"Unfinished Business" - Postcard Collective Summer 2016

Keys to previous places called "home" are on my mind. I searched the archives and found an image for a set that stares me down from a plastic bag day after day.

This is leading somewhere ... I promise.

Soaked in the Great Salt Lake Redux

Last year nearly to the day, Kyla Tighe photographed me dipping paper in the Great Salt Lake for the Postcard Collective. [image above courtesy of Kyla].

I sent one to Mail Artist Ernst Richter from Berlin and something started happening (and continues to this day). My postcard has traveled all over the world and the documentation appeared in my mailbox for the first 44 days and in my inbox everyday thereafter. Ernst also paid very close attention to my influences and references to them are also present. Below are some of the highlights followed by one more action in the name of art that occurred at Spiral Jetty on 1st May.

"A Fake Cake and a Fake Cake" [Ernst Richter]

"Two Berliners and Newspaper" [Ernst Richter]

"With Sleeping Cat Henry, Berlin-Ruhleban" [Ernst Richter]

"With wrapped bathing trunks. Forumbad Olympiastadion, Berlin-Charlottenburg" [Ernst Richter]

"With the hands of 3 Berlin-born brothers. Berlin-Spandau" [Ernst Richter]

"Inside Richard Serra, Berlin Junction. Philharmonie, Berlin-Tiergarten" [Ernst Richter]

"Salt-Spiral, Water and Card. Berlin-Ruhleben" [Ernst Richter]

"Yellow Friday in Berlin" (After Sophie Calle's Chromatic Diet) [Ernst Richter]

"Riezler Alpsee, Austria" [Ernst Richter]

"A well in Hittisau, Austria" [Ernst Richter]

"Berlin Wall" [Ernst Richter]

"In the river bed of  the Bregenzerache, Austria" [Ernst Richter]

"Waldfriedhof Heerstrasse, Berlin-Charlottenburg" [Ernst Richter]

"Fence post 82. Murellenteich, Berlin" [Ernst Richter]

"Fence post 53. Murellenteich, Berlin" [Ernst Richter]

"Fence post 9. Murellenteich, Berlin" [Ernst Richter]

The Berlin Born Brothers' father then took the postcard to Thailand (and later it visited Spain). The above three photographs are from the first trip.

I then took Ernst and the Berlin Born Brothers back to Spiral Jetty...

... this year's place where circles are closed. Thanks, Ernst and the Berlin Born Brothers (and their father), for keeping my love of Mail Art alive.

Mail in the New Year

Great things in the mail arriving this month, reminding me of the past and wishing good things for the future (none of which deal with the Postcard Collective but I am gearing up for that in early February).

A book Li made after our trip to Stewart Island, New Zealand in 1998.

A postcard from Lisa reminding me of home.

A painted Moleskin and New Year's greeting from Eric and Yoonmi.

All of this inspired me to send something of my own to an address in Los Angeles featuring a found photograph, some of the contents of my wallet, and a list. My first typed correspondence on the Skyriter. Hoping to share the response soon.

A Postcard Written by Robert Morris to Sam Wagstaff in 1967

On a typewriter no less... [image via]

Response to "There are Precedents"

Sixteen months ago, I received this in the mail from James Luckett. I pinned it to the studio wall, vowing to answer it, knowing full well I could never do it with as much justice as the original.

Front of There are Precedents by James Luckett

Back of There are Precedents by James Luckett

My response is nowhere near as compelling as James's but it is done. I wrote the text at Ucross and printed it this week. I am looking forward to seeing what Jennifer Hall does with it next.

In the meantime, I have since received the artwork, postcards, book, and typewriter ribbon above from James. Too many things to like. Too many things to do.

On another note, we are participating in a panel discussion at the next Society for Photographic Education conference in Baltimore in March on the Postcard Collective. We will be spreading the love of Mail Art. Hope to see you there.

Postcard Collective Blog

I am trying to rekindle my relationship with the Postcard Collective Blog. There will be more artist's interviews in the future but in the meantime, I have started a "Favorite Mail Art" series. First up... Gordon Matta-Clark's Photo-Fry. Check it out on the link above.

"Return to Sender" - John Waters

I have inhabited the space in front of the computer for the last 5 hours trying to minimize the desk pile thinking how far behind I am on the Postcard Collective mass exchange. I wish I had thought of this series first but John Waters beat me to it. Return to Sender includes a blank sheet of paper stuffed in an envelope. He addressed the letters to dead celebrities at their previously known addresses. The postman (or current resident) makes them the work of art. Waters photographs them as the end product.