Authentic fake Ray Johnson from Richard Canard (Carbondale, Illinois, USA)

[De Villo Sloan]

Fake Ray Johnson mail-art by IUOMA member Richard Canard (Carbondale, Illinois, USA)

May 4, 2013 - Richard Canard is a friend and faithful correspondent with many IUOMA members. A veteran mail-artist, Richard is probably best known today for his wit and keen observations, although his mail-art can also range from drawings to object poems.

Richard Canard is also known for his fake Ray Johnsons. I confess I have secretly pined to have one of these for a long time, so I proudly display it.

The fake Ray Johnsons (created by more people than Richard of course) have received some attention over time. After Ray’s departure from us in 1995, the true faithfuls continued to release mail-art under his name. Richard's pieces are possibly born of this impulse. Fake Ray Johnsons, perhaps, were circulating much earlier. I can only surmise. This piece certainly has the feel and iconic resonance of Ray Johnson's work and is very lovely and touching.

My deepest thanks to Richard Canard for sending this!

[De Villo Sloan]

Thanks, Claire. 

[Claire (aka Cleo)]

Very nice!

[De Villo Sloan]

Ma très chère Janine, mon coeur serait brisé si vous avez arrêté de m'envoyer votre art merveilleux. Monsieur Richard Canard était un membre de l'école de la correspondance de Ray Johnson. Ces personnes sont de grands génies, si on les apprécient. Je suis sûr qu'ils ne voudraient pas nous faire croire que nous sommes en quelque sorte moins.

Je serais heureux de négocier beaucoup de choses dans mes archives pour avoir votre travail. J'aime les vaches brunes de la Suisse en particulier.

[De Villo Sloan]

No NV intended. The fake Ray Johnson episode, when I dug into it, turns out to be a little piece of mail-art history involving members of the NY Correspondance School.

http://mailartforums.crosses.net/read.php?1,2660,2665

[Mim Golub Scalin]

WOW!! A real fake Ray Johnson. Oh, envy!