Balloon, an Artist's Book by Ptrzia (TICTAC)

I nearly took part in Banana Day (for the second time in just a few months - there is some confusion about which day REALLY is banana day… ) and as the bananas started to be posted I coveted lots of the stuff I might have received, so I was super pleased to get these banana stamps that TICTAC sent out with her banana mail! The other part of this package was even more generous, though.  

I showed it to my husband and brother-in-law and they both couldn't believe that someone I have never met would send me 'an original' which had clearly taken so much time to execute!  But non-mailartists can't comprehend what we do. But not only that, not only had TICTAC posted me something time consuming to make,  this book is beautiful, even exquisite both in its look and in its meaning - luckily for TICTAC, this conceptual poetry piece couldn't have been sentto a more appreciative audience!  My copy is 4/10 and I will treasure it!

Issue 56 Subscription Opus (Maze Music)- Jude Weirmer

Delighted to receive this beautiful and fascinating piece from Judith Weirmeir.  Unfolded, it measures 19 x 13 and is printed onto glossy card. It arrived folded (inside one of those 'we're sorry your mail has been damaged' bags.  Luckily, it hasn't been damaged!) 

Above is one side of the Judith's mail art.  It is silkscreened  (I think) and has that wonderful haptic feel of raised ink.Great colours, expressive text and variety!

Below is an intricate digital? drawing that features music, language, gestures and flowcharts. It is funny, whimsical and in places political! FABULOUS! You will need to spend some time with this piece to get even part of it.  Zoom in and enjoy!

I love the floppy but sturdy quality of this book and the way it can be read in many ways! I'm feeling lucky! Many thanks Judith!

[Diary of a Pebble]] by Marie Wintzer

 Marie always sends me magic.  She has a way of taking unassuming elements and creating something extraordinary with them.  The Diary of a Pebble is a book made from something unfamiliar and yet it feels like something that was common once... something to hold photos, a doctor's notebook.  I really have no idea what it is, but I have a feeling down some street, a street like the ones Marie photographs, you might find a stationary store - not one with all that FANCY stationary that they send to Singapore, or London, the other kind with a shelf and a pile of these stacked waiting for an elderly customer to come in...

 I noticed on IUOMA that Dean has received one too.  Here is a link to his and what he said:
http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profiles/blogs/marie-wintzer-s-birthday-today-and-the-diary-of-a-pebble

 I don't know if you like to vacuum, but I absolutely hate it, so when Marie's poem begins, 'one of those Dysons', I am there full of opinion, empathy, stories, memories.  It's a great first line!  The title evokes a poem by Simon Armitage, for me too:
http://simonarmitage.typepad.com/homepage/2005/11/ten_pence_story.html 

Pieces of stories, (drowned out by the vacuum?) come in and out of view.  The feel of the pages, the sharps held in their protective sleeves, the blood, the raspiness of turning the pages, remind me that LIFE (especially for a pebble) is frought.

 As always, the sound of the words, and especially here, the way Marie uses space, the visual poetry stuff, underscores it all so beautifully.

 I received this book before I went to America.  Although I had photographed it, I realised i couldn't write about it without holding it and although I considered taking it, I left it behind.  One of the first things I did when I got back was to unwrap it from its envelope to read it again and over again.  It is much of what I like about poetry.  I feel as if I can relate.  It moves me, the words and images are beautiful to look at and say aloud.  But I know that my reading is my reading and I suspect when I come back to it again I will see more and other! And I wonder what the writer really meant... Thank you Marie!  It's a gem.

Be sure to visit Marie's site too!
http://thebookwormslunch.com

Vizma's been fluffing

 Love the gold envelope and all those Australian words.  As far as I can tell, mail art wouldn't be Vizma post without all those signature bits of pink too.  Perhaps the stamp is a hint as to what's inside...

I still don't really know what I'm unwrapping .  I see a belly button, the inside of a tumble dryer but what is inside is nothing like that.

Instead this fluff has legs.  It stands up and can be read. It has a hint of a talisman - perhaps it is to the lost sock god? 'Aust-tra-liam mad just for you. All just fluff. All fluffed up.' Or fluxed up? Whatever, I like it!

Thank you Vizma.  I'm installing it in the laundry area, just in case!