TLP by Matthew Stolte (Madison, Wisconsin, USA)

Matt - 7.15.2014 - 1

Mail-art by IUOMA member Matthew Stolte (Madison, Wisconsin, USA)

July 16, 2014 - In June of 2013, I shared a TLP (Tacky Little Pamphlet) I received from visual poet Matthew Stolte on the subject of the world’s oceans and water systems:

http://minxuslynxus2.wordpress.com/2013/06/12/minxus-mail-bag-from-...

I am now thrilled to present “sea stars,” a related TLP received this past spring (click to enlarge pages).

Matt - 7.15.2014 - 2

The TLP (Matthew Stolte also refers to them as TLBs – Tacky Little Books) is a mail-art form well worth highlighting. First, the Tacky Little Pamphlet is a term often associated with John M. Bennett (Columbus, Ohio, USA), an undisputed master of the form. Mail-artists on the literary side of things have been circulating their works through the network using the TLP format for many years. On Jack Saunder’s website, I found this interesting reference to the TLP that traces the practice back to the 1970s and Wild Billy Haddock (a true mail-art luminary for the ages):

http://thedailybulletin.com/dream2/tlp.htm

TLPs can be considered the equivalent of chapbooks, although they tend to be more DIY than their fine-art letter press equivalents.

Matt - 7.15.2014 - 3

TLPs are also clearly related to zines. Matthew Stolte’s “From Oceans” and “sea stars” are interesting because they employ the concept of the “serial poem” proposed by the late Jack Spicer.

Matt - 7.15.2014 - 4

Mathew Stolte’s series combines visual and textually oriented poetry.

Matt - 7.15.2014 - 5

Matt - 7.15.2014 - 6

Some purist mail-artists have objected to TLPs and related forms because they are (relatively) mass produced. Some believe that each item mailed should be one-of-a-kind and generated specifically for one recipient. This is certainly a lofty ideal. A look at the history reveals, however, that pamphlets, books, artists books, zines and assembling zines have been created and distributed through the network for decades and are foundational. The saying that “there are no rules” is a guiding principle in the Eternal Network.

Matt - 7.15.2014 - 7

Matt - 7.15.2014 - 8

Many thanks to Matthew Stolte for sending “sea stars”!

Matthew Stolte’s excellent blog, Construction Sea, has the rare distinction of being included on the MinXus-Lynxus blog roll (an exclusive club indeed). For ease and convenience, here is the link too:

http://constructionsea.blogspot.com/

Views: 94

Tags: Sloan, vispo

Comment

You need to be a member of International Union of Mail-Artists to add comments!

Join International Union of Mail-Artists

Comment by De Villo Sloan on July 16, 2014 at 3:56pm

TLPs have come up at IUOMA before, but I think they are worth noting because they are so entwined w/ mail-art. There is a Youtube video about making TLPs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD07mt9I7k0

This emphasizes folding. I always caution about rules, in terms of getting the impression there is a "right way" & a "wrong way" ( which I don't personally believe there is). All the same, this shows how to make one.

Support

Want to support the IUOMA with a financial gift via PayPal?

The money will be used to keep the IUOMA-platform alive. Current donations keep platform online till 1-july-2024. If you want to donate to get IUOMA-publications into archives and museums please mention this with your donation. It will then be used to send some hardcopy books into museums and archives. You can order books yourself too at the IUOMA-Bookshop. That will sponsor the IUOMA as well.

Bewaren

Bewaren

Bewaren

Bewaren

Bewaren

Bewaren

Bewaren

Bewaren

Bewaren

© 2024   Created by Ruud Janssen.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service