RECEIVED: DKULT Exclusive - An Impending Di-saster? (Illinois, USA) + Arac's Charming Gift of Cereal Trashpo (Alabama, USA)

[De Villo Sloan]

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

 

March 5, 2012 - Even as Trashpo and the D-Kult are enjoying an unprecedented surge of popularity in the mail-art world, disturbing evidence is mounting that all is not going well within the walls of the famed Elgin Mansion.

 

Much of this concern originates from what some have characterized as bizarre behavior by the Queen of Trash herself. Rumors abound concerning altercations between DK and DKULT CFO - KDJ - in Orlando, Florida. Indeed, KDJ seems to be exhibiting some bizarre behavior herself. The February 2012 issue of DKult Fanzine published this picture of KDJ who had allegedly carved a RK (roadkill) symbol on her forehead:

 

 

Photo courtesy of February 2012 D-KULT Fanzine

 

Insiders claim the RK symbol on the forehead is meant to represent solidarity with DK-Ultra, an alleged  radical wing within the DKULT whose existence has never been verified.

 

Rumors and gossip about Trashpo and the DKult can be expected, and I take them with a grain of salt. However, the message written by DK below (the reverse side of the scan that opens this blog) has caused me grave concern:

 

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

 

Even in the cryptic realm of mail-art, this message is hard to D-Cipher. Diane is the international spokesmodel for Trashpo. I have always admired how conscientious and thoughtful she has been in her public utterances, which do impact many people.

 

Now I receive: "Who is you?" I must ponder: "'They' is 'We' and 'We' is 'Me" because DK once had credibility, so I give her the benefit of the doubt and hope this is not gibberish? It appears to be gibberish. Probably my favorite line of the missive: "Many come, few leave -- but they all say the same thing." Somehow, I do understand that part. It's still sad.

 

It's always sad to watch someone implode in public. Many mail-artists are receving D-Kits. They are energized and inspired DK's work. I only hope she can pull herself together and the loyal D-Kulters will give her the help and support she so clearly needs. Don't miss DK's blog:

 

http://dianekeys.blogspot.com/

 

Arac's Amazing Cerealism

 

So much good is also coming from Trashpo and the D-Kult. Arac, a new mail-artist from Huntsville, Alabama, USA, received a D-Kit from Dark wall because she had shown an interest in Trashpo. This, of course, included an Elgin Shroud Shred. Arac sent me this fantastic package in return:

 

Mail-art by IUOMA member Arac (Huntsville, Alabama, USA)

 

Arac chose to focus her work on cerealism and did it masterfully. Cerealism is anything you can make with a cereal box and plays on the word surrealism. We managed with some certainty to trace cerealism back to mail-art founder Ray Johnson (and the once popular practice of mailing cereal box coupons for prizes). If Ray Johnson did not invent cerealism, then Richard Canard did.

 

Arac made a great choice using Lucky Charms. They work with the theme of the Elgin Shroud, and you do not see them used much in mail-art. I focus on Cheerios because of the holes. Grigori Antonin likes Fruit Loops. Arac shows us that cerealism is still a vast frontier. Here is the reverse side of the material she sent me:

 

 

Arac is a member of Valentine Mark Herman's (France) Arty Slide International group, and you can see she is working with that medium in some of these pieces she sent. I think Val has a great concept with this group. I am a member, but the work I do will be a bit of a variation on traditional slides. Thank you for sending me examples of your work, Arac!

 

And cerealism is a part of Trashpo (trash poetry), which we hear so much about in mail-art and has given Diane Keys the title Queen of Trash. Understanding Trashpo can be very complex; but essentially, it is assemblages or collages of found material (usually what we consider junk or trash). Many interesting trashbooks are being made right now. Arac's work is a wonderful gift of mail-art showing creativity and humor in these areas I enjoy so much.

 

Many thanks! I hope we will continue to exchange mail-art! Here are both sides of her excellent envelope:

 

 

And...

 

 

Thanks to Diane and Arac! 

 

Arac's doing some kind of hippie art call. I need to dig into the archives and dig out the poetry and essays Charlie Manson used to mail to people through the network. When I think of hippies, I think about stuff like that.

http://hippiedippyartcall.blogspot.com/

 

 

[De Villo Sloan]

MAIL-ARTISTS EVERYWHERE!

PUT YOUR HAND ON THE BLUE HAND ON THE SCREEN!

CHANNEL YOUR POSITIVE ENERGY

CHANNEL YOUR LOVE AND GOOD THOUGHTS

SO THAT DK IS AT PEACE AND HARMONY WITH THE UNIVERSE AGAIN

JAIL GURU DEV! SHANTIH! SHANTIH!

[De Villo Sloan]

Hi Arac, and thanks again for the great Trashpo/cerealism. Glad you liked the D-Kult stuff too.

 

You know, Dark wall is very interested in your hippie show. Last year one of the original hipsters - Owsley Stan - died. Did I meantion this? He.. ah.. founded the Grateful Dead (among other things). Dw did a visual poem "Owsley RIP" which he would be glad to submit to your show. Can you cut and paste, or does he need to mail it?

 

 

 

[Arac]

Ahhh it did make it, It was my first attempt at anything trashpo, glad it was "trashy" enough for you ;)

I'm looking forward to seeing something Hippie Dippy DeVillo Style in the future!

[De Villo Sloan]

The Miracle of the Swans! The People must know!

[De Villo Sloan]

Diane, the ice fishing was not nearly as good as in Minnesota. The vending machines were disappointing. I was able to catch up on my surfing and found this historic piece about Gypsies on the South Side of Chicago. Now Tom Clark knows all about Dharmadada for sure:

http://tomclarkblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/gypsies.html

Please give me more time with the message you sent. Maybe I haven't arrived yet where you were when the lady stepped up to the silver microphone.

 

Please don't remove me from the mailing list.

[DKeys]

DVS=-how was Polynesia? Hope you have some good vacation photos, although I know you were there to soul search and regroup. This DKult propoganda material was written after a group chant/consciousness raising event held in the laying on of hands tent. It speaks the uncensored truth. Some DKulters come to us unbalanced, and the high vibration at the complex sometimes short circuits them. But we usually coax them back into reality through DKult  yoga and meditation (hope you received your CD?). To be taken off the mailing list please answer the following question--Who is your favorite Kult leader?