DOCUMENTATION: Asemics 16 Mail-Art Book (1) Chapter by Sue Bowen (Norfolk, Virginia, USA)

[De Villo Sloan]

 

Mail-art by IUOMA member Sue Bowen aka prettylily (Norfolk, Virginia, USA)

 

July 23, 2011 - Sue Bowen's chapter for the first edition of the Asemics 16 collaborative mail-art book project, coordinated through the IUOMA, is a veritable War and Peace of asemic writing, visual poetry, and concrete poetry. This chapter could easily stand on its own as a chapbook. Sue Bowen is masterfully eclectic in her art, and she brings the same approach to Asemics 16:

 

Sue's chapter uses many different kinds of paper and is a wonder to touch and explore. Different approaches to producing asemic characters and structures give the pages a thematic coherence. She is an incredible collage artist, and that form serves as a material foundation. As you can see, fractured letters are used here to create asemic symbols. In the spread above, there is a pronounced use of forms derived from concrete poetry and the color and fluidity of visual poetry - unquestionably a synthesis:

 

Sue Bowen uses the center page to maximum benefit. On the left is a copy of colorful shreds, overlain by the red-on-white strip of rubber stamp asemics. On the right is an extraordinarily subtle frame of vispo (the scan will not reveal the intricate characters embedded therein). The gorgeous red asemic writing is overlain on transparent strips - I daresay a total knockout, IMHO. The remaining pages turn toward more conventional asemic writing:

 

 

These panels work for me as extremely expressive and tonal asemic poetry. The effect is heightened by incredibly intricate, depth-of-field overlays that are only partially captured in these scans. The piece on the right (notice the choice of black) explores asemic writing played against grids and fence material, an idea being explored by others in the Asemics 16 project. Sue Bowen's chapter ends - like a well-made and arranged poetry collection - with a piece that combines dissonance and harmony, perfect closure for an amazing sequence:

 

 

Chapters for the various editions of the Asemics 16 project are appearing in mailboxes across the globe. I gather most of us involved are marveling at the talent and creativity of the contributors. Sue Bowen is decidedly NOT a candidate for IUOMA's Self-Absorption Ltd. Group. Thus, many might not realize her significant contributions to Asemics 16 and helping us frame this collective, new understanding of asemic writing that was essential to move forward. I am completely honored and thrilled to have this beautiful Book I chapter from Sue! Many thanks...

[De Villo Sloan]

Hi Cheryl, I think this one is a real gem. This is a case where the paper choices contribute to the work substantially. I simply couldn't capture how subtle the basic paper is - what appears to be a shade or turquoise. Sue's use of different verbal-visual approaches creates a narrative, or a foundation for one. Anyone who ever thought beauty couldn't or shouldn't be achieved with this kind of work... well, they need to see what Sue Bowen does.

[cheryl penn]

Great blog and observations for Sue's wonderful work DVS. Its good to see you blogging the asemic contributions - they are well worth the time for sure! I also loved her paper choices and as you say - this is an excellent synthesis of various poetry forms with an overriding asemic sensibility. Her extensive hand work alterations - as you've said numerous times before - book artists like UNIQUE!  FAB - both of you :-) X