RECEIVED: In-Your-Face Mail-Art Collage from Jon Foster (Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail-art by IUOMA member Jon Foster (Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA)

 

May 5, 2011 - Jon Foster is creating some fantastic collages. I was thrilled to receive this new piece. He seems to be constantly experimenting with different styles and techniques. Examples of this growing body of work can be found at the IUOMA. The piece above is a good example of the subtle textures and complex tonal effects he is achieving. 

 

This postcard-size piece - all lips and teeth - definitely weighs in on the avant side. The potential for many interesting interpretations are there, especially in the area of speech and language; it has some haptic elements too.

 

My response was to immediately think about personal space. This piece of Jon's is on the avant side because it's designed to make the recipient a bit uncomfortable. I don't believe you can call it pleasing to the eye in any conventional sense. The collage relies a bit on shock value (albeit subdued). How are these responses achieved? We all have comfort zones, the infamous "bubbles," that define personal space and the acceptable borders for interacting with others. Jon's collage definitely is a purposeful intrusion into that space, and he achieves it through a masterful placement of images. I like it a lot. He includes some text on the reverse side:

 

Jon put out a call at the IUOMA for exchanges among people who are working with collage in a larger format. I think it's a great idea, especially because I'm interested in see some of Jon's work on a larger scale. So many thanks for this work, Jon!