Another Piece of Mail Art

Here is an image of a piece that I created for a friend. I had so much fun making this and hope that I will find time to make several more after this weekend is over. Unfortunately I have some prior commitments that I must contend with, but after Saturday I should be able to focus again on making art and mail art.

Of course this piece is really just a little collage. I have not added anything original to the piece itself, but it is fun and personal all the same. Unfortunately I was not able to just slap a stamp on it to send it out of concern for the plexi element. But... oh well. I am really liking the addition of plexiglas to an artwork and think I will try to incorporate more of this material into larger works as well as use it for small jewelry pieces.

And So It Begins...

Why make art to send via the US postal service? Well, why not? I for one am rather tired of emails, text messages, status updates, and the like. I don't particularly like the instant gratification of cell phones and cheap (or "free") long-distance, either. It is not that I don't like to be able to "reach out and touch someone" as the old slogan goes, but the lack of personal effort involved in modern modes of communication are an irritant to me. Call me old-fashioned, I guess. I am alright with that.

So, here is the challenge: send an original artwork to friends, family, and other loved-ones. I am attempting to reconnect at a different level with the people I care about and slow down a little in the age of communication, take it back a few degrees to the days when we waited for letters to arrive, until the weekend to make a long-distance call...

This concept is not new or anything, and I would never attempt to say otherwise, but I think it is a great way to enjoy communication again.

In an effort to share a little of what I am sending and, hopefully, receiving, I plan to post here photos of those pieces sent and received. Of course, leave it to my dear friend, Todd, to be the first to send! So, here is an image of one side of his mail art that I received today. I won't publish return addresses or the like, so if you care to participate, please do! The address to mail works to is:

Becky Hopkins

232 Truckee Lane

San Jose, CA 95136