Cranberry Sauce Forever by Rebecca Guyver (Suffolk, UK) & FAB Collage from Erica Durante (Waldwick, New Jersey, USA)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail-art by IUOMA member Rebecca Guyver (Suffolk, UK)

 

September 5, 2013 - Many friends are aware that during the summer Rebecca Guyver visited Cranberry Island in Maine, USA. Indeed, Rebecca's amazingly punctual corespondence as well as e-communications became sporadic for a time. I saw postings where she spoke of primitive conditions and a lack of art supplies.

 

Some of us saw a similar situation two years ago when Marie Wintzer fled Tokyo for Hiroshima when Japan was rocked by a cataclysm. Reduced to little more than pencils and paper scraps, Marie continued to produce mail-art. I would wish adversity on no one, but it has been known to produce good art. So here I post beautiful work I received from Rebecca while she was on Cranberry Island.

This is a wonderful example of Rebecca's work that blends asemics, vispo and collage. The text is very interesting to read. I believe effort and contemplation went into it even if it has a certain harried quality. Found material has been integrated to give it Trashpo edginess.

Sweet dreams are made of these indeed. I am glad to have my own personal souvenir of Cranberry Island.

Mail-art by IUOMA member Erica Durante (Waldwick, New Jersey, USA)

 

Some time ago I expressed my admiration for Erica Durante's colourful and beautifully composed collages. Mail-artists are extraordinarily accommodating. I now have this fantastic work from Erica for the archive.

As always, I am sure I am drawn to the work partially because it has asemic, concrete and vispo elements. Given the elements, Erica might have chosen an emphasis on geoemetry and formal structure in this work. She did not and that is probably why I like it so much. For me, it has a tremendous organic, open-field quality. Here is the reverse side:

Erica, thank you so much for being so thoughtful! And Rebecca, again, I deeply appreciate you having sent me work from the wilds of Maine.

[De Villo Sloan]

Got to. Obama is cracking down on tax collection. DKULTNY is suspect. Now I have some new DK memorabilia. I'll do my best to cut the red tape.

Thanks, meeah. Rebecca can do even greater wonders in the studio. "On the road" mail-art has a spontaneous quality.

[vizma bruns]

That wasn't in the small print. You always make me fill in paperwork some paperwork.

[De Villo Sloan]

Oh & to claim your prize, there's some paper work you'll have to complete some paperwork.

[De Villo Sloan]

Looking forward to the Hair Mail, but no sign of it yet.

[vizma bruns]

Whoopeee, a big fat Trashprize!!! Beauty! UO me MA? Good, you got the Minxus hair mail then?

I can't believe you guys don't have glow-in-the-dark tuna yet.

[De Villo Sloan]

Thx cher Janine

[De Villo Sloan]

Thanks Vizpo, tuna is because folks in this neck of the woods are so concerned about those leaky Japanese nuclear reactors. Sympathy goes, as ever again, to the Japanese people with hopes Wal-Mart does not release a new glow-in-dark tuna.

 Vizpo, you had to win the prize. Well c'mon down! Yes, "Strawberry Fields Forever" and that staple of Beatles trivia: At the end of the song you can hear John Lennon mumbling "cranberry sauce."

I Owe You Mail-Art (IOU-MA) anyway. SO it looks like some very rare Trashpo.

Thanks again.

[vizma bruns]

The tuna?? Shall I get my diving knife ready?

First guess is Strawberry Fields Forever. I couldn't check with my mum cos she's on a camel safari in Dubai, selfish woman.

[De Villo Sloan]

That is why you will triumph as The Empire falls into ruins, Vizpo. (but watch out for the tuna)

Listen, does anyone know where I got the idea to title this Cranberry Sauce Forever? I have an item from the Elgin Mansion, stolen the night of the 2011 Twister competition, that will be yours if you answer correctly. Hint: Your mother should know.

[vizma bruns]

Primitive conditions are my ineluctable destiny...!