G. A. Cavellini homage from Bruno Chiarlone (Cairo Montenotte, Italy)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail-art by IUOMA member Bruno Chiarlone (Cairo Montenotte, Italy)

July 30, 2013 - I was pleasantly surprised to receive correspondence from Fluxus artist and prolific mail-artist Bruno Chiarlone in Italy. His work appears regularly on Fluxlist Europe (among other venues):

Fluxlist Europe:

http://fluxlisteurope.blogspot.com/

Many mail-artists around the globe are participating in events celebrating the 100th birthday of G(uglielmo) A(chille) Cavellini (1914-1990), who is widely considered to hold a place of importance in the art world similar to Ray Johnson’s.

G. A. Cavellini bio. at Oberlin College:

http://www.oberlin.edu/library/art/mailart/bios/cavellini.html

Bruno Chiarlone was very kind and thoughtful to sign the work he sent. This is wonderful for the archives:

On his IUOMA profile, Bruno Chiarlone reports he has been involved in mail-art since 1980. “At Brescia in 1981, I was appointed by CAG [Cavellini] in person to serve as Master of Ceremonies for CAVELLINI 2014,” he writes.  I believe Bruno is fulfilling his commitment in a most extraordinary and dedicated way.

Chiarlone-Cavellini blog:

http://progettomailart.blogspot.com/

Left to right: George Maciunas, Bruno Chiarlone, G.A. Cavellini. MinXus-Lynxus offers high praise to Bruno for his trademark hat – a fellow Mink Rancher, for sure.

Mail-art by Bruno Chiarlone (Cairo, Montenotte, Italy)

The top scan shows a work on A-5 paper (approximately 8.5 x 11 inches). Bruno also included this excellent postcard-size work in the package. Here is the reverse side:

A veteran mail-artist for sure, Bruno Chiarlone’s envelope has excellent and fascinating stamps:

And the reverse:

Many thanks to new friend Bruno Chiarlone! I will see what I can rustle up to support the cause.

[De Villo Sloan]

Much appreciated, meeah. Cavellini is another one of those folks we do our best to keep alive, quite a character by all accounts.

[De Villo Sloan]

Somewhere on this huge site there is a pic of Cavellini with Ray Johnson in NYC. I have no idea where to find it.

Bruno seems like a nice guy - and that cowboy hat! He is hit at the Mink Ranch (Minxus-Lynxus). 

In my earliest m-a days, when I was clueless, I would receive these Cavellini pics. : I thought: "This guy in a clown suit, crazier than those Greenwich Village loonies walking around talking to themselves and mailing people pictures of bird cages."

History is full of surprises.

[WA Rodgers]

I definitely have a soft spot for RayJo, but I dig this work (GAC, BC, DVS).... Excellent blog, Mr. Sloan.

[De Villo Sloan]

Thank you, Wendy.

Wow, in the USA we can get RayJo-centered. A shot of Cavellini is refreshing.

[WA Rodgers]

Great piece!