INVESTIGATIVE MAIL-ART: Deep Inside the DKULT with KDJ & Diane Keys (Orlando, Florida, USA)

[De Villo Sloan]

Cover: July 2011 issue of the DKULTNY (DKULT-New York) fanzine

 

November 25, 2011 - Posing as an adoring fan injured in the infamous D-Koder Ring Scandal, I infiltrated the D-KULT (a mail-art movement based on the enigmatic and charismatic mail-artist Diane Keys (Illinois, USA), following a slippery chain of command to its highest levels. My findings are deeply disturbing.

 

Once headquartered in Elgin, Illinois, DKULT "problems cases" are now routed to an address in Orlando, Florida (USA). This is managed under the iron hand of DK's current "Lieutenant": KDJ (aka DKDJ). DK now barely communicates with the growing throng of her international fans. Instead, insiders say her time is devoted to courting corporate sponsorship of her increasingly extravagant performance pieces. A shadowy character known as "Heath" has risen to a high position in the organization.

 

Most of the trash that drives her thriving industry, that she previously collected herself in the streets of Elgin, is now imported from the U.S. State of Maine where a regional DKULT operation has sprung up under the leadership of Nancy Bell Scott, known to have ties to the controversial and alleged cultist Trungpa Rinpoche. DK's trash cartel can be traced further to Hamburg, Germany, and probably beyond. An unidentified DKULT watcher claims a major partnership is in the works with Grigori Antonin of Minnesota.

 

In response to my request for a new D-Koder ring I received a baffling document, prefaced by this letter and followed with page upon page of forms to complete:

 

Now the second page:

 

 

I regret I cannot reproduce the voluminous reports I am requested to complete. Clearly, the average mail-artist is powerless against the D-KULT. Here is an example of some of the contents:

 

Exhibit H is alleged to be a psychological test designed by Grigori Antonin (Minnesota, USA).

I cannot imagine what Exhibit C has to do with a defective D-Koder Ring. The slick marketing that helped the D-KULT's rise to the top is still being used to its advantage. The bad news came to me in this wonderful envelope:

 

 

D-KULT marketing and recruitment is clearly as slick as ever. Has a once benevolent mail-art movement evolved in a dangerous kult of personality? I will leave that for readers to decide.

 

Mail-artists are encouraged to monitor the official Diane Keys blog and report any strange or unusual activities:

http://dianekeys.blogspot.com/

 

MAIL-ART PSYCHIC

 

Mink schnitzel

 

Don't take it out of the bag, Louise. It's not normal.

 

The proper remedy is catwalk maroon. waffles or waffling

 

Snooker's Mink Ranch.

 

Bifidus has found the key to the 13th dimension. The signs were always there.

 

37

 

You don't look that good in red anyway. Sleeve it alone.

 

Coffee cups & doughnut holes.

 

He asked for a white handkerchief & an orange. Max knew him in Queens. It was the noise of the chainsaw that bothered me the most. No, the other Max.

 

Harvey Brown. Yet another genius from Cleveland.

 

Ray says the Glimmer Twins are back.

[DKeys]

America's creed is greed. DKult's motto is Don't go to church, be the church.

[De Villo Sloan]

d-kween

[De Villo Sloan]

Erni, he looks like Sting. The guy from The Police. Thanks for the story. Oh yes, and of course you knew more about Rinpoche than I did. We have conversed about it for a long time.

[De Villo Sloan]

And Nancy, I started the Trungpa Rinpoche Mail-Art Club over a year ago. I was completely tickled about Erni's Baer's interest in Rinpoche. None of our extensive discussions about the Naropa Poetry Wars (thanks as ever, Tom Clark) had taken place so that everyone understood the context. You, in fact, were one of the few mail-art people who knew the story and its far-reaching implications. For a long time, it was a personal joke I could only giggle about to myself, as few people in mail-art understood the reference. I think it is very relevant to us all.

 

Likewise, the Postage-Due-Club is yet another tribute to DK. I had to cover the cost of postage for much of the early work she sent me. I thought, "This chick is a total scammer. I admire that greatly." It takes one to know one, as they say.

[De Villo Sloan]

Nancy, in some ways I apologize. Trungpa Rinpoche was a real person who has had a real impact on many people - very serious. Yet the D-Kult has similarities. Can you deny it? I see her "performance" involving 100,000 cans of cat food as a re-enactment of Jesus Christ's loaves and fishes miracle. Art is one thing. But is this becoming a religion?

 

Hi Roberto, I am so glad you checked in! I have received some great work from you for Asemics 16, my brother! I am a big fan of your work. Just, you know, watch it with Trashpo and the D-Kult. It's hard to type with 9 fingers. You'd be surprised.

[PIRO]

Can't wait for the next chapter. 

[Nancy Bell Scott]

You have some nerve bashing Trungpa when here you are doing business with Dewey, Cheetum & Howe. Shame.

[De Villo Sloan]

d-kontaminated & d-komissioned

[De Villo Sloan]

Message from KDJ:

 

An excellent synopsis of events and documents regarding recent DKult DiffiKulties.  I sincerely hope we can put all this nastiness behind us and get that Damply Dewey character off the payroll.  Thank you for your cooperation. 

Fondly,

KDJDKDJ 

 

[De Villo Sloan]

d-klones