I did last year. It's called "FAN CLUB NUTS" because of the hazelnuts "E" had sent me before. Having chewed stuff like them you surely are in need of a good toothbrush, arent you?

[Nancy Bell Scott]

Happy you enjoyed it, Niklas ~~~ :--}

Who's the other toothbrush for in your household, EB? Domingo?

[Erni Bär]

[Eraser Heed]

   As I have a great collection of four different coasters from Val and one of them being from La Rotonde (I have not been there (yet)). That La Rotonde has become "my new bar in my head when wanting a biere/öl!" I have not those kind of nice bars in my neighbourhood so I'll pick out that coater and a cold Kronenbourg and pretend.

   Nice tooth brush story Nancy!

[Erni Bär]

Don't use my used toothbrush, ladies. But why not? I normally clean them meticulously before sendingI There's no point in sending new ones, is there? I won't use any of the things Val sent me. The only exception I made was with a package full of stuff from Mim & Chuck Scalin. They had asked me to do so.

Val goes to the brasserie for his evening drink perhaps? I don't know.

[Nancy Bell Scott]

Great collection from Val. Don't you love his quirks? They works. I received a toothbrush last year and it looked so new that I threatened to use it, but Erni put up a PANIC ALERT, do not use, it is used. And that's how I was in danger + saved in one day. You have to wonder if we shouldn't go ahead with such things, though--for the sake of collaboration and performance.

[MomKat]

That is a fabulous collection of "mail art omens" from Valentine Mark Herman...

'hope you recycle/reuse/resend to us :-)

(nice billy-tulip print, too!)

[MomKat]

OHO! Erni...I have been to the famous La Rotonde in Sigean!

It is a bit of Paris on-the-corner (where one finds Val every evening at 6 p.m.)