The International Society of Assemblage and Collage Artists

Brushes, Hammers, Paste and Nails

mail art?

The mail art show in The Netherlands has piqued my curiosity. About mail art in general, I suppose. How does it work? It’s “mail" art so would you send your piece on A4 paper as they specify, folded in a regular envelope? Like a piece of mail? Un-mounted, unmatted, unframed, etc. But when I looked at the photos on their site it seemed that 2-D work was matted and framed. Maybe that wasn’t mail art (?). I’ve looked at a couple of sites and I know some of you here maintain mail art sites, what’s your take on this?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael Harford on February 15, 2012 at 2:50pm

Hello Ken - and Thanks for asking - and feel, rather than blather myself - if you look here, it will answer all the questions you have at once:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mail_art

I've sent and or received (before 9-11) a handle of a briefcase with my address on it, a small see through container with cut up dollar bills, a plastic fish etc etc - anything is game that has a stamp on it - although I tend to have a message of some sort in what I mail out -

I'm not sure about the call in question - No rules is the real name of the game, although sometimes you need to have some guide lines, just in case -

I have never received anything already framed and would surmise it was done at the other end of the call you mentioned?????

=Cheers! Michael

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Permalink Reply by ken coleman on February 15, 2012 at 4:44pm

That's OK, Michael, I'd like to hear you blather.

Yeah, I saw that wikipedia page and it answered some questions.

However, you seem to be talking about exchange between or among individuals. The post (call?) here on this site is from an event so the possibility of exchange seems remote. I'm not concerned about exchange, I'm just trying to get a handle on the event, how the work might be sent and then presented. They're not talking about postcards. Is the fact that they're asking about mail art in intself important to the event or is it just a way to accumulate a bunch of work, low cost?

Any other thoughts you have would be great.

Thanks.

Ken

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Permalink Reply by Michael Harford on February 16, 2012 at 7:24am

Ken -

I finally saw it and to me, is not "mail art" as I was sharing -

It appears to be, to me, a museum where they will be showing peoples art work to visitors passing through - Not the same as mail art and, although I did not spend time looking deeper, if you have a question as to that particular exhibit, I'd contact someone from that site -

Sorry I could not be better help to you = Cheers! Michael

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Permalink Reply by ken coleman on February 16, 2012 at 10:46am

Exchanged a couple of e-mails this morning with the folks at their site. Here is what I learned:

They have not done mail art in previous events. Since the theme this year is "sign and language" they thought dedicating part of their event to mail art would be appropriate -- "most people don't know anything about it."

After the event, they will collect the work into a "sort of book" and it will be available to the public to look through.

All the work sent in will be presented together in one space. Other than building a wall for it, they do not know yet how they are going to display the work.

Thanks for the info and your comments, Michael. I was just curious and when you blend in a bit of skepticism along with a touch of naivety, my curiosity can be a damned nuisance sometimes.

Ken

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Permalink Reply by Michael Harford on February 17, 2012 at 6:32am

Ken - Glad you found the answer -

Always good to ask in advance, regardless -

As I said, MA is pretty open, although I tend to stay within the confines of the early people -

Many are now calling ATCs and such mail art and it's far from it ; (

=Cheers! Michael

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Permalink Reply by ken coleman on February 17, 2012 at 10:21am

I'm not sure I've found the answer, Michael, but I'm getting more information that seems to make sense.

What am I missing in this summary?

1. received work is never sold

2. received work is not returned

3. reciprocity is valued but it's up to the receiver how and when to do this

4. sometimes theme or size may be specified but generally there are no limitations on content, maybe not on form, either

5. mail art is not just sent through the mail but often the content/imagery is related to the mail and postal system
(if accurate, #5 seems to contradict #4 -- if it is accurate)

6. the postal system was/is preferred but on-line exchange and exhibitions are now accepted practice

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Permalink Reply by ken coleman on February 17, 2012 at 12:30pm

Anyone else like to chime in on mail art?

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Permalink Reply by Ruud Janssen on February 20, 2012 at 12:39pm

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Permalink Reply by Ruud Janssen on February 20, 2012 at 12:40pm

There are a lot of sites that explain Mail-Art. The best to start is Wikipedia to have a general idea.

Ruud

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Permalink Reply by Ruud Janssen on February 20, 2012 at 12:45pm

have a look at http://iuoma.blogspot.com and see what a mail-artists tend to send out and get back in return. An online overview of what came in since 2004.....

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Permalink Reply by ken coleman on February 20, 2012 at 12:51pm

Thanks. I have looked at the Wikipedia site as I said in an earlier post here.

I'm just looking for some other input and perhaps a little discussion.

Ken

Ruud Janssen said:

There are a lot of sites that explain Mail-Art. The best to start is Wikipedia to have a general idea.

Ruud

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Permalink Reply by ken coleman on February 20, 2012 at 12:51pm

Another thanks. I'll take a look.

Ken

Ruud Janssen said:

have a look at http://iuoma.blogspot.com and see what a mail-artists tend to send out and get back in return. An online overview of what came in since 2004.....