That horrid little bag

It is always sad to receive mail in in one of those little sorry-the-machine-ate-your-mail plastic bags from the post office.  Yesterday, I found the latest piece from the Artist in Seine (aka Dean Marks) had arrived from France in just one of those bags.  This one put on by the post office in Reno.  Well at least now I know my international mail arrives in San Francisco via Reno.

Dean always sends amazingly elaborate pieces and I am often surprised they make it through.  I actually think this latest one is intact – I suspect the pharmaceutical theme might have just raised some eyebrows up there in Reno.  I love it and will keep it out of reach of children.

Variations on a barcode Op. 84

I receive some great artwork in the mail.  Yesterday something truly amazing was waiting for me in my PO Box.  Dean Marks sent me Variations on a barcode Op. 84 from France. First off, that it arrived without an envelope and made it in all it’s three-dimensional, non-standard size glory from France in under 10 days is an accomplishment in itself.  Like myself, Dean understands the need to preserve ephemera that may not be around much longer.   Particularly by incorporating it into art.  On the back of the card he states:

“It seems clear to me now that RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) will replace barcodes in the near future.  At first I thought to start a campaign to save this endangered species.  But then again, maybe we should let it become extinct.  Besides, it will always have its place in Art.”

And, most importantly of all, it just looks really, really cool!