"Letters to Mila III" (artists book) by Marie Wintzer (Saitama, Japan)

[De Villo Sloan]

Letters to Mila III (cover) by Marie Wintzer (Saitama, Japan)

February 17, 2014 - Her friends were deeply saddened when, at the beginning of the year, Marie Wintzer - aka Empress Marie Antonette - announced her retirement from mail-art after a three year run which, by anyone's measure, would be considered exceptional. Marie expressed her intention to more seriously pursue making artists books.

I recently received Letters to Mila III from her, which showcases her talents. Mail-art from Marie Wintzer has surfaced in various places recently, and she is serving as judge for the MinXus-Lynxus Who Has The Best Hair Contest. Does she miss the roar of the greasepaint and the smell of the crowd? Like Elvis, will she come back again? Only time will tell. In the meantime, I am thrilled to share Letters to Mila:

Letters to Mila is a small, delicate book that is meticulously made. These scans simply do not capture its beauty.

Marie Wintzer has been experimenting with cut-ups and text fragments for some time. Japanese is a new twist.

Letters to Mila is bound in what I believe is called the accordion style, so one can view page combinations in different ways.

This page with a splash of red is particularly nice.

She is a true disciple of the South African School of Subtle Aesthetic Obscurity even if she has developed her own distinctive style.

Letters to Mila uses language as material and certainly has an asemic quality. Above is the last page and the inside back cover.

Other material was also included with Letters to Mila:

And the reverse:

An interesting photo:

A poem on the reverse side:

And always wonderful envelopes from Marie:

The other side:

An extraordinary talent indeed, blending the old with the new - many thanks to Marie!

[Alicia Starr]

And now I am Green. The book is fab and the Little Bubbles Coin Wash photo - eerie little place with such a perky name.

 

[De Villo Sloan]

Rebecca, I think you're right as "Mila" is definitely a fine art book. The mascara scratching - based on her comments - is an attempt to copy Dark wall's asemic series done with a plastic comb, not known at the IUOMA but recognized elsewhere.

[Rebecca Guyver]

Great to see, although some part of me covets it too. Love the eyelash kisses.

[De Villo Sloan]

Thanks, Carina - Influence is a funny thing & I always see the Cheryl in Marie, although the "subtle aesthetic obscurity" in Marie has evolved into a clarity & a vision, no side-stepping with vagueness to cover up the fact she has nothing to say - now everything she says is vital, if you drift my follow.

Vizpo - can always count on you to point out my shortcomings: "DVS, you drooled on your tie." Tie-po. Ty-po corrected. I think my copy is done on better paper than yours.

Suus - thanks for keeping it simple & genuine. They're eating me alive between making me think & fixing ty-pose.

Terry - thanks for being such a close reader. "Little Bubble Coin Wash" and the poem are hidden gems. The poem illustrates the point I was trying to make to Carina.

[Carina]

Perfect balance, and excellent artists book by Marie.

Marie and Cheryl definetely opened my eyes for artists books.

[vizma bruns]

Nice title, DVS, Japam, thank you ma'am. I got this book too, but lucky you got bonuses.

[Suus in Mokum]

Fabulous

[Terry Reid]

good launderette too and good launderette poem too