Mail Received - Erni Bär and a Riddle

[xx Jones]

Erni is a mail art factory and generous sender, and I have received several pieces of mail art lately, which I want to show you here. I am also asking your help so please read to the end. I am not sure which item was in which envelope, but Erni might correct me if I got it muddled up.

Here is the first envelope with a large scale collage advertising Erniness: Homoeopathic Erniness for better health and looks. Erniness works! Yes, I am a believer.

It contained a collage and some yummy easter chocolates in a sweet tin can. The collage is unusually heavy, because as you can see, it includes a thick rusted chunk of metal. I think Nancy would like this piece  - rust never sleeps - but I am very happy to have it. We are planning to do some renovation work on our flat and this will go on the new "gallery wall" once it is done.
You can see the chocolate box here - and my pathetic attempt to hide the fact that I ate the chocolate before I got around to making pictures.

A few days ago I received another envelope. I love the array of happy images including Mail Art Martha's sticker on the envelope. Always a treat. 

 

It is not easy to be a saint amidst all these temptations. The letter contained this bunny collage, which, I think, Erni said he found, although I find that a bit hard to believe. Who would chuck away a bunny like that? Maybe Erni is secretly going figurative, only pretending he found it? I had sent him an image of a genetically engineered green rabbit, so I see this as response to that.

The next piece is a readymade - a crushed Red Bull can. Oops, I forgot to take a photo, will have to do that later. In my humble opinion Erni's recent German Flag made of crushed cans is a Pop Art Masterpiece and so I am pleased to have this one. Did you know Red Bull is one of the very few global brands which originates in Austria? 

Here is the final piece and the reason why I HAD to post this urgently: It is a wooden box, covered with cardboard all around. It seems to contain several objects, possibly metallic as they make a pleasing clunky noise when you shake the box. Now I am facing a great dilemma: I this meant to be interactive? Should I open this box and damage the piece in the process, or not? I feel I am about to have an encounter with Schroedingers cat. Is is dead or alive? 

 

I am hoping for your input. Any guesses as to what may be inside?  Should I open it or not?

[xx Jones]

That would be extreme mail art.

[Nancy Bell Scott]

Too funny!  xx, it doesn't sound like he'll send it to you, does it. But hey, as he often says, "Have patience."

The amount of whimsical/imaginative modern and contemporary art in Hamburg and on its streets is staggering.

[xx Jones]

Ha Erni, can you pick up that blue piece of metal trash and send it to me?

[Nancy Bell Scott]

Looks like a good day for exploration, and the cracked mirror shot is superb, love it.

[Nancy Bell Scott]

Well done, xx, and you have a cooperative scanner, too. I must need an upgrade.

[xx Jones]

I think I have found my calling. Scanner bed art.

[xx Jones]

And this one 10 versions later, every time adding something new. I have also included some sponges from an earlier Erni package. (You can click on it to see it large.)

I love this. Thank you Erni.

I have the perfect thing to send to you as response .

[xx Jones]

Ah, deine Fotos sind besser!  Here is some EB Fan Art made with the scanner.

[xx Jones]

Ok, so I have opened the box today!!

Great stuff!

Thank you, Erni!

EB Fan art will follow.

[Nancy Bell Scott]

That photo will never be forgotten, nor should it be. Dean at his best.