Ray Johnson Bunny Postcard...Almost "Fools" Me!

[Thom Courcelle]

I got this TERRIFIC and very simplistic hand-painted Ray Johnson Bunny postcard from Nadia Aroca of Barcelona, Spain...

"Ooooo..." I exclaimed, imitating the single letter on the postcard. "What could that mean?" I wondered.

Well, I must confess, I've been doing some historical research for a writing project...which includes historical perspectives on the visual pedagogy of the tarot deck (which was simply a trick-taking game during the Renaissance which was not unlike Bridge or Whist, except with a large array of wild cards). The most powerful wild card was the "Fool" card, and it depicted a carefree foolish person, uninhibited by social norms or rules. Because he was outside of those rules, his card garnered the number "zero," and I thought—perhaps—this card was making a sort of faux-fool-card statement...

Here are some examples of historical fool cards... You can see the number "zero" ("0") on the cards...

Well, that kind of makes sense, doesn't it? Not only did Ray Johnson play outside the rules of normal postal regulations by sending mail art through the system, but mail art has continued to rebuff the rules of standard letter post by bending the expectations of what can be sent through the mail...

It wasn't until I visited Nadia's IUOMA page that I saw this picture and her comment that she was sending them out to mail art friends, that I realized my mistake! Don't I feel "foolish!"

I got the first "O" of Johnson's last name! Well, any way that you read this card, it's still a great piece of mail art! Thank you, Nadia!

[Gü]

Great blog Thom, love your interpretation.

[Thom Courcelle]

Thanks for everyone's comments! Bradford—The whole thing really goes towards theories of artist's intent versus interpretation, doesn't it? I love it when art can hold multiple expanding meanings...

Momkat—I might be jumping the gun even without the "Y"...I already have a lotta joy for Ray Johnson!!

[Bradford]

I think that by your interpretation and explanation you have added immeasurably to Nadia's project.

[Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)]

I got the "J", you got the "O"...if someone gets the "Y", 

we'll have "J-O-Y" fro RAY JOHNSON!

[Toni Hanner -- tonipoet]

I have the "A" -- aren't they wonderful!?! I'm going to go look at my Tarot deck now and see what the Fool looks like!