The Opposite of Trashpo or the Gina Ulgen Fan Club (Norwich, Norfolk, UK)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail art by IUOMA member Gina Ulgen (Norwich, Norfolk, UK)

August 4, 2015 - Gina Ulgen has distinguished herself in mail art with contributions to DKULTUK (among other triumphs.) Now, an ambitious edition she has released into the network separates her from the trashpack and – if there were ever any doubt – confirms her standing as a highly original collage artist. This “let them eat cake” piece is ubiquitous these days and is receiving high praise. All the same, I will share the copy I received (14/50). I am thrilled that Gina Ulgen kindly thought of me. Visual puns highlight her wry humor:

Gina Ulgen included a card with a note:

She makes a reference to the Postage Due Club:

I do not believe Gina Ulgen is a member of the Postage Due Club and thus has not burdened me with financial obligations (as did Diane Keys for no less than an entire year). This mail art package has a wonderful consistency throughout in terms of aesthetic choices, tone and theme:

And the reverse:

Many thanks to Gina Ulgen!

[De Villo Sloan]

This Ray Johnson rabbit/duck thing is vaguely related to the discussion.

http://rayjohnsonestate.tumblr.com/post/126012196616/ray-johnson-en...

[Gü]

?? mmm, a Christmas cracker, the kind you pull before or after dinner usually has a cheap toy and a joke that makes everyone groan. Dean made reference to to my jokes, ie, like they'd been pulled out of a cracker. Sorry if I've upset anyone

[De Villo Sloan]

A very successful mailing, Gina. Positive responses across the board. I do appreciate all the wordplay, especially "postage dew" and as a reminder to all those artists who still owe me money.

We have, unfortunately, ruffled the feathers of the Great Canard. I hope you two are in contact via the mail and sort it out. I trust that he'll understand your "cracker" comment is innocent (that's a regional thing I learned in Alabama.)

ANYWAY, thanks Gina. Great, great work!

[Gü]

Thanks for the blog DVS, I was so behind on mailing people back I wanted to reach as many as I could and give 'em a smile. Good practice for making multiples too.

Glad you got the postage dew joke, it may well belong in a cracker but thought it apt for you.

[De Villo Sloan]

Pomosexual? Kaprow?

[De Villo Sloan]

I was 85% sure you were not serious, Richard. Regardless, I think some sort of critical division dividing you and Stan Askew from Gina is hilarious. I have been chuckling about it for hours. I do have to warn you that in some instances (like Trashpo) I can no longer distinguish if I am joking or serious.

[Richard Canard]

04.08.15 Dare De Villo S., ...surely you are aware that practically all I do here or anywhere else is attempt to make bad Jokes. ...My attentions  &  or additions to your IUOMA commentaries only occur when some silly notion pops into my head... what I am attempting to do (& obviously not very successfully) is simply to jump aboard the De Villo Sloan Band Wagon as inconspicuously & unceremoniously as I can possibly figure out. Rest assured (for what it is worth to you), De Villo Sloan is "a scholar & a gentleman" from where I sit in the comfy shade. Ave uh nez dae. Richard  C. 

[De Villo Sloan]

Richard, I am not suggesting that Gina Ulgen is an artist in some way that you and Stan Askew are not.

I have been mud wrestling with this poorly explained and developed concept (on my part) about aesthetics and anti-art. This emerged especially in the discussion with res about the current mail art scene and the historical continuum of the last half century. Compare and contrast.

Claire aka Cleo - during the Schwitterspo vs. Trashpo dispute - warned that trying to make sense of traditional aesthetic notions or even anti-art are futile in the current artworld.

I should have listened.

In my eyes Gina Ulgen, Richard Canard and Stan Askew are all giants of equal stature ;)

As David Stafford might write: All this being said as I inch nervously toward the nearest exit.

[Richard Canard]

04.08.15 Dare Mister DeVillo S., ...What's that?  "The mail art package has wonderful consistency in terms of aesthetic choices, tone & theme." ... Are you calling Ms. Gina Ulgen a real artist? Ave uh nez dae, Stand Askew. Richard Canard