19th Nerzous Breakdown - MIA mail-art at last received from Svenja Wahl (Heidelberg, Germany)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail-art by IUOMA member Svenja Wahl (Heidelberg, Germany)

February 8, 2014 - After unfortunate glitches and delays in the postal system, I was thrilled to receive a brimming package of mail-art from Svenja Wahl of Heidelberg. She generously included a beautiful collage, artwork and the customary found material she always sends. The collection is built around minks and MinXus themes. The scan above is a lovely print on the envelope. Here is the postcard-size collage on sturdy cardboard contained therein:

I am a big fan of Svenja Wahl's distinctive collages; each is different and always a surprise. Here is the reverse side. You can see the collage was returned to Svenja, and she diligently sent it again. I am so glad she did!

The found material, whether for use in a collage or a stand-alone art, is always fascinating:

At MinXus-Lynxus, we are forever collecting mink illustrations from nature guides and textbooks. This page from a German text is a valuable addition.

The impressionistic watercolor or ink piece on the left continues the theme. Do we not spy a mink image at the top? Here is the front of the envelope that bears on the mink print (top scan) on the reverse side:

As ever, many thanks to Svenja Wahl of Heidelberg with special appreciation for her diligence in re-mailing. I am SO pleased to have received this!

[De Villo Sloan]

One strange thing about this is that the envelope was wide open in my PO box, but nothing had spilled, as far as I can tell. Customs inspection? Maybe they wondered why this package kept going back and forth between the USA and Germany.

I was only half aware Svenja was making this gigantic effort to get this to me. I thought it is the postal system that is supposed to show endurance and dedication. I think it made it to Auburn once & they sent it back. So I am so deeply grateful for the art and the effort.

I agree Svenja is great with animals in her art - real and imagined.

[Svenja Wahl]

Hi Vizma, yes, the amt-für-postkunst-rubber-stamp I did get as a birthday present - I do love it, too!

[vizma bruns]

I want a pet Zorilla. And the kangaroo rubber stamp, wow. Did you get that made, Svenja?

Thanks for showing this, DVS!

[De Villo Sloan]

Uli Grohmann in Munster released his Nerzissmus stamps, and we responded with statements. It was fun - should anyone misinterpret the whole thing.

[Svenja Wahl]

I didn't know the Nerzissmus weltweit branch! Very cool!

[De Villo Sloan]

& thank you too, Diane. Definitely: GEMs: Genetically Engineered Minks. I'm sure Monsanto is right on it.

[De Villo Sloan]

ltta - thank you for your comment and welcome to the IUOMA. Have fun.

Rebecca - this is a great contribution for our study of Minks of the World aka the "nerz" in Svenja's neck of the woods, as I understood. A wonderful concept package.

Svenja - I had no idea it crossed the pond THAT many times. I can only thank you again profusely. I love all of it. Some might know New York State is engulfed in some kind of second coming of the Ice Age. We're used to tough winters, but this is terrible even in that context. Things are frequently closed and travel is often difficult. That could be a factor.

The Germanic "nerz": MinXus needed to document this. Uli Grohmann already blazed the territory with a wonderful stamp:

[Rebecca Guyver]

All great!  I can picture a classroom of boys going crazy over this.  I wish I could think like Svenja!

[Svenja Wahl]

It came back twice!! So it travelled overseas 5 times? DVS, thank you for blogging, I'm so glad all the minxs arrived and you like them!

[DKeys]

love the chem lab piece--i like her little notes to the post!