Doodle Therapy for the Great Confusion by Chepin (San Francisco, California, USA)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail art by IUOMA member Chepin (San Francisco, California, USA)

August 5, 2015 - Chepin’s reputation as a gifted and active correspondence artist precedes – in my awareness – the arrival of her work in my post office box. I am surprised and very glad to receive this wonderful postcard-size piece from her. I am not sure about a horizontal or vertical presentation, but I like this angle best. Her kind notes on the reverse side add some interesting information:

Chepin is a member of the All Things Trashpo group at IUOMA-Ning, which geographically places her in DKULTNOCAL territory. I believe it is possible that this work, then, takes some inspiration from the doodle therapy developed by Diane Keys (Illinois, USA) and Rebecca Guyver (Suffolk, UK). Doodling is prevalent in Trashpo circles these days. Is it possible there was some thought of asemic writing on Chepin’s part? I would not rule it out. The work is at least asemic suggestive.

I will add Chepin’s work as a most original example to the contemporary doodle canon. As for the Great Confusion: That is a term associated with a number of cultural, religious and even political events. I have used it specifically in reference to Neoism. Perhaps Chepin is making that association as well.

Welcome and deepest thanks to Chepin for beautiful and intriguing mail art as well as cryptic and intriguing messages.