Marie Wintzer: Repetitions 4 Love C 1

When Marie's envelope landed in my mailbox I was swamped by work in schools and family stuff, not to mention the 25 years of IUOMA mail art exhibition al Old House and my fusepo.  So, I made a decision not to open it until I had appreciated all the other things that came before that I hadn't yet looked at with care. One always WANTs to open a Wintzer envelope, though. I'm sure having it by my computer, reminding me, made me more focused and determined. This bareback rider reminds me of the Pompei exhibit currently at the Vand A in London.  Beautiful colour and simplicity and a playful air that Marie has taken advantage of when she puts my name in his cape? 

Marie has been making Repetitions http://mariesmailbox.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/repetitions.html she tells me she's 'just playing with pencils' but I see lots of repetition of form, colour, and a playfulness, how ideas might be born. I see figures flowing out of the pills, jelly beans, sleeping tablets - a valley of dolls legs, wild dreams with men riding bareback,  but maybe that's just me! 

As ever, Marie leaves me wondering and wanting more!  Thank you Marie.

o.pen-hearth - Diane Keys

Diane tells us she is playing with paint.  If you look on her website: http://dianekeys.blogspot.co.uk you will see a range of her trashpo with paint. She seems to be transporming her raw trash, underscoring and masking words as she plays.  You never know how much is intentional and how much we read into other people's work but I love the way I see 'o.pen-hearth, 'call mom'  and see the repetition of the image in the bottom left with the bigger boob shape that dominates the pink middle.

Diane hoped the glue would hold and I can confirm that it did! On the other side are phlox and apple stamps too, echoing the colours on the front.

Love this new direction, Diane!

Mail art from Mailart Martha

Received these from Martha when my scanner/printer was on the fritz, hence the photo.  Martha talks about the weather in England not being so spectacular.  That's the great thing about the weather... it changes and to be honest I can't remember anything but the long sunny days and barbeques at the top of the field now. 

Martha went to St Ives and says it was beautiful in the rain. Her picture captures that.  Me thinks there must be lots of old tin mines in that part of England, Patrick has a way of sniffing them out.  As for cows, Ruby reds, or not.  I am fairly terrified of them. but this one is a charmer.

Love the signature Retalia figure and the envelope too.  Thank you Mailart Martha!

Aristide 3108 28062013 ENCARTED

Aristide has done what we all wonder about doing, Aristide has taken that sheet of Ryosuke Cohen and re-configured it (ENCARTED) it and the result is beautiful! at Tic Tac's blog http://tac-tictac.blogspot.co.uk I learned that similar encarted pieces form part of 'zine in a box'. 

The feel of the card is wonderful.  The way the colour recedes and comes forward is a colour study in itself. I love tiny envelopes ever since hong pau envelopes in Singapore.  Aristide's is simple and quiet, but exact. the ghostly envelope that holds it all with it's bold red stamp and the word ENCARTED in sync with the postage stamp all just fabulous!  Thank you Aristide!

Vizma Bruns IUOMA MOBMA submission WHAT IS PORTRAITURE?

I will quote Diane Key's comment from the IUOMA website about this entry, as I think I will need to bear it in mind when it comes time to making decisions, and awarding prizes! 'If this is Vizzez' self portrait, I am very concerned about her. I don't know that I've ever seen a collage like this--I think it qualifies for MOBMA's 'kitchen sink' category.'

I will need advice from Vizma here, though, Viz is this a portrait? I hope it is.  I love the idea of taking the theme beyond the expected figurative domain!

Matte Stolte Oceans (Big Gulp)

Matt Stolte was a contributer to a collaborative VISPO book jointly coordinated by Cheryl Penn and De Villo Sloan. Matt told me then that he has been practiing visual poetry since 1998.  He lives in Madison Wisconsin. As a newcomer to VISPO, myself, I am inspired and interested in Matt's work and commented on a DVS blog. http://minxuslynxus2.wordpress.com/2013/06/12/minxus-mail-bag-from-oceans-parts-1-4-visual-poetry-by-matthew-stolte-madison-visconsin-usa/ I think that is why Matt sent me not ONE but Two envelopes full of samples of his Big Gulp material. Thank you Matt!

Matt's envelope has significant (to me) RG letters on it.  I notice the repetition of form, my initials from the front.  I open up the VISPO box with the pages I received 1  1/2 years ago, remembering vaguely the textual form of Matt's work  Matt and see that there is paint stamped pink 'R' on that envelope too.  Like this envelope, the feel is satisfying.

Matt's writing and imagery take me to the sea, beautiful and also cautionary.

Not sure what you do with a tag and pass but will do something and send this on. The text England, a farm house... is Matt saying something to me?

This is the contents of envelope one and next is the contents of envelope two.

Wonderful to see Matt's work and looking forward to seeing the bigger book that is coming out of his  TLBs (Tacky Little Booklets).  See more work from Matt at: http://constructionsea.blogspot.com/

Susan McAllister (Berkeley) - Nothing More Natural

Susan has sent me beautiful colourful painted cards in the past, card's I've loved, so I was surprised when I saw another side to Susan on MinXus Lynxus: http://minxuslynxus2.wordpress.com/2013/05/09/minxus-mail-bag-mail-art-minus-the-heart-from-susan-mcallister-berkeley-california-usa/. Surprised, but interested and impressed.  It funny the way one chooses the mail one sends, based on an inkling of what the person likes or wants. Susan tells me she is surpised I have only ever received her tamer mail art so in her inclusive way, I guess she decided to send me what she describes as this 'funky' card , 'what others might call weird,' piece.
I love the xerox feel, the way it take sme back to black and white movies, the clunky special effects and for me, the bad dreams.  And those letters 'TPD' whisper something prehistoric in my ear. Very scary.
Thank you Susan!