Asemic Writing for Mail-Artists

Hmmmmmm. The below appears about as asemic as some of the notes I get with incoming mail art!

Hello Fike et al. I almost explained what this was when posting it. It's an exploration of intentional partial legibility. Some of the words are fairly readable, but I suppose one's own perception would really determine what some of the others might be.

such a wonderful & powerful batch of new works! congrats!

Received a piece of classic Trashpo from Borderline Grafix in Austin, Texas - a reminder that Trashpo is vispo and we have the term "Trashemic" because many trashpoets all create asemics. Thx to BG

Fike & Chris, I have many examples of cursive (asemic) calligraphy that has recognizable letters, words and even phrases that emerge out of the abstract calligraphy & then meld back in again before any "readable" text is possible. This is often done very deliberately. I have a piece by Geof Huth that does this, for instance. It's buried in this comment stream, in fact.

So fragments of words & phrases embedded in incoherence is definitely an approach.

Just ran across this on Pinterest by Cecil Touchon. Wow!

Jan, Cecil is a member of this group but hasn't been active for a while. He has posted some interesting things that are probably still there, deep in the comment stream.

He did early & innovative work, IMHO.

these look a bit like petroglyphs, cool

three from Jim Leftwich

http://iuoma-network.ning.com/photo/albums/boundaries-of-semicity

Osvaldo Cibils & John M. Bennett

Congratulation to group members/contributors Kerri Pullo and John M. Bennett who have work in the Utsanga Asemic Writing Exhibition (along with other asemic writers and visual poets). Unfortunately, this is not the best link. But it will give you some info.

http://www.utsanga.it/utsanga-asemic-writing-exhibition-produced-by...

thanks, De Villo - Utsanga is a great magazine, as is this exhibit - thanks to Francesco Aprile -

Howdy 'asemanticists'.

I just added this ol', ol' cutup to my pix and have a question. Where upon the axis of asemic-to-semic does this text lie? Y'r ol' Bud,  Fike

Received a great piece from Jan Hodgman in Washington State. Note the calligraphy is done with weeds & herbs from her graden (weedpo?)! FAB

Fike, you are a master of the cut-up. That's a great poem.

Your question is good. I've been wondering if some cut-up and otherstream poetry can be considered asemic. I'm really not sure.

Some of JMB's poetry could be considered asemic. Some L=A=N=Gpo might be asemic. I doubt much of Burroughs is. The one you have posted has too much meaning.

That's just my opinion, of course.

Actually, Burroughs did quite a bit of asemic handwriting - it's in his various notebooks etc.  There are a few pages of it in a new edition of his 1953 Latin American notebook (Everything Lost, OSU Press) I have co-edited with Geoffrey Smith - a cheaper trade edition is due out in early 2017.

For sure about that part of Burroughs.

This is so difficult to explain: Fike got me thinking if things written with recognizable words and syntax could ever fit the "asemic" definition. I was thinking maybe extreme cut-ups.

But to be safe, it would probably have to be invented words: "Blish frudge glox spinks!" - Like speaking tongues.

So my question was: Can a Burroughs cut-up ever be asemic? I know he did calligraphy-type things that people consider asemic. Absolutely.

Talking about asemics is, I don't know, jello wrestling with porcupines.

I think Fike's poetry is just referential enough not to be asemic, though.

Received an interesting piece from Joey Patrickt in Oakland, California, USA - I think it can be seen as referencing language and signification. Thx Joey

Not sure what special button you've pressed, DVS… everytime I open my phone I get an alert that you've posted in this group!

I can't explain or rectify, Rebecca.

Skynet must realize that my asemic digital utterances are of huge significance to the "greatest minds of my generation."

Sorry for the inconvenience. I'm sure Ruud can fix it ;)

Diane Keys sent me two copies of this Jim Leftwich piece. Some of you probably received one of these from Jim too; I did. I think Diane has altered these, though.

Yes, DK has had a hand with these!  they look great

Jim Leftwich, John M. Bennett, & Baron

Artista Daily (aka Maralena Howard) (Michigan, USA) sent me a great artists book with some of her vispo. I think you can see some influences from members of our group. Thx to Maralena.

cool stuff, yes!

I've been partial to textile vispo since Cheryl Penn, our co-founder, was doing it. So I'm thrilled to have gotten this from Amy Irwen in Minnesota, USA.

Here's a grand piece I received from Vikki Johnson, which she calls, "Asemic-ish." It may be difficult to see the marks that bring that moniker, as it's in a sparkly finish. Quite intriguing!

Thanks Jan and Vikki Johnson. Yes, looks like ghostly text blocks there to me.

I hesitate to follow Vikki's wonderful work with our esteemed group member Mona Lisa, but that's chance operations for you. Anyway, Moan Lisa took up this asemic war idea at one point and sent me this cardboard platter from a frozen pizza w. a message for all of us. You can even see the grease pools. Thx Moan Lisa!

While the rest of us are mucking around in the first dimension, Richard Canard (Illinois, USA) is making 3-D asemic poems (plastic). Interesting

Ruud, these are great!

Thank you Jan Hodgman; I am working on a series right now. The first photo is an in-between version of the second photo. I also document the progress........

Hi, Ruud. Please add me to the list of admirers of y'r asemic writings! YOB-f

How do we tell the difference between 3D asemic poetry and mere text? Just pullin' y'r chain, DVS! YOB-f

Ruud, if y'r words are hidden, could it be cryptosemic?

or de-semified?

Fike, I try to be the messenger w. this stuff. That's what Richard calls it.

Add me - I especially like Ruud's new work. Thx for sharing here.

Fike read Dick's "Man in the High Castle." Amazing, Planning on reading more Dick now.

That's a good-un fer sure. Also https://www.amazon.com/dp/0547549253/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_enco...

also Greg Bear's "Blood Music" a truly original idea!

Thx Fike, well it's not a Dickhead group so I'll try not to wax too poetic but I thought "High Castle" was pure genius. So I'll dig in more - I have read other stuff he did.