The friends we make - a mail art story with stickers

I love this story and the follow-on letter and art work in this mailing. Everything they all say is true!  Joel reaches out, shares and then has shared this good news story so we all feel a little better about this mixed up world we live in!  Thank you. Go Mail art!

Conversing with Ben Westley Clarke

A few weeks ago I was on that annoying train from London to Stowmarket that isn't really a train.  It's an underground, a bus and finally a train. It takes forever. I had been to see my NY running partner of thirty years ago's daughter, who I'd never met.  We had a thoroughly wonderful day visiting the Tate.  I had left home early that morning and had zillions of things to do at home before I went to Maine.  I was the second person on the bus and I knew I wanted an aisle so I asked the young man who was already seated if he minded if I sat next to him.  That young man was Ben Westley Clarke and it turned out that we had a lot to talk about, so I never read my book, or wrote my list… instead we gabbed the whole way to the final train.

Here's a link to Ben's website, although this time it looks as if you can't see much of his work.  He must be 'spring cleaning'. http://www.benwestleyclarke.com. Not only did Ben grow up in Ipswich, he loves to paint and draw and to teach. I am absolutely delighted to have these original prints from Ben! His painting work reminds me of the German Expressionists and the bottom print (for me) is reminiscent of Toulouse Lautrec! Wow he makes great marks and look at how they are composed, poetry! And they smell like a print studio.

Things argue and then get lost

I am finally beginning to blog the leftover items (before I went to Maine) and the new mail art (while away and since I've been back). David's has been resting in the clam shell of pending for a few weeks. So it's funny that I'm blogging about stuff on the day that I searched for lost stuff in amongst the stuff FOR HOURS.  For sure I was not happy.  In the end I ordered a new bank card and found the phone number of the man who'd called to ask me to change something he'd bought from a gallery in Southwold at the bottom of a bag under the mail art I will traipse around Bury with today, trying to get someone to hang it because the people who had found a place hadn't really. Every day I shuffle stuff and spend too much time wondering where I put THAT. A stuff less world would be utopia, sort of. Ha, ha.

David, like me, obviously sees stuff as fodder and saves stuff because of its fodder potential or because he has delusions of grandeur that he will be even more important than he is, but I don't believe that. David just likes to draw and think and write a stream of consciousness and share and I can relate to that and this mailing made me smile from ear to ear.

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Drumroll!  

I have mail art from the Sticker Dude, 

David Stafford, Ed Giecek, Ben Westley Clarke, 

Lucy Perry and BG x 2  on deck.  

I hope to have some time over the next few days!  

I am excited to look at the mail art 

and trust you are keen to see what I've got too.

FAKE FAKE FAKE FAKE fake EAKF Fake fake stickers

Will be taking these FAke president stickers with me to America, but think I'll put them in my checked luggage, just in case my hand luggage is inspected at the border… And above is the back of the ATC at the bottom right of the Fake president sticker collection. GREAT!

Unfortunately on this crazy news day I am tethered to getting my house in order before I go to Maine where I will contribute to garden boot camp. And I can't use my art umbrella to calm my frayed nerves.

part of the envelope containing the stickers and below:

I'm afraid this will be an abreviated post… I have a lot of packing to do. Joel's other letter is in my clam shell letter holder and will need to wait until my return.  David Stafford, I'm afraid I wouldn't do your wonderful looking envelope (no idea of contents) justice either!
Thank you  thank you! I return in the 20s of May.

Clowns Mail art call - Cascadia Artist and Mail art Martha

Three mail art calls in one week! phew! I will try to send to all but will certainly be sending to this one!  One of my childhood memories is being on Bozo the Clown for my birthday!  I jumped out of a box and blew kisses. Huge doodle possibilities here!  Thank you Mail art Martha and Cascadia Art Post.  I will try to send one to each!

Black and White mail art call from Mzia Valerian (Belgique)

Mail art call (DES) FRONTEIRAS from Thais - University Cultural Center in the city of Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil

A Virus Named Chuck

This is a Virus named Chuck

I love mail art like this one from David Stafford that exists right on the point of inspiration.  And Chuck, the amorphous virus is the kind of creature you'd like to be your friend. The joy of creation is almost palpable. The crayon must have been warm when David put Chuck in the envelope.  It's left a shadow on the inside of the envie.

It's great that Chuck is gonna have friends. I am also interested to find out what adventures they will get up to and what adversity they will overcome. No doubt global pandemics will prove fertile writing ground!

Meanwhile, Patrick seems to have his second virus of the season.  I am hiding out in the studio avoiding the infested air. But it makes me happy to think that viruses might be similar to humans, only much, much smaller, of course.

Alternative Skype

Katy Kehoe is a zentangle wizard!         http://katykehoezentangle.blogspot.co.uk.  And this one is made with coloured pencils.

When I look at abstract work my first way in is to look for characters.  That turqouise and green fellow is full of confidence and charisma.  Lavender is more reserved and maroon and fuscia is elegant.  They jostle for position. They meet in a room with decorations and colours to die for. My first reading doesn't jive with Katy's own assessment of her handiwork. She says 'coloured pencil zentangle needs work' and 'unfortunate about the brown frame on left.' What I find is it's flummoxing the way sometimes people flock to the stuff that you made that makes you wince and they are indifferent to the one thing that gives you goosebumps. This alternative skype message has come to the right home!  Thank you, Katy.  I love it.

A new series in the making

I took on a local mail art initiative.  Actually, it was my idea and someone followed up on it and I said yes.  That's my current excuse for why you aren't getting any mail art from me and why I am a bit slow blogging.  But to be fair,  I was sick for weeks and I've had lots of art things making demands on my mail art time! I have been sending mail art back to the people who send me stuff for the local thing - Suffolk Open Studios Mail art: http://suffolkopenstudiosmailart.blogspot.co.uk.  

The idea is that if we hang local artists mail art in a good central location we can attract people to visit their studios from further afield. It's been a little hard for people to get the idea.  So I feel I need to send stuff in a timely manner back to them so they get the concept that it's a trade and have a positive mail art experience. In other words, those of you who I should have sent stuff to have been bumped down the list to make way for this other stuff!

I have about 15 more to send to… so this afternoon I decided to make some things that interest me using some photos I chopped up a few years ago that I found in a box of stuff I bought at the car boot sale. I did a few postcards when I chopped them up in the first place and I loved the results and because I've been using lots of fused plastic, and think about Diebenkorn when I make those (often) I figured, what better way to spend a Friday afternoon!

Now it's time to go back to the house to do chores.  I promise to blog the four enticing pieces I have had in my crab shell letter holder for a few days, or more, (FROM YOU)  tonight.  and if there's time I will make some more of these.  I will save the best ones for you guys.

Sign me up for the silver home plan!

This 20 x 8 cm postcard is mail art's answer to a programme we have here on the BBC called 'the unbelievable truth'.  Contestants, who happen to be stand-up comedians, try to smuggle truths past other contestants (also comedians).  It's very funny.  This card from Lucky Pierre is also funny.

The company, Defense one Termites actually exists.  I googled it. but that devlish red faced El Maligno bears a remarkable resemblance to someone who is in the news a lot… Can you recognise him?

Fab digital-demon-adding, Lucky.  Any chance you can eliminate him if I get the silver home plan? I love it!
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