200 Postcards/Got Mail Art?
by Carola Von Hoffmannstahl-Solomonoff
I love the Post Office. Aka, the Church of Snail Mail. An institution reflecting the fading vision of democratic public services. Churls say the church should cease to exist. Their mantra? Privatize privatize privatize. Buttressed by claims that long distance communication by paper is doomed. So low tech don’cha know. To which I reply–
Got Mail Art?
A project to celebrate the Church of Snail Mail and its most devoted member, Mail Art. My mission: send 200 altered postcards to 200 artists, culling their names and addresses from a list of participants in a large-scale international Mail Art show held last year. I was among the participants and like everyone, received the list as documentation. To keep the postcards a surprise, I’m not identifying the show.
Each postcard bears the question “Got Mail Art?â€
We’ll see what the answer will be…
The postcards range in age from vintage (such as linen-era) to more recent. Rest assured– no rare or unique postcards are being altered for this project. Only generic ones that can stand additions. Thrift stores and yard sales are the source. Pretty much 50 cents a dance. Cheaper by the handful.
Oh yeah– I also love postcards. Little worlds that travel the big one. No digital transmission has the romance. Here are my first 10 travelers:
1. Vicksburg National Military Park w. cupcake wrapper
2. The Hi Heel Hat Lady of Silver Springs, Florida
3. Rainbow Bridge & Couch, Arizona/Utah border
4. The Monster from Clarendon Gorge– Clarendon, Vermont
5. Florida from the bottom of the sea
6. Viva Las Vegas Baby Red Hat
7. Reaper Room, Mark Twain Hotel, Elmira New York
- 8. Hawaii International Market w. Blonde Bombshell
9. Mission San Juan Capistrano, California with cupcake wrapper & cross
- 10. Angel at Holiday Inn, New Stanton, PA.
