Last week, we explored a lot of different links about mail art. There’s a lot more information than just that, though, so let’s continue.
To really dive deeply into this subject, I highly suggest you read Effects on the Internet on the Correspondence Art Network, by Honoria Madelyn Starbuck, Ph.D. The research presented in this collection of links is very in-depth, almost mathematical.
Venturing beyond this to other projects will lead you to one of my favorites, Graceful Envelopes. This is a yearly contest sponsored by National Association of Letter Carriers and administered by the Washington Calligraphers Guild. "In addition to promoting the art of calligraphy, the Graceful Envelope Contest celebrates the role of letters in binding people together and serves as a reminder that the people who deliver the mail are career government employees who take pride in their work and care about the communities they serve." Follow this link for the 2006 call for artists.
Another exciting mail art practice is the passing of books and journals between artists. There's something about receiving a book full of thoughts and art, some personal to the artist and some not. There are several useful methods for this practice; among them are the following examples:
Another avenue of multi-media mail artist interest is the creation and collection of ATCs. Wikipedia.com defines these artist trading cards as: 2 ½ x 3 ½ inch (64 x 89 mm) miniature works of art which artists trade with one another, similar to the way people trade sports cards. ATCs are a relatively new art form which formally began in September 1996. The concept was created by Swiss artist M. Vänçi Stirnemann. They can be any medium: textile arts, pencil, watercolor, acrylic, oil, collage, scratch board, mixed media - anything the creative mind of the artist can think up. Artist Trading Cards are produced as originals, as limited editions, or as a series. You can create a cutting template and ATC envelopes to house your creations.
