An offer we can't refuse from Rebecca Guyver (Suffolk, UK)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail-art by IUOMA member Rebecca Guyver (Suffolk, UK)

April 21, 2014 - IUOMA friends were, no doubt, awed and gratified that Rebecca Guyver swept top prizes in the MinXus-Lynxus Who Has The Best Hair Contest, even being named to the distinguished Order of the Tangerine Mink.

Despite all the effort she put into the contest, our Suffolk Poultry Princess has, as the saying goes, been burning the candle at both ends. Rebecca Guyver is curating a wonderful mail-art call: Monochrome-Semitone-Kodachrome.

From all I can discern, she has received some spectacular submissions. So I am flattered that she has used this recent mail-art as an occasion to invite the humble Mink Ranch dwellers to contribute to her exhibition. How can we decline such an offer? How can you? Her invitation comes in the form of a mink bearing gifts (above), and Rebecca Guyver is a master of the rhetorical question and gentle persuasion in her mail-art. The reverse side is a display of her considerable artistic talent:

I like this piece very much, referencing as it does the frame structure of film photography showing subtle color nuances ranging from black, white and grey to Rebecca’s Guyver’s signature pastel color tones.

I must confess, using my more natural slangpo voice, that I haven’t completely been able to grasp this Monochrome-Semitone-Kodachrome thing; but that will not prevent me from rustling up something. After all, the Mink Ranch is only a stone’s throw from Rochester, NY (a kind of less glamorous sister city to Detroit these days), home of George Eastman and (the now bankrupt) Kodak; and we have a more than passing knowledge of Kodak and the various historical innovations made there.

So many thanks to Rebecca Guyver for this post-contest correspondence, and she will be receiving something soon for the show.

If you haven’t already, make sure to visit Rebecca’s Monochrome-Semitone-Kodachrome blog. If you haven’t already, you might consider sending her something. The call is open until June 2014:

http://monosemikodachrome.blogspot.co.uk/

[De Villo Sloan]

All ready - sending next trip to the PO.

& yes, George Eastman created the word Kodak for his fledgling photography business. He wanted a word that would be spelled backwards & forwards the same but only came close. The George Eastman House has great photography archives, btw.

[Rebecca Guyver]

DVS, thanks for such a nice blog and all the publicity!  I got a bunch of stuff today - GREAT stuff (not from you yet… unless you are in disguise, but I wait expectantly) and I'm sure it's in part due to your enthusiasm, perfect.  I wish i could hear the slangpo voice! I LOVE that Kodak is invented.  I wish I'd thought of that -  but at least I can play it up and encourage the fluxus artists to take part!

[De Villo Sloan]

BTW - Kodak is an invented word, like Fluxus. Xerox as well, which had a strong connection to Kodak in terms of the early technology.

[De Villo Sloan]

Hi Carina, Rebecca's Monochrome-Semitone-Kodachrome has received wonderful work, and the call is open through June. Yes, Kodak has been in bankruptcy for several years; and many have lamented the collapse of an icon in photography - grab up all the old items! The could possibly re-emerge but it's unlikely or it really won't be the same company.

[Carina]

yes Rebecca's recent mail-art call has received the finest works. A work from the Mink Ranch will qualify great. Sorry about the bankrupt... Kodak has a great history and logo(s).