Incredible Limited Edition Postcard by Em (Lakewood, Colorado, USA)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail-art by IUOMA member Em (Lakewood, Colorado, USA)

August 2, 2014 - Last week I found this gorgeous, limited edition postcard by Em waiting in my post office box. Em is a veteran mail-artist, and I am familiar with her work and have admired it for some time. (I think I participated in one of her mail-art calls a few years ago.) I am thrilled to have an original for the world renowned MinXus USA archives.

I am sure you will agree that Em has an original style, and the well-selected quote by poet Mary Oliver articulates in words the artistic vision evident in her wonderfully textural piece. I also like Mary Oliver:

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/mary-oliver

Many thanks to Em! I look forward to more exchanges. Make sure to take a gander at more work by Em:

http://www.etstudio.net/

[De Villo Sloan]

I agree, Em. Bad translation is not the sole explanation. If people at IUOMA start listing what they will & won't accept, it is going to get complicated. But, you know, whatever. As Moan Lisa said, there is a huge network out there.

I don't hang on every word Ray Johnson uttered nor do I seek to copy him. He did say something in an interview with John Held, Jr., that was revealing to me: "Mail-art is not about the postal system." I take one meaning to be it is about community & art. We should not be wedded to any particular technology, schools or methods. Dick Higgins championed Intermedia: Use of all different forms & technologies in new configurations. People can do what they like in my book. Luddite cults that worship obsolete technologies & romanticize times that never really existed are usually headed for extinction. Just sayin'

[Em]

The real discussion might be is digital art as "authentic" as hand made art?  I have a feeling the very beginnings of this whole conflict was that a certain mail artist is not interested in receiving computer generated mail art.  I've always used the computer as one of my mediums, scanning, painting, tinkering with, scanning again, etc.  Along the way, I print it out, and I see that print as a legitimate expression, and I don't even see the need to call it a limited edition.  My hand always touches the work, hand written labels, paint added, etc.  When I discovered photoshop and digital collage about 15 years ago, I loved it so much I became a college graphics professor so I could home my skills.  and this might be inflammatory, but to me, it's older folk who don't understand the interconnection of computer graphics along with paint, ink, markers, pen, chalk.  It's just another way to make collage.   To call something a "photocopy" was just sort of laughable to me.  Anyway, yes, case closed.  I enjoyed hearing the viewpoints expressed.  I'm still here.

[De Villo Sloan]

Em, thank you for the clarification on the Goddess exhibition (& the m-a as well, of course). The New Jersey address had me unsure if I was confusing you w/someone else. I remember being very impressed & sending you an entry. I know it was documented, but my own records about what I send out are sketchy. Records of what I've received are much better.

As for the wonderful card of yours in the blog, I had received it & had it cued to blog this weekend. So even if, from the worst perspective, it seems like I'm exploiting the discussion that has dominated IUOMA-Ning this weekend, I'm just doing what I had intended to do anyway, although members are probably now more curious to take a look at an example of what you're sending.

I don't want to rub salt into the Richard response (to your work as well as the work of others.) IMHO, the issue was solved amicably. My own response is that this postcard is marvelous. It's even a limited edition. I assume it is a digital composition based on comments elsewhere, but I'm not sure I could have figured that out (nor do I really care how it was made). I certainly would never question it is mail-art nor could I offer you advice for improvement.

Again, not intending to fuel the fire, I don't understand how someone could criticize this extraordinary & very original gift. I am very lucky to have received it.

[Em]

Looks like I started that in June of 2006, I haven't looked at it it a long time, thanks for the reminder, it was a marvelous start to the idea of mail art for me.  We had a show at the Unitarian Church of Princeton, and many people came and marveled at the work that came from all over the world, many were amazed that it was all sent with no renumeration, or even the promise for fame.  I was so honored for the quality and depth of the work I received.  We are cool folks, us mail artists.

[Em]

Http://goddessy-art.livejournal.com/
It's been a long time but it's still there.

[De Villo Sloan]

Thanks all.

Can anyone confirm or deny? Did Em have a mail-art call a few years back built around the theme of the Goddess? A lot of people participated, but I can't find the documentation online.

[vizma bruns]

Beautiful piece!