RECEIVED: Queen of Trashpo's Chapter Offers Keys to the Kingdom of Visual Poetry (Elgin, Illinois, USA)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail-art by IUOMA member Diane (DK) Keys (Elgin, Illinois, USA)

 

March 23, 2012 - While I am not certain to which artist Diane Keys' chapter is dedicated, her contribution is a personal favorite in the collaborative visual poetry book project. This is yet another case where the scans do not do justice to the work.

 

As I have noted before, Diane Keys' work has much in common with other visual poets in her geographic region including Angie Cope, Matthew Stolte, and David-Baptiste Chirot. In my estimation, Diane has exceeded the level of quality of all previous visual poetry work she has done; this chapter is a masterpiece. As the opening page reveals (above) and the following two pages also show, this is purely visual poetry, grounded in the context of the material of language:

 

 

I have noted before Diane Keys' tendency to avoid forms and structures. This chapter is a departure from that general trend. She frequently uses boxes and rectangles, very consciously, in this work. I think the "who we are inside the box" quote establishes this as well as a theme involving conformity or societal expectations. Meanwhile, the pages are filled with found writing, asemic characters, and colorful textures suggesting writing that contribute to sustained work. Bits and pieces of language stand on their own while other elements meld together to create cohesion and thickly layered symbols.

 

One of the things I find most interesting - and something I was initially skeptical about - is Diane's use of lists. During this project, we had some discussions about how to integrate text and image in visual poetry; in many cases lists did not seem particularly effective.

 

Some early drafts I saw of Diane's chapter did not work for me due to the use of lists (and this was a very subjective response). They seemed like lists piled on textural backgrounds without cohesion or connection. Now, seeing the complete chapter, the work seems masterful. First, Diane uses many lists in her Trashpo. The extended use of the lists here - the individual word choices - create a structure of oppositional and/or contradictory ideas that also contribute to holding the chapter together:

 

 

These pages above are particularly beautiful and reveal the strange, triumph of lists that distinguish the chapter as well as the the textural layering that is becoming a more and more refined part of Diane's work. Here is the final page:

 

 

I think one of the ways into the chapter are to look at the lists on different pages and locate what they do and do not have in common. I also see here the evolution of an individual style of visual poetry that is less and less reliant on influence and more and more reliant on innovation and discovery. Here is the envelope:

 

 

As well as the reverse side:

 

 

And an enlargement of the now-legendary DKULT stamp:

 

 

 Wonderful work, DK. Many thanks! And please make sure to visit DK's blog frequently:

http://dianekeys.blogspot.com/

[De Villo Sloan]

Thanks Diane, so people can take note the chapter is for Candy Jernigan.

 

Shopping lists (and related lists) are a big thing in Trashpo, of course, and I think you did something really interesting with lists here. I DO think it was a a good idea (and brave) to put drafts & ask for suggestions on your blog. I feel like I saw this chapter evolve.

 

Overall, the textures and everything are fantastic. I think it's a wonderful chapter.

[DKeys]

Excellent Blog DVS! I really appreciate your amazing writing and insights. The artist that inspired me was David Chirot and Candy Jernigan. She had one piece in particular that used a kind of timeline/list that called out to me. Thanks for helping me choose which pieces to use too-it was hard to be objective.  Need to get a 'DKult is the shit' stamp:)