This is a page of work by JMB that appeared in a zine called "MaLLife" (Seattle, 1988). The light blue piece is a TLP (Tacky Little Pamphlet) that is stapled into the zine; the title is "Snake Girls." On FB I described the work as "asemic-like," and I don't think Jim Leftwich agrees. This is definitely calligraphy, but I think the distortion in the letters is at least asemic suggestive. So I will share these here for the group to ponder. Here are more images from "Snake Girls":
Hey De Villo, thanks for the blast from the past peeks at those golden oldies - i could see them from the links in the email i rec'd, tho they do not appear on the blog site for some reason............ ???????? as to whether they are asemic or not, i really have no opinion on the matter; it's a classification problem for someone other than the artist to worry about (or not) - actually, I was thinking yesterday that there is no such thing as asemic art or writing: EVERYTHING has a meaning. "asemic", the word, means "no meaning", which in turn, of course, means something.
Thx JMB. I can see the scans, but there was a funny glitch when I posted. I'm going to re-post. They are on my FB page as well.
It's really strange how asemic writing is such a point of contention when vispo isn't. As I stated in the debate w/ Pete Spence, I am OK with the concept of asemic writing. Some folks are not. A lot of the material posted in this group could be considered vispo as well. There are no restrictions in this group, of course.
Thanks for posting the great art by John M. Bennett and Finnbadger. As to the classification of Finnbadger's piece, I think all three descriptive terms for the type of asemics it is apply. I also agree that John M. Bennett's piece was asemic suggestive as you say. One of the fun things about asemic writing is that it is perceived differently depending on the person, regardless of it not having any real original intended meaning. another interesting facet is how it makes one feel when viewing it. I have a different connection to asemic writing when I look at it than other forms of art. Just my two cents lol. Thanks again for posting these.
More blasts from the past: Another calligraphy-vispo piece by John M. Bennett. Appeared in "Outre 2" (1986) (Florence, Alabama, USA) (Jake Berry, Editor)
A piece by Carol Stetser that I think is definitely asemic. Appeared in "Velocity 8" (1987) (Port Charlotte, Florida, USA) (Bob Grumman and Christian Herman, Editors)
Rosa Gravino has extended the deadline for her mail art call. I know many of us in the group have participated in her FAB exhibitions. Everyone should send! She is very receptive to asemics and vispo that incorporates asemics, so have no fear!
Group member Jason Motsch sent me a fantastic asemic TLP (not unlike in format the archival JMB material posted further down in the thread). Jason sticks to basics here with b&w calligraphy. Incredible book!
Received a great card from Richard Canard. "Readymade Asemics" were first introduced in this group, to the best of my recollection, by John Bennett.
Richard also once mailed Geof Huth a flattened beer can (maybe soda) that Richard also considered to be readymade asemics. I think I'll test a new term: Asemically Ambiguous.
Thanks Mick and welcome! In fact, I am here to share a print Mick Boyle - our newest member - sent me. This is also a collaboration with Jason who at this point needs no introduction.
And just an FYI for group members: You might want to consider sending vispo-asemic work to Jim Leftwich's mail art call if you haven't already. Jim is a fantastic visual poet who was literally present at the creation of the current iteration of asemic writing in the 90s, although he chooses to call it pansemic and has some interesting theories.
Anyway, his collab fest is a particularly great venue.
Thanks Jan! I posted your asemics on my profile page and tagged you in them. I absolutely loved the colors and the asemics themselves. Here's to more asemifun in the future!
I received text-based pieces from Joey Patrickt (Oakland, CA, USA). They exist on the boundary between the comprehensible and the incomprehensible & are very interesting, I think. Thx to Joey.
Received a copy of "Digital Asemics" from our IUOMA founder Ruud Janssen. In addition to documentation, I used the blog to express my views over current debates about asemic writing, vispo and abstract art.
Here is "Asemic Tree" by Moan Lisa (thx to Moan for the scan). I've always talked about children doing asemic writing naturally, and Moan really captures that. Beyond all the complex theory, asemics are - at root - very simple.
I received an excellent cut-up piece from Juan Lopez de Ael (Spain). Especially in light of some of the Jim Leftwich commentary recently, I believe it is safe to say asemic writers/artists are using cut-ups to create asemic symbols. I think Juan Lopez de Ael's work can definitely be viewed from an asemic perspective.
Love the idea of using cut-ups in asemic writing. I'll have to try it. The piece by Juan Lopez de Ael below is great! Also, I like the one by Ruud Janssen below as well.
Volodymyr Bilyk is known for his visual-textual work and his Extreme Writing community. I think he is still accepting work for Truck. And Truck is a great place to see vispo, asemis, otherstream, etc.
Group member Jason Motsch (Pennsylvania, USA) sent me a FAB asemic Tacky Little Pamphlet (TLP). Thx to our history of boekie projects & the presence of John M. Bennett, we have some bragging rights concerning the TLP. So many thanks to Jason!
Received an historic piece from/by Jim Leftwich: "Spirit Writing" (1997) (above). This is fairly early in terms of the contemporary asemic movement. Jim, however, is not very comfortable with the term "asemic." So we can think of it as vispo as well. Many will automatically consider it a classic example of asemic writing, regardless of what JL intended or what people might have though it was in 1997.
The piece was included in a large batch of collabs by Jim Leftwich-Evan Damerow that have asemic elements as well as vispo and Trashpo. Documented here:
You might have noticed on FB and in this group to some extent there is an ongoing discussion about the line between vispo and asemics. Some very eminent visual poets, in fact, prefer we call it vispo and drop the asemic idea altogether. It becomes a matter of personal choice.
I have always felt that the work we see in this group tends toward vispo-asemic hybrids, and we have never kept much to purist definitions.
So whether it might derive from vispo, concrete, asemic, haptic, etc., - and the poster thinks it's relevant - then I'm thrilled to see it in the group.
Jason C. Motsch
May 22, 2015
De Villo Sloan
FinnBadger sent an interesting piece that is the result of a printer malfunction.
It could fit into the territory of found asemics, chance asemics, trashemics. You decide.
http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profiles/blogs/printerpo-by-finnbadge...
May 22, 2015
De Villo Sloan
This is a page of work by JMB that appeared in a zine called "MaLLife" (Seattle, 1988). The light blue piece is a TLP (Tacky Little Pamphlet) that is stapled into the zine; the title is "Snake Girls." On FB I described the work as "asemic-like," and I don't think Jim Leftwich agrees. This is definitely calligraphy, but I think the distortion in the letters is at least asemic suggestive. So I will share these here for the group to ponder. Here are more images from "Snake Girls":
May 23, 2015
John M. Bennett
Hey De Villo, thanks for the blast from the past peeks at those golden oldies - i could see them from the links in the email i rec'd, tho they do not appear on the blog site for some reason............ ???????? as to whether they are asemic or not, i really have no opinion on the matter; it's a classification problem for someone other than the artist to worry about (or not) - actually, I was thinking yesterday that there is no such thing as asemic art or writing: EVERYTHING has a meaning. "asemic", the word, means "no meaning", which in turn, of course, means something.
May 23, 2015
John M. Bennett
NOW it's here!
May 23, 2015
De Villo Sloan
Thx JMB. I can see the scans, but there was a funny glitch when I posted. I'm going to re-post. They are on my FB page as well.
It's really strange how asemic writing is such a point of contention when vispo isn't. As I stated in the debate w/ Pete Spence, I am OK with the concept of asemic writing. Some folks are not. A lot of the material posted in this group could be considered vispo as well. There are no restrictions in this group, of course.
May 23, 2015
Jason C. Motsch
Thanks for posting the great art by John M. Bennett and Finnbadger. As to the classification of Finnbadger's piece, I think all three descriptive terms for the type of asemics it is apply. I also agree that John M. Bennett's piece was asemic suggestive as you say. One of the fun things about asemic writing is that it is perceived differently depending on the person, regardless of it not having any real original intended meaning. another interesting facet is how it makes one feel when viewing it. I have a different connection to asemic writing when I look at it than other forms of art. Just my two cents lol. Thanks again for posting these.
May 24, 2015
Ruud Janssen
May 24, 2015
Nancy Bell Scott
Very good to read your recent perceptions below, John. Such fresh air.
May 26, 2015
De Villo Sloan
May 26, 2015
De Villo Sloan
More blasts from the past: Another calligraphy-vispo piece by John M. Bennett. Appeared in "Outre 2" (1986) (Florence, Alabama, USA) (Jake Berry, Editor)
May 26, 2015
De Villo Sloan
http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profiles/blogs/asemic-vispo-and-mail-...
May 27, 2015
De Villo Sloan
May 27, 2015
De Villo Sloan
http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profiles/blogs/asemic-tlp-by-jason-mo...
May 30, 2015
De Villo Sloan
Received a great card from Richard Canard. "Readymade Asemics" were first introduced in this group, to the best of my recollection, by John Bennett.
Richard also once mailed Geof Huth a flattened beer can (maybe soda) that Richard also considered to be readymade asemics. I think I'll test a new term: Asemically Ambiguous.
Deepest thanks to Richard!
http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profiles/blogs/readymade-asemics-by-r...
Jun 3, 2015
De Villo Sloan
I received mail art cards that include asemic experiments. One is from Thomas Brown (Baltimore, Maryland, USA):
Jun 6, 2015
Mick Boyle
Asemic digital collaborations with Jason motsch
Jun 8, 2015
De Villo Sloan
http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profiles/blogs/asemics-more-by-mick-t...
Jun 11, 2015
Jason C. Motsch
Jun 14, 2015
Jason C. Motsch
Jun 14, 2015
De Villo Sloan
And just an FYI for group members: You might want to consider sending vispo-asemic work to Jim Leftwich's mail art call if you haven't already. Jim is a fantastic visual poet who was literally present at the creation of the current iteration of asemic writing in the 90s, although he chooses to call it pansemic and has some interesting theories.
Anyway, his collab fest is a particularly great venue.
http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profiles/blogs/mail-art-call-by-jim-l...
Jun 14, 2015
Jan Hodgman
Asemic for Jason:
Jun 16, 2015
Jason C. Motsch
Thanks Jan! I posted your asemics on my profile page and tagged you in them. I absolutely loved the colors and the asemics themselves. Here's to more asemifun in the future!
Jun 16, 2015
De Villo Sloan
I received text-based pieces from Joey Patrickt (Oakland, CA, USA). They exist on the boundary between the comprehensible and the incomprehensible & are very interesting, I think. Thx to Joey.
http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profiles/blogs/joey-patrickt-goes-vis...
Jun 16, 2015
Jason C. Motsch
Jun 21, 2015
De Villo Sloan
Welcome Mandy Fariello to our humble yet congenial group! Please feel free to post, discuss, question, etc.
I received a wonderful piece from group member Terry Owenby, along with a very nice note.
http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profiles/blogs/asemics-by-terry-owenb...
Jun 22, 2015
De Villo Sloan
Received a copy of "Digital Asemics" from our IUOMA founder Ruud Janssen. In addition to documentation, I used the blog to express my views over current debates about asemic writing, vispo and abstract art.
http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profiles/blogs/digital-asemics-by-ruu...
Jun 24, 2015
Jason C. Motsch
Jun 28, 2015
De Villo Sloan
http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profiles/blogs/visual-poetry-by-jim-l...
Jun 28, 2015
De Villo Sloan
Here is "Asemic Tree" by Moan Lisa (thx to Moan for the scan). I've always talked about children doing asemic writing naturally, and Moan really captures that. Beyond all the complex theory, asemics are - at root - very simple.
Jul 6, 2015
De Villo Sloan
Thx, Moan. I think that is a great piece. Already left you a message about it.
Jul 9, 2015
Jason C. Motsch
Jul 20, 2015
Jason C. Motsch
I absolutely love the work below by Jim Leftwich and Moan Lisa's "Asemic Tree" is wonderful. Inspiring art at its best!
Jul 20, 2015
Ruud Janssen
Jul 20, 2015
De Villo Sloan
Make sure to check out the IUOMA blog by Jim Lefttwich on asemics, especially if you are interested in history and theory aspects:
http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profiles/blogs/four-questions-about-a...
Jul 25, 2015
Jason C. Motsch
Jul 29, 2015
De Villo Sloan
http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profiles/blogs/vispo-cut-up-by-juan-l...
Jul 29, 2015
Jason C. Motsch
Aug 1, 2015
Jason C. Motsch
Love the idea of using cut-ups in asemic writing. I'll have to try it. The piece by Juan Lopez de Ael below is great! Also, I like the one by Ruud Janssen below as well.
Aug 1, 2015
Grace Sanford
Aug 3, 2015
John M. Bennett
Aug 3, 2015
Rebecca Guyver
Meeah Williams sent me some great asemics in her doodle envelope of goodies.http://thepostalleger.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/doodling-in-colour-new...
Aug 6, 2015
chris wells
Experiment with wax resist watercolor and collage--some wax for the asemic writing and collage for the semic.
Aug 16, 2015
De Villo Sloan
And how could it be IUOMA without some SSP (Shameless Self-Promotion) from the group coordinator?
Volodymyr Bilyk (Ukraine) is guest editor this month at Halvard Johnson's Truck (blog/zine). He chose some vispo-asemic pieces of mine to post:
http://halvard-johnson.blogspot.com/2015/08/de-villo-sloan.html
Volodymyr Bilyk is known for his visual-textual work and his Extreme Writing community. I think he is still accepting work for Truck. And Truck is a great place to see vispo, asemis, otherstream, etc.
John M. Bennett was a guest editor at Truck too.
Aug 20, 2015
John M. Bennett
John M. Bennett with Jim Leftwich
Aug 20, 2015
De Villo Sloan
http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profiles/blogs/asemic-tacky-little-pa...
Aug 23, 2015
De Villo Sloan
The piece was included in a large batch of collabs by Jim Leftwich-Evan Damerow that have asemic elements as well as vispo and Trashpo. Documented here:
http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profiles/blogs/trashpo-as-frenetic-ro...
Aug 27, 2015
John M. Bennett
Aug 27, 2015
Jason C. Motsch
Not sure if this falls into asemic or vispo or both, being new to vispo but I think it falls into the asemic vein enough to post it here.
Sep 1, 2015
De Villo Sloan
Thank you for sharing, Jason.
You might have noticed on FB and in this group to some extent there is an ongoing discussion about the line between vispo and asemics. Some very eminent visual poets, in fact, prefer we call it vispo and drop the asemic idea altogether. It becomes a matter of personal choice.
I have always felt that the work we see in this group tends toward vispo-asemic hybrids, and we have never kept much to purist definitions.
So whether it might derive from vispo, concrete, asemic, haptic, etc., - and the poster thinks it's relevant - then I'm thrilled to see it in the group.
Sep 1, 2015