RECEIVED: Fake Blogjam Packed with Mail-Art Luminaries + Mystery Mail = Who Are They?

[De Villo Sloan]

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

 

April 9, 2012 - Nancy Bell Scott (Maine, USA) invented the blogjam last week as a way to post a lot of incredible work in an innovative format. I am borrowing the idea to post work received where (1) I am ridiculously late blogging it or (2) it falls through the cracks and does not fit into themes I am always using or (3) I give up and admit I have no idea who sent it or (4) the mail-art somehow makes me look bad. Thanks to the blogjam concept, you will not notice any of this.

 

The piece above is a fantastic D-Kult item from Diane Keys. David Stafford (New Mexico, USA) sent Diane a very funny, vinyl-album parody piece that I think kicked-off this new wave of using cds and old vinyl for mail-art. Here is the reverse of Diane's Dkult meditation cd:

 

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

If you are a DKult fan or member, you might appreciate the genius of the Twister reference in relation to Mr. Stubbs, Ramone, the Shroud of Elgin, etc. If you don't know about it, don't be at all concerned but check out the Trashpo group at the IUOMA if you're curious. The cd is a true, one-of-a-kind D-Kollectible. I'm sure fakes are soon to follow. Just ignore that it is addressed to Dark wall. I'm keeping it.

 

On the subject of cds and mail-art, I was thrilled to receive a beautiful, painted cd from Katerina Nikoltsou (Greece). She has also had a hand in bringing this idea into mail-art, and I especially like this series she did:

 

Mail-art by Katerina Nikoltsou (Greece)

Unfortunately, she used this stunning piece to remind me I need to send her a book chapter that is way, way overdue. I think her Greek spring pieces are lovely and received one recently (this year):

 

The purple background is hideous. Color switch. Katerina makes tremendous stamps. I always look forward to collecting more Katerina stamps:

 

 

Now for a mystery. This is a high-quality photo with a very cool little envelope of items. I've been admiring this for a while:

 

Mystery mail-art

 

 Am I missing something obvious? I can't figure out who sent this. Speaking of pieces, I thought JF Chapelle's (France) holiday cards were outstanding this year:

 

Mail-art by JF Chapelle (France)

 

I thought I had better wait until Easter to thank him, you know, just to be sure.

 

Theo Nelson (Toronto, Canada) has been very kind to send me a number of his distinctive postcards that include poems:

 

Mail-art by Theo Nelson (Canada)

 

 

 Mail-art by Theo Nelson (Canada)

 

 

Here is a postcard-size collage from dear and faithful friend DharmaDaDa Erni Baer:

 

(Mail-art by Erni Baer, Germany)

 

 

Erni has also sent me larger and more complex work that I think deserves no less than an entire blog, so that part shall have to remain and IOU.

 

Prettylily (aka Sue Bowen - Virginia USA) is a good friend dating back to asemic days. We have managed to get very out-of-sync with our mailings. Here is a hand-painted envelope related to Cheryl Penn's (South Africa) Zalop call - a part of the larger, ongoing Fluxus word performance by Ruud Janssen (Netherlands):

 

Mail-art by Prettylily (Virginia, USA)

 

 

 Another mystery:

 

Mail-artist unknown

 

I can't read much of this, but I know part of it has somedthing to do with KDJ's head injury, which means someone with knowledge of the DKult. I still can't figure out who sent it.

 

Susan McAllister sent a piece that arrived last week. I think it is very funny, extremely relevant, and self-explanatory:

 

Mail-art by Susan McAllister (California, USA)

 

 

Many thanks for all the great mail-art! Please keep it coming.

 

MAIL-ART PSYCHIC

 

More d-vinyl unless you're a cd

 

It's a raincoat with holes. When it pours it reigns.

 

Cats & dogs.

 

Waffles.

 

12-3-9

 

Burberry Possum, Cyberdog.

 

Goose is loose. Loose hips sink slips.

 

Empty copper, see?

 

Something to play poker with or 4.

 

Raincoat = A peril.

 

Should have been 5, JL. Something went wrong.

 

Ray says, "I candy."

 

"No expectations" 4 Pip.

[Marie Wintzer]

Oh, such an overwhelming amount of goodies here. Don't know where to start. And now I just read "So, OK, Svenja did the KDJ piece" and I'm already lost. OK OK, I'll start from scratch and catch up.... (great blogjam btw)

[De Villo Sloan]

Reverse side of Katerina's blue vispo:

[De Villo Sloan]

I'm glad you could stop by, Katerina. Here is another fairly recent "blue" piece I received from Katerina Nikoltsou. This is a fav, of course, because it has some seemingly random language worked in the mix, a standout:

 

[Svenja Wahl]

Katerina, that's a good idea! I'll try that! Thank you - and good night to you all, see you in the mail :-))

[Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)]

Nothing "Fake" about this blogjam! It is great, DVS! Thank you, Nancy for starting blogjams and a great opportunity to see mail art in "bundles"! I love the variety of art and ideas...even a New Year's greeting being blogged at Easter. Now that is FluXus! 

Svenja, you can try using your address sticker and taking  pen or pencil a putting a slight diagonal line across it. That way the postal-machine-robot knows NOT to send it back to you :-) I know, 'cause I was getting many a mail art envelope returned when I stamped my address...even on the flip side, so i added a line across it (like our Italian mail artists do) and no more returns!

[De Villo Sloan]

That's right! I remember when you received your ring. That was one of the funniest blogs ever. You have done much more with DKult & Trashpo - right. I DO have your vispo chapter, so all is well with that. Good to catch up and take stock.

[Svenja Wahl]

I'm a huge fan of your DKult-fanzine, DVS!! Of course I knew the KDJ story! xxx

[De Villo Sloan]

Svenja, people receive your work most of the time. This was unusual, and others could read it, I don't think it's a problem. I didn't know you knew the KDJ story either. But I will now wonder if there is a mysterious German artist named "Sweed."

[Svenja Wahl]

DVS, I've got a few of my envelopes back without any reason from the "Deutsche Post" - so I changed to not putting the sticker on them ;-(( Will have to think about that, or use my "first year in school-handwriting" for the signature. 

[De Villo Sloan]

Reverse of piece below with official "Svenja sticker" - a brand you know, trust, and can read easily: