A Xanadu of eXcellent eXciting eXquisite eXpedited Postal eXpress from Dr. Zack

[Thom Courcelle]

A recently received hand-made envelope from Dr. Zack revealed so many goodies that it felt like Santa had left me a MailArt Stocking stuffed with treasures!  They were even nicely gift-wrapped...

There was a very cute mini comics...

...and a photo-booth photo...

...and ephemera galore!!  Then, there was that tubular gift-wrapped item...

I wasn't sure but that it might be its own art piece, but I ventured to open an end and see what I could see...

And, LO!!!  There were hand-made artistamps awaiting inside, of a very creative sort!

A treat to receive and open, and a treat that will keep on giving as I devise ways to use the various ephemera in future mailart!!  Thank you, Zack, for this entertaining packet of goodies!

[Thom Courcelle]

I have ephemera like that, too, Zack (like the comic) that I've hoarded for years or tucked into journals or re-used over and over because it struck me so profoundly. And attributed or not, I would bet that the cartoonist/artist would be pretty honored to think that here we are, all these years after its initial creation, gazing in awe at the magnificent and simple message that it conveys—that we should be child-like and even with the most minimal of mediums or resources, allow ourselves to find beauty and meaning in little things... I mean, a little thing like a teeny-tiny palm-sized star can hold a LOT of metaphor. (Stars are one of the traditional symbols of the theological virtue of "HOPE" because sailors navigated by them in order to make their way through turbulent waters.)

[Zack]

i want to be clear that i did not draw that star-folding comic; i xeroxed it many years ago and have tried in vain to locate correct attribution. any info would be appreciated. and speaking of appreciation, Thom, thanks for posting - and posing the age old question - art or entertainment? yes/and ];-)

[Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)]

What fabulous treats and mail art omens!