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Mail Art Basics

Instead of Introduction Perhaps you have never stumbled across Mail Art in your life. In that case you just discovered one of the right spots on the web. Those of you who know about Mail Art and regularly participate may disregard this page or use it as a short refresher course. Basic Theory of Mail Art Any original piece of "art" mailed through the mail qualifies as Mail Art. The only restriction on Mail Art is your imagination and Post Office rules and regulations. There have been some weird things sent through the mails. Long painted wood sticks, carved watermelon, balloon filled with water, beer cans, small paintings on canvas and other things. Anyone can participate in Mail Art. That's the beauty of this art movement. You, a complete novice, can take part. I encourage to do so. How It Works Find an invitation to participate in a particular project. These invitations are called Calls for Entries. The Mail Art Calls for Entries are posted on web pages of mail artists. Start with the links on my Mail Art page. Select a call you like. Usually the theme or subject is given without much detail. You interpret the theme any which way you choose. Usually size and medium is specified. Prepare the piece. Most mail artists are working in collage or some print medium. But you are not restricted - be inventive! Once you have completed your art, put the requested information on the back. The usually requested information is your name and address and title of the piece. Then address it, afix the correct postage and mail it. You can make the address and postage part of your design. Any cancellation stamps that the post office uses becomes part of the "art". What Happens Next Usually, the Calls for Entries will tell you whether your art will be exhibited, when and where. Normally all art is accepted as there are no juries. It is customary to exhibit all entries on a web page of the originator of the call. You will also receive documentation. This may be as simple as a list of participants. Or it may be an elaborate printed program of the exhibition. When you receive an unsolicited Mail Art from anyone it is expected that you will reciprocate and send your mail art to the sender. Mail Art is a loosely organized volunteer world wide network. Join, you won't regret it! Mail Art Calls Mail Art Calls are invitations to participate in a specific project. You can place your own calls for entries once you get your feet wet in the Mail Art and respond to few calls. This will give you experience and you will learn the ropes. Advertise calls any which way you can. Internet is the best and most economical way. Snail Mail or e-mail Mail Art was meant to be sent through the regular mail - Snail Mail. Today, lot of mail art is being sent by e-mail or by fax. I personally think that e-mail is e-mail and has nothing to do with the original intention of Mail Art. Call me a purist, but I want to see the stamps and post office cancellations. Many Mail Art projeccts are centered around the post office cancellations. But it is up to you. Handles and Nicknames It is customary for mail artists to use a handle, and artistic pseudonym or a nickname. Many artists create various fictitious characters, even places. Artistamps Artistamps is a term used for stamps issued by mail artists. The artistamps are designed and issued as real stamps except that they are not intended to replace the regular postage. That would be forgery. Instead, artistamps are used in addition of regular postage or are issued as mail art. They are printed in sheets just like regular postage stamps. The minimum emission should be at least 10 sheets. The artistamps may be gummed or ungummed, perforated or not, and should, as much as practical, look like and feel like regular postage stamps. Many artistamps artists create their own fictitious countries or entities. If you are creative enough you can create whole nations and their histories on artistamps.

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