Bunny Invasion in San Francisco

Under the watchful eye of Abraham Lincoln, Australian artist Amanda Parer’s installation titled Intrude has arrived in Civic Center Plaza across from City Hall.  It looks like the five, large inflatable bunnies are trying to blend in with the blob-like, white electric cars parked on the street — but you can’t miss them.  They are amusing, and just a little menacing.   The only things missing would be hundreds of ordinary, white balloons scattered all over the plaza as “bunny droppings” — considering all the poo on our sidewalks, it seems the thing to do.  The bunnies are only around until April 25, 2016 and worth a look.

An Eclectic Mix

The mail art I receive can always be called eclectic, but the recent arrivals, well, see for yourself:

1. First of all, I am grateful Virgo is persistent.  Mail art sent last fall from Russia got returned by the USPS (the correct address was used).  Virgo sent that one and another which arrived safely in an awesome, large envelope.
2. Barbara Stasiowski received my Remove-and-Pass piece, sent a bit back to me and has already forwarded it on.
3. Pia Z sent a valentine and must know I (yes I admit it), play the lottery.  I also kind of like it when a postmark “mars” the mail art – it some how authenticates it in a way.
4. More envelope awesomeness, this time from E.Coles — the hexagonal, handmade envelope included a round, stitched piece as well as some paint chips.  I am still collecting those for future mail art.  In England the shades of brown are named Velvet Truffle which leads me to believe that Nigella must be naming the paint colors over there.
5. Nico van Hoorn’s latest piece included some stamped cannabis leaves.  Just the other day I signed the petition for this fall’s ballot referendum to legalize marijuana in California.  Maybe one day we’ll be able to legally and safely send edible treats via the post – but not yet.
6. A new wintery, rainy piece form Meral Agar in Istanbul.
7. Some freak show mail art came form Kathy Barnett after I sent her a carnival-themed piece in response to her mail art call.
8. Star Art from Katerina Nikoltsou
9. One last valentine, this one from Angelique Evans.
10. And finally, not mail art, but this candy wrapper arrived in the mail from a friend in Australia.  He wanted to shock me with the idea of vegemite flavored chocolate.  Dreadful.  Watch for this wrapper in out going mail, it’s now in my box of collage fodder.

Thanks to all my senders for the fun and yes, eclectic, mail art.

Mail Art and the Fulton Letters

Today’s out going mail includes two pieces for which I brought out my old Fulton Sign & Price Markers set.  I have been using these letters since I was about 10 years old. You can find examples in some older series of my art and the letters were also featured in the 2011 Project (more background here).  The antique sign making kit dates back to the 19th Century so it seemed an appropriate tool when creating when responding to a mail art call for the 100th Anniversary of Dada.  The Dada piece is off to Brazil.  And another mail art call from Italy was asking for The Sign of the Artist.

Remove-n-Pass Mail Art

As a mail artist I have participated in and as well as started some add-n-pass pieces of mail art.  I also have postcards printed when I am having an exhibit of my work.  Quite a few times mail artists have modified those postcards and sent them back to me.    This time, instead of an add-n-pass, I am starting a remove-n-pass.  The enclosed instructions say:

1. Enclosed is one my postcards from a previous exhibit.  Part of it has already been removed.
2. Remove part(s) of the original postcard.
3. You may keep the piece, or maybe use it in another piece of mail art to send back to me or to someone else. You may modify the remaining postcard if you wish.
4. Please mail the remaining original postcard with these instructions to another artist.
5. Repeat.
6. Eventually, one of the recipients should return what remains of the original to me. 

Quail, Pigs, Poppies, Superheroes and more....

It’s always nice to have a pile of mail waiting for me in the post office.  Last Friday there were quite a few gems, here are some highlights:

1. Gregg Biggs at the Museum of Unclaimed Ephemera sent a zine, Concerning Eldridge, about a life lead in Detroit.
2. Sagebrush Moderne repurposed one of my own postcards into a piece of valentine mail art.
3. From Germany, comes Angela Behrendt’s tribute piece to the mail artist Ray Johnson.
4. Not the condor, but the California Quail (Callipepla californica) is California’s state bird. StripyGoose made a cool tribute to our beloved quail that migrated all the way from the UK.
5. A new oversized and stapled postcard arrived form R.F. Côté in Québec.
6. A surprise envelope arrived from South Africa with mail art at ATC’s from Cuan Miles.
7. Some hand-stitched grooviness from Rebecca Guyver in the UK.
8. And finally, poppies and pigs from Torma Cauli in Hungary.

As always, a big thank you, and if you have been sending me mail art, keep an eye out for something in return, I have been sending out a lot lately.