The Village People? A Finnish Clinic? A Film that Should Stay Forgotten?- Cryptic News from Carina Granlund (Petsmo, Finland)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail-art by IUOMA member Carina Granlund (Petsmo, Finland)

October 24, 2014 - I certainly do not want to take the role of someone's mother, but I finally received mail-art from Carina Granlund. I was worried sick! What did I receive? One postcard! (when everyone else is receiving entire books!). Allright, I will take it. It is a wonderful postcard, but I don’t get it. Has a version of The Clinic (in Mexico) been established in Finland? These postcards she sends fascinate me. All the architecture in Finland looks like the film version of Farenheit 451. This has worked very well especially in some of Carina’s Karen Eliot pieces. In this case, her intent is less clear, although I like the aesthetic. Here is the reverse side:

What seems most important to Carina is the stamp:

I like the stamp because it makes me think of the Village People. Does Carina think that way too? Did someone make a stamp commemorating Al Pacino in Cruising? That would be in hideously bad taste, so I don't think so.

Many thanks to Carina. I will be sending a response soon.

[De Villo Sloan]

Carina, I only did this because I know you are so conscientious I could make you feel guilty. Rebecca or someone did recently receive two handmade books from you, but maybe there is a reason for that.

I did send you something, I think in September. But I need to send you something thicker. No, I don't want to confuse quantity and quality. But I must send you things that very specifically address themes that have arisen in our conversation through the mail. This part is very much up to me, so do not feel guilty.

[Carina]

My hotel looks good! Thanks for a great blog and comments, DVS / everyone! I will send a thicker package next time, but like so many others have experienced I wonder what is actually worth to send. Lol, not that it is seen in my mailings. Susan, next envelope is with Tom. And Diane will probably see more of him :)

[De Villo Sloan]

Darn if I haven't been very honored. Thanks for that, Susan. Thanks for the collective mind of the network as I wasn't putting that together.

I consider Carina a very good friend and this explains what the mailing is about. Wow, a Tom stamp.

[Susan McAllister]

DeVillo, I believe you have been honored to receive mail with the Tom of Finland stamp. Firstly, Tom is very popular in Finland. And this series of stamps has been very well-received by people all over the world who have been trying to purchase them.

http://yle.fi/uutiset/tom_of_finland_stamps_on_sale_monday_finlands...

[De Villo Sloan]

Thx DK, since posting I've been informed that Carina has sent me a stamp (w/the leather guy) from Tom of Finland who does homo-erotic art. I need to get out more. I know Tom of Oakland. That's about it.

Carina is a very, very fine artist in the traditional sense, IMHO. Your description is excellent. I have been receiving these vintage images from Finland for a long time, including comics. So there is another side to her work.

I am going to write to her very soon because my whole point with the blog is that I can't interpret the message, however much I like it. And with a lot of friends, it is important for me to know what they are communicating. In Carina's case, she and I have drifted a bit. That's the challenge for everyone: How to maintain so many relationships.

Anyway, - Tom of Finland.

[DKeys]

my recent mail art from Carina had some Village People qualities as well. I find this unusual for Carina. What could it mean? I associate Carina with a soft color palette, a gentle hand, a subtle perspective tweak. Is her old style Finnished?