David Stafford's Blog (211)

Diane Keys heard I was going through some tough times (It made the Elgin Gazetteer) and so she sent me this piece of toast which she said has helped her through some recent traumas. If you hit your zoom and enhance button you'll plainly see the dim outline of a head. Or the plain outline of a dim head. Anyway, Diane and a few impartial members of her family…

The tables are turned! For once I'm the one searching out an anonymous donor (though I have my suspicions.) This print on fabric was only the cherry on top of a boekie filled with diversions and detours including a list of medications and their dosages, some slides of architectural carnage which may or may not be transmuted into art at a later date, numerous…

Just trying to get my little start up going.

A great honor to receive a card from Richard Canard whose reputation for aphoristic wit rivals Nietzsche in pith, Bierce in ferocity and Henry Gibson for a third thing which escapes me at the moment. I'm not exactly sure what Richard is up to as this is my first Canard (technically then I am unable to say "O that old Canard") but I think one interpretation…

Oh gawd, will I ever catch up with my bottomless pile of incoming mail art?  (silence) I'm going to try to blog something every day until my fingers fall off my hands in protest. (I can see the Peanut Gallery assembling to watch that in high def). Anyway, here are two pieces of Alicia's which I don't think I've blogged. Alicia belongs to the Lenore Tawney…

Before we begin please chant with me The Banana Hymn of the Republic (Lyrics by Rebecca Guyver). In this way we invoke the good spirits of the Banana and avoid the evil ones of which there are some.

Rebecca Guyver sent me this wonderful accordion book…

(Le son d'un suisse clarine est entendu dans la distance. Just setting the mood here.) Janine, sent me this brief but gripping natural history of Vincent Van Gogh from youth to St. Remy. On the envelope a large insect demon which at one time belonged to Van Gogh. Thank you, Janine. I add my condolences to the many before me.

(Le fils d'onu credit…

Way back before the dawn of addams Rebecca Guyer said she'd like to be turned into a dress like Katerina N. I said, "Of course, but there are certain fees etc." She persisted. Finally, my will broken I emerged from the rubble and created.....the House of Rebecca.....voila!…

Who sent me this? Was it you, Rod Serling?

Angie had the jump on the Chinese New Year. I got this a while back but as our own Chinese New Year Horse was just finished last night I thought I'd share them both now. It's supposed to be a year of change. No comment. Let's hope, for the sake of those looking for work, that that is the case. Great piece, Angie. (What exactly is the technique here?…

Here is a better view of the "Real Art" at the bottom of Diane's box of half eaten chocolates. Chocolate Not It's a cool Trashpo diaphragm made from things Diane found in the CVS parking lot, all framed by a rave poster from the Church of the Light of Christ, a popular nightclub in Elgin.…

Sounds like a PBS special.

xx Jones sent me this lovely still-life of the Fleur du Mars. A martian can be seen in the lower right quadrant. (They are far more bulbous than we had previously imagined). Thank you…

Sorry David....it just flew out of my fingers like a kitten with sharp claws. Anyway, Dr. Beaverton is a pivotal role. And he gets most of the good lines. Okay,  sorry will not happen again. I'm determined to catch up here. I put these two works on the scanner without any regard for their blueness, Scout's Honor, and when I returned later to work on it the…

This blogging thing gets away from me. I've got stuff that goes back to the late Creataceous age. So...I resolve to make no more mail art until I catch up with my thank yous. What prompts this totally unworkable resolution is an amazing mandala that arrived today from Suus. Check it out. This is a person who can stay between the lines. After my lizard brain is through…

Haven't finished this yet but some lucky dog will find out what happens next...(as soon as I do)....

May everyone find their beautiful thing this holiday season....maybe even something you find in your hardt...

We missed Halloween this year so it was great when Vizma sent me this belated Halloween Boekie sans boner jokes. Of course, we were somewhat disappointed by the lack of boner jokes and she has since promised to include them under a separate cover. I scanned this extra big for maximal viewing so please take a look. The jolly roger is the cover.

And here's…

Actually I just threw in the part about Rocky Marciano...both for thematic consistency and because this bit of ephemera that Nancy sent me (see upper left) reminded me of fight posters. It looks pretty good on this A-Line number too. On the flip side Nancy asked me if I miss Gilda. Nancy, my reply is in the mail. Thank you,…

Received this none to early warning about the impending holiday. Unfortunately, it looks like Thom's wall is about to be breached by the Xmas Rocket, aka the juggernaut of capitalist excess. But if Thom could just get with the program and starting being a maker not a taker he could start his own line of products and be on the receiving end of that gravy train.…

A NEWSREEL

(crackling sound of old film going through a rickety film gate) VO: Behold! The latest in fashion from the couturier to the elite: Katerina of Thessaloniki. (Kettle drums go here) (cut in footage of Victor Mature knocking down a big ol' stone temple) VO: Katerina of…