RECEIVED: USA Mail-Art 4 the X-Files from Amy Irwen (Minnesota), KDJ (Florida), RCBz (Minnesota), Jen Staggs (Texas)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail-art by IUOMA member Amy Irwen (Rosemount, Minnesota, USA)

December 23, 2011 - A few months ago I created a blog tag called X-Files. The intention is to document pieces of mail-art that are anomalies or defy conventional interpretation. Maybe it's just me, but I think I have received a number of great pieces for the X-Files recently. NOTE: A strange coincidence that X-Files mail-art comes exclusively from the USA? More specifically from Minnesota?

The work at the top of the blog by Amy Irwen recycles collages shreds and trashpo I sent her. This very powerful and relatively large collage is, for me, like looking in a funhouse mirror at reflections of some current mail-art movements; it's simultaneously beautiful and frightening.

We see a surrealistic blending of MinXus with roaDKill (actually two opposing aesthetics). The mink has been turned into a hunting target and seems to have tire tracks over it. I also note a piece of a bus schedule I found in the street one day walking to the post office (Finger Lakes Mall is the end of the line). Here is the reverse side of this amazing Mail-art Guernica by Amy Irwen:

Amy kindly included the lyrics to Loudon Wainright's one-hit-wonder classic: "Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road." Also in red is the original "roaDKill Lives" stamp designed by Angie & Snooker the Amazing Mail-Art Dog (Wisconsin, USA). I very much appreciate this work from Amy; however, I am not sure why I am associated with roadkill art. True, I wrote about it when it was a main focus of work by Diane Keys (Illinois, USA), but I was really only the messenger. This strange melding of roaDKill and MinXus-Lynxus never would have occurred to me, but it makes sense on some level.

I got blisters on my fingers, Ringo

In an Investigative Mail-Art blog I wrote about the D-KULT, I described KDJ (Orlando, Florida, USA) as Diane Key's "iron-fisted lieutenant." I have had some heated exchanges with KDJ concerning the defective D-Koder ring I received. Especially involving the DKULT, there is some confusion about me and Dark wall (who is a real person). For reasons too complicated to explain here, Dark wall's D-Kollectibles business (which trades in items related to DK and the DKULT) uses my box. The "Shroud of Elgin" and it's magic powers are topics you need to address to Dark wall. This piece by KDJ is addressed to me but might be meant for Dark wall:

Mail-art by IUOMA member KDJ (Orlando, Florida, USA)

The "Shroud of Elgin" is a purple shirt that, according to legend, was stolen from DK in March of 2011. It was spirited across the U.S. border into Mexico where evidence of its powers began to be known. In recent months, it was returned to the U.S. and small shreds are being circulated to those in need of miracles in the mail-art network. If you want to see what all the fuss is about, check out this blog by Nancy Bell Scott:

http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profiles/blogs/pocket-shred-of-shroud-of-elgin-from-de-villo-sloan-with

At one point, claims were made that the "Shroud of Elgin" could repair any harm caused by defective D-Koder rings.  Here is the reverse side of KDJ's mail-art:

In addition to the note, I also like the Zalop and Ray Johnson stamps. Thanks DKDJ.

"What we have here is a failure to communicate"

As I had feared, my already frail friendship (nonexistent) with the brilliant and much-admired mail-artist RCBz (St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA) has continued to deteriorate since I last blogged his work. He is not sending me mail-art anymore, just a puzzling and ambiguous note that I am sure is the last if I do not in some way respond to what has been, in retrospect, a great amount of patience and generosity on his part:

Mail-art by RCBz (St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA)

RCBz seems to be fast friends with Marie Wintzer (Saitama, Japan), and I would say from seeing his work he would be more inclined to MinXus-Lynxus than roaDKill, were he to be particularly drawn toward either. Cheryl Penn (South Africa) did receive some excellent work from RCBz recently that deserves a gander:

http://cherylpenn.com/wpb/?p=1039

RCBz has an extraordinary knowledge of history and geography, which is reflected in his work. I notice his reference to the historic Auburn Prison (now called a correctional facility) I recall Auburn and Buffalo, New York were in hot competition for years, each claiming to be the hometown of the Electric Chair. It might have settled this way: The Chair was invented in Buffalo and first used in Auburn. We have many things like that to take pride in.

Immaculate concept(ion) art?

Many IUOMA members will immediately recognize the piece below by Jen Staggs. Not unlike the Shroud of Elgin, it too gave birth (no pun intended) to a mail-art myth. I am really proud to have received one of these prints by Jen. Before the pregnancy stories ignited, I thought it was beautiful, definitely the finest work I have received from her so far. Now it's also a little bit of history:

Mail-art by IUOMA member Jen Staggs (Dallas, Texas, USA)

Belated thanks, Jen. Be assured a very special shred of the Shroud of Elgin will soon be on it's way to you.

Thanks to all contributors to the Mail-Art X-Files. Remember:

[cheryl penn]

Is  this Area 53? Am I in the right place? Cousin Stuart said that I could get a lift here. Is that the code to leave DW? Coming with???

[De Villo Sloan]

test

())))))))))))))))))))
())))))))))))()))))))))))))))))
())))))))))))))))))))))

 

[De Villo Sloan]

FREE MARIE

[De Villo Sloan]

HEATHENS REPINT!

stuff the ham w/ yams

[DKeys]

Ernidharmadad is the glu guru

[De Villo Sloan]

WHATS THE FREQUENCY HEATH?

HEATH WHAT THE FREQUENCY?

FRSH HORSES

[De Villo Sloan]

IT IS ALL OF THE ONE GLU

[DKeys]

It's all making sense now Kat-and the timing is quite spooky. Does this give us a hint at the true name?

Marie-brutal-DKult just can't catch a break in Asia. DKult worse than prison? We need to get a new marketing campaign going. You're right that you can't count on DW. He is predictably unpredictable. I think he's drank too many red bulls and keeps spam texting me "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" 

I know nothing about MinXus-can you tell me more about it? 

[Marie Wintzer]

No thanks, DK. I will chose the German prison over the head of DKultJapan any time :-)) it's actually not that bad here. Besides, MinXus needs me. I certainly can't count on Dw to send out MinXus mail, I always have to do all the work.

[Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)]

Tis the Night before Christmas and it really is Jen's birthday but I understand, DK, that she will wait and have the non-C-section tomorrow so the non-twins can celebrate with that other guy who was born...