There are a lot of basic questions on Mail Art that are often asked and answered. This group might be the first place to look for answers. I will do my best to answer, but hope that other members can help out as well.
I don't have a delivery to house. We only have boxes in our village and with me living on the border I have to have 2. One in USA and one in Canada. I am like 10feet from border and on reservation we have no border. We go freely back and forth. Don't even have to pay tolls. One good thing about being Mohawk.
Also I am so far and so slow sending mail to all the beautiful people whom have send to me mail. I thank you and send big big hugs. I soon will send some to you. You don't know how much your mail means to me. Especially where I live in boonsville Hood. Reservation life is like Dodge City days. We have no shops to buy nice papers or not even glue.
Cari Amici Mailartisti, io sono italiano, e non so nè parlare nè scrivere in inglese. ma faccio Mail Art dal 1980, e ho organizzato tante mostre come curatore di SACS - Spazio Arte Contemporanea Sperimentale. E mi accorgo che ancora oggi qui nella mia provincia, Savona, la Mail Art viene sottovalutata. A mio parere la Mail Art non va vista nel singolo artista ma nel suo insieme, quasi fosse un'unica immensa opera in progress. viabbraccio.
Dear Friends Mailartisti, I am Italian, and I do not know or speak or write in English.but I have been doing Mail Art since 1980, and I have organized many exhibitions as curator of SACS - Contemporary Art Space Experiment.And I realize that even today in my province, Savona, Mail Art is underestimated.In my opinion, Mail Art does not look into the single artist but as a whole, as if it were a single immense work in progress.I hug you.
Io, fino a poco tempo fa pensavo che la Mail Art potesse diventare completamente digitale, ma forse mi sbagliavo, noi mailartisti, grazie a siti come IUOMA o Dodo Dada, possiamo tenerci in contatto e divulgare opere digitali senza abbandonare la carta che spediamo per posta... siamo io ctredo, dei networker completi. siamo storici ma anche attuali.
I, until recently, I thought that Mail Art could become completely digital, but maybe I was wrong, we mailartists, thanks to sites like IUOMA or Dodo Dada, we can keep in touch and divulge digital works without leaving the paper we send by mail... we are ctredo, of complete networkers.we are historical but also current
La mia visione della Mail Art, si modifica continuamente. Oggi penso che vada vista, pensata e vissuta come una grande Opera, un grande movimento in continua metamorfosi, nel quale noi siamo piccole gocce in un grande mare, in un "MARE MAGNUM"... E sia anche giusto operare nella Mail Art, ma anche ai bordi della Mail Art : con video arte, performance art, e web art. io oggi lavoro volentieri come webartista.
My vision of Mail Art is constantly changing.Today I think it should be seen, thought and experienced as a great Opera, a great movement in continuous metamorphosis, in which we are small drops in a big sea, in a "MARE MAGNUM" ... And it is also right to work in Mail Art,but also at the edges of Mail Art: with video art, performance art, and web art.today I work willingly as a web artist.
just wondering? why does ning post my images 1-2-3 on the iuoma main page and then backwards 3-2-1 on my page, seems ning is not consistant with alot of things?????
Io dico che dovremmo insistere per far comprendere l'importanza di un movimento comela MAIL ART! Non sono molti gli artisti, critici e galleristi che la apprezzano.
I say that we should insist on understanding the importance of a movement like MAIL ART! There are not many artists, critics and gallery owners who appreciate it.
Dico la mia: La Mail Art, non può, non deve rimanere ferma, visto che è nata da Fluxus, quindi prima di tutto cerchiamo di non fossilizzarci. Nel mio piccolo evito di usare collages, artistamp, ecc. e cerco di creare una Mail Art- process art, e performativa... e cerco pure di usare il web senza separarlo dalla Mail Art... vorrei che fosse una evoluzione della M.A. ma non abbandono le spedizioni! anzi spedisco più volte la settimana... e porto l'atmosfera M.A. nelle mie performances, che al momento sono poche. un abbraccio . b
I say mine: Mail Art, can not, should not remain firm, since it was born from Fluxus, so first of all we try not to fossilize.In my small way I avoid using collages, artistamps, etc.and I try to create a Mail Art-process art, and performative ... and I also try to use the web without separating it from Mail Art ... I would like it to be an evolution of M.A.but do not abandon shipments!rather I send several times a week ... and I bring the atmosphere M.A.in my performances, which at the moment are few.a hug .b
NO Jury, NO Selection, NO Returns and NO Entry Fees are the few basic rules all Mail Art shows/projects/exhibits have in their participation Calls. Even when some shows stretch them to a deadline or to a particular format, the basics is never changed and it has been this way since decades.
I now ask myself why in IUOMA's Mail Art Projects blog is allowed a proliferation of Calls that use the Mail Art word but have nothing to do with it, as they request Entry Fees, have Jury, do Selection and give Awards, creating confusion for new Mail Artists and deforming the nature of Mail Art.
IUOMA, as International Union of Mail Artists, plays an important part in promoting the right information, specially its projects blog, that is reference to a huge audience.
please, don't post nor promote Calls that mislead the concept of Mail Art unless their rules are changed. give a chance to educate ignorance and eliminate slyness.
I understand the costs involved in some projects where there is documentation sent out that can produce a request for money, but it should be as donation and kept free not as a rule for entry.
Is there anybody out there who is working as an art teacher in school and would like to start a mail art exchange with my group of five students at the local Montessori School here in Germany?
i really dislike getting mail-art from ppl who do not identify themselves!
whats the point? i got an envelope today postmarked denver colo.with no return name/address. mail art is about exchange, its not about some anonymous spooky thing that some think it is, its frustrating, join the union and stop this nonsense please.
@Carl I have been guilty of forgetting to sign a card or put a legible return address on something. Never intended. There are some people whose practice is to send anonymously sometimes. I don't think it is meant as spooky.
So I read same very loose rules. I posted a photo of my first outgoing mail art then removed it. It seems it's nicer for the receiver to post a photo of incoming mail. But what about putting up photos of what you send on your social media accounts i.e. twitter, instagram etc? Any rules about that? Bit wary of posting the personal addresses of others.
Good question, you're not the first nor only who is wary of posting personal addresses. About posting addresses there are no rules either, apart from that thoughtfulness might be appreciated.
About addresses on the internet there is an almost similar question/discussion, see
Speaking for myself, I prefer to post sent mail after the receiver has received it, so the surprise is kept for him or her.
When a mail artist has her or his address clearly written on the public internet (for example here at IUOMA or on his/her personal blog), I would post the mail art completely on my blog, though on instagram I usually blur any address, or I put a paper, with the written single word 'address', over the real address. When the receiver (and also senders) doesn't have an address in public I sure will blur or cover it when I post the mail art in the internet or instagram.
Cari Amici Mailartisti, mi farebbe piacere sapere da voi, se vi sentite anche web artist .. O se non volete mischiare la mail art col web. Come già scrissi, io credo che il web sia una continuazione della mail art. Un fraterno abbraccio .
Message from Bruno in English (thanks to online translators):
"Dear Mailartist Friends, I would like to know from you, if you are also a web artist .. Or if you do not want to mix the mail art with the web.As I already wrote, I believe that the web is a continuation of the mail art. A fraternal embrace [from Bruno Cassaglia]"
Bruno, parlando per me stesso, non sono una mail artista del web. Anche se ho scoperto il software di pittura del computer e mi piace, in arte postale preferisco i processi postali e le aggiunte da parte delle aziende postali. Come potrebbe l'internet aggiungerli? Ma ci sono molti artisti della posta che sono diventati digitali. Li troverai anche qui! Saluti cordiali!
My method-of-madness is to put incoming mail art as a "blog", were I like to show details as well. Then the mail art that I make is posted in my "photos" section, and I don't reveal to whom I sent it. There have been times, like Heleen said, when I will wait for someone to receive it and then post it at "photos".
On the blogs, I usually blur out my address, not that it isn't public on my page, but I often find that it distracts from the sender's lovely art on the envelope or postcard :-)
However, those are not 5000 unique members, I see several people having more than one account (some maybe start a new account after forgetting their inlog things, some because of aliases, etc). So when the Real 5000th member will arrive, we won't know, will we?
Just wondering if there are any legal postal regulations about sending mail art and whether any of you have had issues or complaints about what is sent in the mail. Are there things the post won't accept? Do letter with faux stamps for example ever get questioned or rejected?
Zea, you don't have to friend anyone, but if you don't they cannot message you. Up to you, "no rules". It has been my experience that there is more art from friends than emails.
I've gotten those from Tom Hilgart, too. Just do whatever with them. Treat them like an add and pass OR just do something with them yourself and send back to Tom.
Here is a hypothetical question for some of the old boys to think on:
Scenario: You put together a small project with the promise of some nice documentation, a book or something, a limited edition, one each.
You get a dozen pieces of work and get the book (or whatever) printed up in an edition of a dozen with no spares.
You post them out but one goes missing in the post. What to do? 'Tough luck, that's the lottery of the postal service'? Re print another dozen (oh, the expense of it all)?
Is there no way out without a disappointment?
Hopefully it will never happen but just in case . . .
Hi res-I've used glassine envelopes for mailing and I think they can be quite lovely! You have to seal them well, and you have to use "non-machineable" postage stamps. Have fun! Denise
You are welcome. I've been making and exchanging a lot of mail art, but I haven't been posting online lately. I'm trying to get in the habit of visiting this site (and participating) more often. See ya in the mail! Denise
Hello everyone am very new to mail art can anyone say more detailed about how it works and what we can send in mail art and to whom we have send.Thank you in advance
Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)
What's happening at IUOMA.ning? I have no images showing!
Borders are empty...and I cannot upload photos.
Is it ning...or is it me?
:-(
Oct 15, 2017
Kayenderes
I don't have a delivery to house. We only have boxes in our village and with me living on the border I have to have 2. One in USA and one in Canada. I am like 10feet from border and on reservation we have no border. We go freely back and forth. Don't even have to pay tolls. One good thing about being Mohawk.
Oct 15, 2017
Kayenderes
Also I am so far and so slow sending mail to all the beautiful people whom have send to me mail. I thank you and send big big hugs. I soon will send some to you. You don't know how much your mail means to me. Especially where I live in boonsville Hood. Reservation life is like Dodge City days. We have no shops to buy nice papers or not even glue.
Oct 15, 2017
Bruno Cassaglia - poetArtist
Cari Amici Mailartisti, io sono italiano, e non so nè parlare nè scrivere in inglese. ma faccio Mail Art dal 1980, e ho organizzato tante mostre come curatore di SACS - Spazio Arte Contemporanea Sperimentale. E mi accorgo che ancora oggi qui nella mia provincia, Savona, la Mail Art viene sottovalutata. A mio parere la Mail Art non va vista nel singolo artista ma nel suo insieme, quasi fosse un'unica immensa opera in progress. viabbraccio.
Nov 17, 2017
Bruno Cassaglia - poetArtist
Dear Friends Mailartisti, I am Italian, and I do not know or speak or write in English. but I have been doing Mail Art since 1980, and I have organized many exhibitions as curator of SACS - Contemporary Art Space Experiment. And I realize that even today in my province, Savona, Mail Art is underestimated. In my opinion, Mail Art does not look into the single artist but as a whole, as if it were a single immense work in progress. I hug you.
Nov 17, 2017
Ruud Janssen
If a photo doesn't upload complete. Just delete the result and try anew. Must be a glitch in the connection.
Dec 13, 2017
Bruno Cassaglia - poetArtist
Io, fino a poco tempo fa pensavo che la Mail Art potesse diventare completamente digitale, ma forse mi sbagliavo, noi mailartisti, grazie a siti come IUOMA o Dodo Dada, possiamo tenerci in contatto e divulgare opere digitali senza abbandonare la carta che spediamo per posta... siamo io ctredo, dei networker completi. siamo storici ma anche attuali.
I, until recently, I thought that Mail Art could become completely digital, but maybe I was wrong, we mailartists, thanks to sites like IUOMA or Dodo Dada, we can keep in touch and divulge digital works without leaving the paper we send by mail ... we are ctredo, of complete networkers. we are historical but also current
Dec 15, 2017
Ruud Janssen
Digital communication is just a new addition to the ways we already had.
Jan 22, 2018
Bruno Cassaglia - poetArtist
La mia visione della Mail Art, si modifica continuamente. Oggi penso che vada vista, pensata e vissuta come una grande Opera, un grande movimento in continua metamorfosi, nel quale noi siamo piccole gocce in un grande mare, in un "MARE MAGNUM"... E sia anche giusto operare nella Mail Art, ma anche ai bordi della Mail Art : con video arte, performance art, e web art. io oggi lavoro volentieri come webartista.
My vision of Mail Art is constantly changing. Today I think it should be seen, thought and experienced as a great Opera, a great movement in continuous metamorphosis, in which we are small drops in a big sea, in a "MARE MAGNUM" ... And it is also right to work in Mail Art, but also at the edges of Mail Art: with video art, performance art, and web art. today I work willingly as a web artist.
Jan 30, 2018
Bruno Cassaglia - poetArtist
W LA MAIL ART!!!! W IUOMA!!!!!!!
Jan 30, 2018
carl baker
just wondering? why does ning post my images 1-2-3 on the iuoma main page and then backwards 3-2-1 on my page, seems ning is not consistant with alot of things?????
Feb 2, 2018
Nadia Aroca
In the main page is 2-1-3, so more strange yet. 3-2-1 is the order they appear in the photos page.
Feb 2, 2018
Nadia Aroca
By the way, sorting the friends in chronological order doesn't work properly.
Feb 2, 2018
carl baker
yes, thank u, nadia, the main page changed again after i posted them, and i know, i agree with you on the friends section, what??????
Feb 2, 2018
Bruno Cassaglia - poetArtist
Io dico che dovremmo insistere per far comprendere l'importanza di un movimento comela MAIL ART! Non sono molti gli artisti, critici e galleristi che la apprezzano.
I say that we should insist on understanding the importance of a movement like MAIL ART! There are not many artists, critics and gallery owners who appreciate it.Apr 20, 2018
carl baker
bruno,
yes,yes,yes we know this, but what can be done? send a letter to the mayor,
bomb the post office, make a demonstration, or just go to sleep.
Apr 20, 2018
Bradford
May cart.
Apr 20, 2018
Bruno Cassaglia - poetArtist
Dico la mia: La Mail Art, non può, non deve rimanere ferma, visto che è nata da Fluxus, quindi prima di tutto cerchiamo di non fossilizzarci. Nel mio piccolo evito di usare collages, artistamp, ecc. e cerco di creare una Mail Art- process art, e performativa... e cerco pure di usare il web senza separarlo dalla Mail Art... vorrei che fosse una evoluzione della M.A. ma non abbandono le spedizioni! anzi spedisco più volte la settimana... e porto l'atmosfera M.A. nelle mie performances, che al momento sono poche. un abbraccio . b
May 10, 2018
Bruno Cassaglia - poetArtist
I say mine: Mail Art, can not, should not remain firm, since it was born from Fluxus, so first of all we try not to fossilize. In my small way I avoid using collages, artistamps, etc. and I try to create a Mail Art-process art, and performative ... and I also try to use the web without separating it from Mail Art ... I would like it to be an evolution of M.A. but do not abandon shipments! rather I send several times a week ... and I bring the atmosphere M.A. in my performances, which at the moment are few. a hug . b
May 10, 2018
Kathy Barnett
This is probably really obvious and I just don't see it...but how do you flip a photo once you downloaded it?
Jun 19, 2018
Ptrzia (TICTAC)
NO Jury, NO Selection, NO Returns and NO Entry Fees are the few basic rules all Mail Art shows/projects/exhibits have in their participation Calls. Even when some shows stretch them to a deadline or to a particular format, the basics is never changed and it has been this way since decades.
Jul 23, 2018
Wendi Powell
How do I delete my profile.
Aug 19, 2018
Wendi Powell
Aug 22, 2018
Mikula Lüllwitz
Is there anybody out there who is working as an art teacher in school and would like to start a mail art exchange with my group of five students at the local Montessori School here in Germany?
Sep 2, 2018
carl baker
i really dislike getting mail-art from ppl who do not identify themselves!
whats the point? i got an envelope today postmarked denver colo.with no return name/address. mail art is about exchange, its not about some anonymous spooky thing that some think it is, its frustrating, join the union and stop this nonsense please.
Dec 20, 2018
Linda Rogers
@Carl I have been guilty of forgetting to sign a card or put a legible return address on something. Never intended. There are some people whose practice is to send anonymously sometimes. I don't think it is meant as spooky.
Dec 20, 2018
maha
how to fix upside image i upload at the post
tuturial please
Dec 22, 2018
The Artful Writer
Howdy,
So I read same very loose rules. I posted a photo of my first outgoing mail art then removed it. It seems it's nicer for the receiver to post a photo of incoming mail. But what about putting up photos of what you send on your social media accounts i.e. twitter, instagram etc? Any rules about that? Bit wary of posting the personal addresses of others.
Cheers
Dec 27, 2018
Heleen de Vaan
G'day Artful Writer,
Welcome at IUOMA!
Good question, you're not the first nor only who is wary of posting personal addresses.
About posting addresses there are no rules either, apart from that thoughtfulness might be appreciated.
About addresses on the internet there is an almost similar question/discussion, see
http://iuoma-network.ning.com/group/askanything/forum/topics/safety...
Speaking for myself, I prefer to post sent mail after the receiver has received it, so the surprise is kept for him or her.
When a mail artist has her or his address clearly written on the public internet (for example here at IUOMA or on his/her personal blog), I would post the mail art completely on my blog, though on instagram I usually blur any address, or I put a paper, with the written single word 'address', over the real address.
When the receiver (and also senders) doesn't have an address in public I sure will blur or cover it when I post the mail art in the internet or instagram.
Dec 28, 2018
Bruno Cassaglia - poetArtist
Cari Amici Mailartisti, mi farebbe piacere sapere da voi, se vi sentite anche web artist .. O se non volete mischiare la mail art col web. Come già scrissi, io credo che il web sia una continuazione della mail art. Un fraterno abbraccio .
Jan 1, 2019
Heleen de Vaan
Message from Bruno in English (thanks to online translators):
"Dear Mailartist Friends, I would like to know from you, if you are also a web artist .. Or if you do not want to mix the mail art with the web. As I already wrote, I believe that the web is a continuation of the mail art.
A fraternal embrace [from Bruno Cassaglia]"
See also: http://iuoma-network.ning.com/group/digitalart
Bruno, parlando per me stesso, non sono una mail artista del web. Anche se ho scoperto il software di pittura del computer e mi piace, in arte postale preferisco i processi postali e le aggiunte da parte delle aziende postali. Come potrebbe l'internet aggiungerli?
Ma ci sono molti artisti della posta che sono diventati digitali. Li troverai anche qui! Saluti cordiali!
Jan 2, 2019
Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)
My method-of-madness is to put incoming mail art as a "blog", were I like to show details as well. Then the mail art that I make is posted in my "photos" section, and I don't reveal to whom I sent it. There have been times, like Heleen said, when I will wait for someone to receive it and then post it at "photos".
On the blogs, I usually blur out my address, not that it isn't public on my page, but I often find that it distracts from the sender's lovely art on the envelope or postcard :-)
Jan 10, 2019
Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)
January 10, 2019:
Iouma.ning is listing right now, today:
All Members (4,997)
Who will be #5000 member?
Let's see in a few days? a few hours?
Jan 10, 2019
Heleen de Vaan
Almost 5000, that is exciting!
However, those are not 5000 unique members, I see several people having more than one account (some maybe start a new account after forgetting their inlog things, some because of aliases, etc). So when the Real 5000th member will arrive, we won't know, will we?
Jan 11, 2019
Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)
ah, yes, Heleen, you are correct,
there are some members who have several accounts.
Well, it is still a milestone seeing the number and who will be #5000.
We are quite a fun group! :-)
(artistamp by an ol' mail artist: "Wackystuff")
Jan 14, 2019
The Artful Writer
Hi all,
Just wondering if there are any legal postal regulations about sending mail art and whether any of you have had issues or complaints about what is sent in the mail. Are there things the post won't accept? Do letter with faux stamps for example ever get questioned or rejected?
Cheers
Jan 17, 2019
carl baker
mr. righter,
nothing is true, everything is permitted!
Jan 17, 2019
The Artful Writer
Jan 17, 2019
Mail Art Martha
Hi I need help, please.
Can the order of a Photo Album be reversed so that the last photos added appear first?
I haven't found how after some exploring.
Jan 17, 2019
The Artful Writer
Is there a general free to use IUOMA image I can use for my mail?
Feb 15, 2019
Zea Morvitz
Hi there!
If I friend someone does that mean they will keep emailing me?
What if I only want to get emails from people in the group I joined?
Mar 29, 2019
Heide Monster
Zea, you don't have to friend anyone, but if you don't they cannot message you. Up to you, "no rules". It has been my experience that there is more art from friends than emails.
Mar 30, 2019
Donald Kolberg
I got an envelope with DA DA Dollars from someone named Hilgart. Any info on what this is about
Jul 13, 2019
Mim Golub Scalin
ds Kolberg
I've gotten those from Tom Hilgart, too. Just do whatever with them. Treat them like an add and pass OR just do something with them yourself and send back to Tom.
Jul 13, 2019
Heide Monster
I love manila folders. They work nicely for postcards.
Aug 1, 2019
Mary Anne
Here is a hypothetical question for some of the old boys to think on:
Scenario: You put together a small project with the promise of some nice documentation, a book or something, a limited edition, one each.
You get a dozen pieces of work and get the book (or whatever) printed up in an edition of a dozen with no spares.
You post them out but one goes missing in the post. What to do? 'Tough luck, that's the lottery of the postal service'? Re print another dozen (oh, the expense of it all)?
Is there no way out without a disappointment?
Hopefully it will never happen but just in case . . .
Sep 26, 2019
Mary Anne
yep
Oct 3, 2019
Denise Woodward
Hi res-I've used glassine envelopes for mailing and I think they can be quite lovely! You have to seal them well, and you have to use "non-machineable" postage stamps. Have fun! Denise
Oct 5, 2019
Denise Woodward
You are welcome. I've been making and exchanging a lot of mail art, but I haven't been posting online lately. I'm trying to get in the habit of visiting this site (and participating) more often. See ya in the mail! Denise
Oct 5, 2019
Afritha Hasana
Oct 5, 2019