New Old School Trashpo by Gerda Osteneck (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail art by Gerda Osteneck (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada)

May 6, 2016 - To the best of my knowledge, this blog entry marks the mail art debut of Canadian artist Gerda Osteneck. She has done some previous work with ATCs, but I do not think they have actually circulated in the Eternal Network. It is certainly her first appearance at the IUOMA. Gerda Osteneck has been wowing the online community of Trashpoets and Kulters. This work indicates she is a “natural.” The sewn envelope is masterly. Here is a wider shot:

Gerda Osteneck’s approach to Trashpo in this piece is “Old School.” She sends mostly unaltered scraps and fragments that have not even been assembled into a collage, showing an affiliation with the earlier anti-art strain in Trashpo.

Trashpo by Gerda Osteneck (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada)

Listpo is represented as well. We are seeing great innovation and exciting new Trashpo from Canada these days (DKULTCAN, Trash Can-ada). Much of it, like Gerda Osteneck’s work, harkens back to the unadorned, found material that typifies Trashpo’s early stages. Trash Can-adians are also relying on photographs to show material in situ, further removing artifice and strengthening Trashpo’s ties to social realism.

Here is the reverse side of the envelope:

Many thanks to Gerda Osteneck!