Monday Morning Mail Art Call: Who is Eduardo Munez?

Mail art calls are a dime a dozen, or so it seems. It doesn’t take long for me to browse around and find a call that inspires me to create.

The Who is Eduardo Munez Project is one such call. I was intrigued from the moment I read a dear art friend’s blog post featuring her contribution to the project. Juana Almaguer’s post can be seen here: http://www.juanaalmaguer.com/2016/02/eduardo-munez-mail-art.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+JuanaAlmaguer+%28Juana+Almaguer%29

Who is Eduardo Munez? The question itself is mysterious. The project begins and ends with mail. It culminates in a film that features mail artists worldwide. I invite you to learn more and to consider participating by clicking here: http://www.whoiseduardom.blogspot.co.uk/

Check back every Monday morning for more in my new series, Monday Morning Mail Art Call. My hope is that you will find calls that inspire you to create, to participate in the continuing global phenomenon that is mail art.

The studio calls… I’ll be working on my contribution for the Who is Eduardo Munez Project this week.

Happy Trash to you, until we meet again!

 

 

Angels and Daemons

Much thought had been given to what I might possibly create for the Angels and Demons mail art call issued by Funf Blanks, Germany.

So much so, that I wrote a piece before my hands got involved.

Somewhere between the dark and light,                                                                               Lines fade and blur wrong and right.                                                                                     Our daemons attack us in the light—                                                                                    No angels can save us from the night.

The simplicity of the image is complemented by the accompanying poetry.

Just goes to show that the end result doesn’t always gel with the initial vision.

Happy Trash to you, until we meet again!

 

 

Affirmations of a Confident Woman

The White Shadows mail art call has been on my radar for a few months now. Ideas have flitted through my brain, only to be dismissed as “not quite right.”

Over the weekend, inspiration finally took hold and this is what transpired…

‘Affirmations of a Confident Woman’ turned out far better than I ever thought it might.

Christy Tomlinson (Scarlet Lime) developed this cool line of products with Pink Paislee, of which the white printed coffee filter paper is a part. It worked really well for my purposes here. I particularly like the shading that occurred as the gel medium (used to adhere the piece to black card stock) dried. It brought a depth to the piece that I did not expect.

Happy Trash (and Memorial Day!) to you, until we meet again!

 

 

SEE! SEE? SEE!

Among my most recent endeavors was a postcard created for the SEE mail art call.

As you can SEE this magazine collage piece was a most literal translation of the theme.

Red Head, Red Head, what do you SEE? I SEE a tarantula staring at me!

Happy Trash to you, until we meet again!

 

 

Swap Season?

Postcard swaps are unusually appealing to me this winter.

Maybe that’s because it’s been such a harsh one. Bitter temperatures have combined with record snow totals further reinforcing my instincts to hibernate. Yet, there is a small, still voice inside of me that keeps looking for the light, reaching for the outside, yearning to bring it in.

Participating in postcard swaps is a way of doing that without leaving the comfort of hearth and home.

This week, I registered to participate in the 7th Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap.

The theme for this swap is CREATE. Stitching can be incorporated into your design any way you wish. Do you use machine stitching in your artwork? Is hand embroidery your thing? Rub-ons are great for faux stitching! Do whatever floats your boat!

You are given a swap partner and need only make one postcard. It’s that simple.

Won’t you join me in the 7th Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap? The image above is an active link, or you can click on the the badge in the right-hand margin of this blog to register.

As always, I’d love to know if you’re participating. Feel free to let me know by commenting below.

Happy Trash to you, until we meet again!

Off to Atlanta!

FRAGILE Eco-Blueprint is finally getting a new home! Taking flight from the Studio at Piney Creek Acres, it is heading south to Atlanta, Georgia for inclusion in the Zalop: Illusory Correspondence Art exhibit at the Eyedrum Art & Music Gallery. (http://www.eyedrum.org/) The exhibit runs from February 15 through March 16, 2014. If you live in or will be visiting the area, stop in to check it out!

This is quite the adventure for a trash bubble whose only view has been the clutter and chaos of art in the making!

You may remember this piece from an earlier post. Find the original here: https://trashbubblesandlifeslittlebits.wordpress.com/2013/05/24/fragile-eco-blueprint/

Many well-wishes will carry this trash bubble on it’s way to its new life!

Now, it’s time to get back in the studio to make more!

Happy Trash to you, until we meet again!

Liberate Your Art 2014 Postcard Swap!

Mail art has been a part of my life for quite a while, but although organized postcard swaps have been on my radar, I have yet to participate in them… until now.

This week, I spent some time looking for mail art calls and found the Liberate Your Art 2014 Postcard Swap at Kat Sloma’s website, http://kateyestudio.com/. I was equally impressed with the way it is organized and the diversity of folks who have participated previously. Last year, there were 216 participants. Kat is hoping to get upwards of 250 folks involved this time around.

Most mail artists keep it organic. By this, I mean that the original art IS the mail. Usually, this is what I stick to, though on occasion, I have printed older pieces and mailed the copies. Here is a link to a previous blog post in which I used this technique: https://trashbubblesandlifeslittlebits.wordpress.com/2014/01/08/the-eyes-have-it/

This swap asks that you try printing your work. You can get as professional as you prefer. I like that Kat gives suggestions as to how to do it yourself with simple supplies and also gives links to her favorite printing options, complete with discounts! The possibilities are endless.

Currently, I am considering this piece (created previously) for my printed postcards, but it is a girl’s prerogative to change her mind!

If you are new to the idea of mail art, or if you have been hesitant about putting your work out there, this is a great way to try it without much effort or fear of criticism. If the idea appeals to you in any way, I encourage you to seriously consider participating!

The sign up is easy. Everything is confirmed and details delivered via email. Use this link to sign up http://kateyestudio.com/liberate-your-art-postcard-swap.

What are you waiting for? You know you want to try it!

Happy Trash to you, until we meet again!

A Little Bird Told Me

A friend’s mother turns 100 years young later this week! What a milestone! What a life she must have lived!

When the call went out for birthday wishes, I answered immediately. Of course I would send something special to help commemorate the occasion!

After some thought, I decided against a traditional birthday greeting. I wanted it to be cheerful, warm and friendly. It wasn’t until I sat down to work, that the vision presented itself.

A little bird told me…

An extension of my nesting birdies series, this one sprang forth from an extra background I had leftover from handmade Christmas cards several years ago.

Please join me in wishing Estelle G. a VERY HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY! by commenting below.

Happy Trash to you, until we meet again!

Fun In The Sun!

Fun in the Sun is my 4 x 6 inch submission to this year’s Skull Appreciation Day mail art call. Our gal might have gotten a tad much sun… She’s red/read all over!

The third annual Skull Appreciation Day event takes place in Chicago, Illinois, May 31, 2013 from 6 pm – 9 pm, at the The International Museum of Surgical Science. On June 4th, the exhibit of mail art moves to Design Cloud. Where it will be on view throughout the evening.

Happy Trash to you, until we meet again!