Diana Hale, the Subtle Art of Statement Artistamp-ery

[Thom Courcelle]

Diana Hale has been prolific…extravagantly productive…prodigious…bountiful of late in producing some beautiful sheets of artistamps.

She appears to be principally expert with a perforator…

Over the course of this spring and summer, I’ve been the lucky recipient of no less than FOUR examples of her handiwork. Some are whimsical…a vintage childhood photo (self-portrait?…we may never know!) of a beachside banana breakfast.

Some reveal temperament underflowing current events…the simple one-word artistamp REPAIR is explained by an accompanying card: “a direct reference to the Jewish concept of Tikkun olam, a Hebrew phrase which often translates to ‘repairing the world’ through a wide variety of social actions within our local and global communities…[it] also resonated with me in relation to […] artists creating beauty and meaning as a response to the current administration's attempts at disregarding and erasing culture, humanity, civics, expression.”

And some are silly and remarkable…a sweet gummy Swedish fish candy pressed like it was a miniature linocut makes a reverse impression on a tiny tableau…

Whatever the theme, I am always honored to be a recipient of your artful handiwork, Diana. Thank you!