It’s an Aerogram!

Do you remember aerograms?  Aerograms were a single sheet of paper with gummed edges that had to be folded and sealed.   No enclosures were permitted, and you could not even use tape to seal them.  The cost was less than sending an airmail letter.   

In 1985, aerograms came franked with 36¢ postage.  It cost more than sending a postcard via airmail (33¢) but less than an airmail letter (44¢). The cost difference today seems quite insignificant even considering it was nearly 40 years ago.  But when you’re a student, you’ll always do something to save a few cents. 

 

You could fill the aerogram with as much writing as you could fit — write small or better yet, use a typewriter.  The rule was you just couldn’t put anything inside an aerogram. 

 

In the 1990s, as more people started having access to email, the aerogram was destined to become obsolete.  The U.S. Postal Service discontinued them in 2006.  In Britain they lasted until 2012. Very few countries offer them anymore. Australia still has them for sale. 

At a recent San Francisco Correspondence Co-op meeting I found these unused aerograms on the swap table. I knew I had to take them to do a series of mail art. I wonder if some of my recipients will even know what aerograms are.

  

Mail Art from Russia

Last week there was a slip in the P.O. Box forcing me to the counter so sign for some registered mail.  I wonder why would someone be sending mail art that would be registered?  It was a big and fantastic envelope from Stanislav Semkin (aka Virgo) in Russia.  Virgo had some difficulties getting mail through to me.  I am so glad he persisted.

I would appreciate Virgo’s mail art wherever it came from.  But I especially like that it comes out of Russia.  I think back to growing up in Cold War America where the Soviet Union was portrayed as the Evil Empire.  At an early age, I was already suspect of America’s portrayal of the Soviet Union.  Was it all bad?  My trips to Eastern Europe in the 80’s, were mostly to Poland (I have never been to Russia).  My Polish relatives made a great point of making me understand that they hated the Russian government but really liked Russians.  I have known some awesome Russians myself.  We always have to remember that the people are not the government – even in more democratic countries. 

The Cold War is in the past and, decades later, the American rightwing has moved on to other bogeymen.  Their fanatic support of the White House occupant in Putin’s pocket is hard to fathom when you think back to the days when their demigod Reagan was in power.  But enough of that….

This is a great thing about mail art, it fosters human connections.  When governments behave badly, there may be nothing more subversive than when humans connect in spite of the people wielding power.

And no bots are sending me mail art, only really cool people do that.

Full Envelopes

There has been some mail art coming in celebrating recent holidays — well, Valentine’s and Chinese New Year – I haven’t gotten anything for Ground Hog’s Day or Chandeleur (could we turn crêpes into mail art?).  Also, a few envelopes full stuffed full of goodies:

1. Valentine mail art from Katerina Nikoltsou in Greece.
2. A Blue and Green hand-stitched, collaged postcard from Rebecca Guyver.
3. Kate Kaminski’s valentine mail art chooses a palette that defies convention.
4. Barbara Stasiowski turned collaged canvas into postcards to celebrate the Year of the Rooster. This is my favorite piece I have ever received from her!
5. Some belated Pink Mail Art arrived from Mailarta in Canada with a call for self portrait ATC’s (I need to do that).  I love all the postage stamps, but when is one of my Canadian correspondents going to send me a stamp featuring the Buffalo Sabres?
6. ATC’s and more filled a fantastic envelope from Cuan Miles n South Africa. 
7. And finally, two fun-filled envelopes arrived from Virgo in Russia.  That mail from Russia always takes a long time.  I imagine a postman walking across a frozen lake.

New Year’s Mail

2017 is off to a tumultuous start and, while there are horrible people trying to cut America off from the rest of the world, there are those of resisting in many ways.  And just one small act, is to send out positive mail overseas.  It is always a pleasure to receive mail art in return.  Below is a sampling of some of the pieces that arrived in January including from Canada, France, Denmark, the U.K. and Taiwan:

1. According to Cece Chan, Betty Made It!
2. Helene Gath sent mail art from France in response to a show I participated in.
3. Marina Salmaso is one of those mail artists where the envelope is often as much fun as the contents.
4. William Mellott sent a map-inspired piece.
5. E. Coles latest piece will be the new one in the “E. Coles Spot” on my bookcases.
6. An R arrived form R.F. Côté.
7. Maureen Forys sends a sentiment I wholeheartedly agree, we must dump the chump.
8. And finally, preparing this for the year ahead, a calendar-themed book of tickets from Sally Wassink to get us through 2017.

Mail All Over the Map

The latest round of mail art to arrive is a reminder that this is a global adventure with mail coming from close by, just over the hill in Noe Valley to all the way from South Africa.  With additional mail from Québec, British Columbia, Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey and Hungary.  As a twelve year old, I had a few pen pals, but it really has all come full circle for me.  Here are some of the latest pieces:

1. Two pieces from my Remove-and-Pass series came back.  Both used postcards of a map collage I did back in 2003.  There was one from Torma Cauli in Budapest. 
2. Another arrived from Meral Agar in Istanbul.
3. A new piece of recycled material from the school kids in the Netherlands.  We are getting ready to plan the second Pink Mail Art show – I am going to be putting these kids to work soon.
4. A marvelous little booklet with postal history from Pamela Gerard.
5. Adrienne Mason also sent a great ephemera-filled handmade book as well.
6. Kerosene (aka Carolyn Oord) sent a map-themed postcard that can even teach me a little French.
7. Angela Behrendt sent a photo piece commemorating President Obama’s latest trip to Germany.
8. And finally, a fantastic haul from Cuan Miles.  I love it all, and I need to get myself a Nelson Mandela rubber stamp!

Time to get back to making art and ready for our mail art extravaganza this weekend with the San Francisco Correspondence Coop celebrating its 5^th Anniversary.