Double-sided Mailart for easy Hangability

 So I have to admit to listening to the latest evidence dropping while typing. So when I look at David's mail art, the thing that leaps out at me is 'screw eyes cemented in brick'.  I watch a lot of crime stuff in box sets so yesterday as I walked to Trinity Buoy Wharf there is this big building site.  What went through my head was I wonder if there are any bodies buried there. Where are the bodies buried? And why can't we see the evidence? Clearly this guy in the parka doesn't want you to know.  Flip the double-sided-mailart and you someone trying not to bear witness . Holism at its best!

Clearly things have changed since the madmen style office leather sofa and the man calmly reading the paper.  OK so Nixon was up to his tricks back then, but there is no twitter and there was no Trump. And stop telling me if you have a trial you don't need witnesses. Remember there's this woman in England who is listening and watching and waiting to see how each of you acts.

Heavenly wonders of Herman Kamphuis

It's a trip around the world of antiquities, history, news from times gone by from Herman this time.  I read the visuals and see social commentary through the stories, the juxtaposition and all together I delight in the beaut and meaning. I see the wonders through Herman's eyes. 

Profiles. I love them! One has to wonder if this beauty's 'Daemon' is a bird...

If you don't know Arvo Part, you can listen here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z76I0gwKmu0 
My studio radio station (BBC 3) plays his music fairly regularly and when they do I have to stop and listen.  How did Herman know? Look at the way Herman uses paper here!  It helps me to see this woman as a feline creature, a beauty.

And here, the cut paper feels like a kaleidoscope, taking me back in time. One has to think about the stories this young man knows now… did he serve in the war and whose grand father is he now?

Herman tells me:  'it's all about memory and told stories…' 

 As ever, I love the gorgeous expressive faces from Herman… I can feel some new stamps coming on!

This envelope feels a bit like a bandage, stitched together to hold Herman's time capsule… We find the contents of Voyageur, an American Flag, some people from the past and objects we recognise from years gone by.  The stamps are an observatory, an airplane - technological advances of our lifetime.

To learn more about the beautiful Mistinguette: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistinguett

Thank you, Herman, and sorry it's taken me a while to pen your letter.  It was certainly worth the wait, though!

That Awful Greasy Dishwasher...

Just before the ogre savaged the beautiful, if cold, lounging robot, the fairy reminded the pair that even though it was about to be the end of the affair, they were required to FIND THE SILVER LINING. So, when the police officers arrived and found the bodies, they also found the written note with the good news: 'Then we won't have that awful greasy dishwasher.' Phew, it was almost worth it. 

Thank you David you have encouraged me to write three silver linings a week. I'm sure I'll feel better soon.

Lost in Temptation: hobnobs, puddings and egg drops

Has Tofu visited the UK lately? Or perhaps he has been to a commonwealth country.  That's the only place that you'd find a 'Ministry of Hobnobs', a 'Pudding Museum' or a 'Hotel Eggdrop'. Let's hope the earthquake that we're all learning about hasn't affected these venerable structures! Not meaning any offence… perhaps we should all take a tea break.  Thank you Tofu.

Everyone's talking about David's One Man show!

 Some people draw from life; some people draw from photos and some people draw from what's inside.  I'm not sure how David gets to his finished products but this wonderful selection of humanity oozes with character and demonstrates the ease with which David moves between and juxtaposes media. 

David sent me this quite some time ago… In fact I carried the envelope to Maine, intending to blog it from America, but that didn't happen and then when I got back my wifi it was a bit out of sorts and finally, TODAY, Patrick fixed the final wifi blip and I can actually scan and print wirelessly (for the first time in seven years!) So fully realising that for example, the Hawaian woman going up the escalator hasn't been in pre-hurricane turmoil, because time doesn't work that way, I'm sure I can see a lot of screaming in David's portraits and I suspect their hysteria is politics related, or the rats from Felixstowe have gone further afield than we thought.

Could this be John Foster and Amy Irwin?

Clearly me, getting ready for the DKult ho down. 

De Villo Sloan sandwiched between his harem - Dk with teased hair, perhaps? 

Three cheers for another brilliant envelope from David Stafford, somewhere in the West.

Robin Chuter draws on record sleeves and other things

Robin Chuter's mail is a fascinating approach to drawing and stuff. He mentions, Ebru (a turkish marbeling process), microfibres, calligraphy and utensils as some of his tools to make marks. He uses reclaimed material as a substrate for his imagery, creating another-worldly responses to transform leftovers. they are curious, psychedelic, responsive pieces that demand close inspection.

It's fun to be getting to know Robin through pieces of his wondrous art. Many thanks for such a generous mailing!

Herman conjures sunny days and patiently waits

Herman's strong whimsy is a delight! He and I share the love of contortionist bodies made with a line or two. I have had Herman's mail art sitting by my computer for weeks.  It arrived when I was in Maine and I vowed that I wasn't going to get sucked into opening and blogging my small pile of mail art in a short space of time.  I have had a few shows to make work for and it feels important not to let mail art ever feel like a burden.  It is a joy and an exchange, but I regret when I can't manage to acknowledge work in good time, so sorry Herman.  You are a loved and faithful correspondent.

Earlier in the day, before opening this, (I have got into the habit of opening and blogging in the hour + between dinner and  my frivalous hour of the day, when we watch an episode of a box set) I made a few pieces of mail art! One ended up being for Herman, but on receiving this, it feels woefully inadequate. Hey ho.  I trust he understands.  I know he understands!  Inside this mailing Herman wrote me at letter! In it, one of the things he told me was how busy he is too. What a treat when a mail art correspondence is both bewitchingly, haptically beautiful, poignantly funny and communicates as well!

The bespoke CD-sized envelope is the container for the drawing above and fitted into the envelope below.

Sweet that Herman has named Grace Kelly look-alike Rebecca! I used to wear lipstick like that, but even with silver hair will always be a brunette!

Dazzled by Susan McAllister

As I look at this again I see asemic lines that remind me of John Bennett! I hope it's happy New Year, Susan! I will choose to interpret this as a creative brainwave. I am dazzled.

itsy bitsy Taidgh mini mail art drawing

So great to receive this ATC sized postcard from Taidgh.  I love Mrs Strawberry Badger and her followers!  She looks oblivious to hurricane Joaquin stirring up trouble in the Atlantic. Remember to stay under the snake sky and avoid the ghost rain!

NtholMeil, therapeutic tools, a kit - Carina Granlund (Finland)

Carina's mail art creates a world that beams with happy potential.  All the characters are hopeful, of excessive beauty, power, strength, wise beyond their years, more playful than you can imagine. Having said that, nothing could have prepared me for the delights of this parcenvelope!

Wrapped in a map of Africa was this slightly manically methodical stamped brown paper envelope. What does it mean?  It means Carina is so much more organised than I can ever hope to be...  

Unwrap the map, open the envelope and find the fat lady and the cobra plastic/fabric/buttoned boekie.

Of course I'm enchanted. 

 Apparently my lucky number is eight.  I have my own bauble-bottle-cap to remind me.

The back makes me adjust my undergarments, do a few pilates pelvic tilts and wonder, is this a calorie counter, an exercise tracker, a place to record your worst nightmares?

OH no!  It is a (drawing) kit, Carina's latest obsession! Lucky me X 8! Phew, she doesn't think I need to go on a diet, I just need to draw more.