Heebee Post #571 - Cheryl Penn - Glen Anil, Kwa-Zulu Natal - South Africa

No doubt about it - Cheryl Penn gets it. She is a force to be reckoned with and the Affair is delighted to find her ponderous and mysterious works in the post box. I love her sewn on shiny clear lamination that make this piece feel important - Like a prized vintage baseball card. The fact that the card remains a secret is a nice touch too - like an unread love-note or an anonymous lover. Sweet!
South African postage is always a delight to see. Those two large stamps are actually hooked together - That is how you buy them? Very interesting. Great work Cheryl - I love your stuff.
Cheryl has an uncanny knack of drawing people together for community projects - and they are invariably a lot of fun. This is the cover of the mini booklet of 8 pages that comprises a 'chapter' of "Circles of your mind" that has about 10 participants. I must admit, my portion of this project is not yet completed and I am feeling badly about that. As Cheryl herself has said "Sometimes life gets in the way". I'll be finishing that up very soon - sorry old girl!
Above is 4 of her pages and together that is an A4 size. Fabulous as you see it here and when put in book (linear) form - 'fun' to read.
The other 4 pages of her 'chapter'. Cheryl actually teaches Mail Art in South Africa and, as you can see, she is a very savvy, encouraging and an extremely creative artist and must be adored by her students.
Thank you very much Cheryl - marvelous work! I also have a couple more mini booklet 'chapters from other artists working on this same project - I'll be showing them off here before too long. To each of you, I apologize for my portion being a bit late (it's been a month!) Ugh! See you in the mail Cheryl. Cheryl Penn Artworks , Cheryl Penn Artistbooks. And Cheryl Penn Collection.

Heebee Post #570 - C.Z. Lovecraft - Westport, Massachusetts - USA

C.Z. makes his reappearance at the Affair with this interesting optical treat of the Classic "Dark Victory". I am quite delighted to get this large and thick postcard because Dark Victory was made in one of my favorite years for major film making - 1939. The Oscar for best actress that year was Vivien Leigh in "Gone with the wind" or surely it would have went to Miss Davis for her terrific role. The extraordinary year for film also included "Mr. Smith goes to Washington", "Goodbye Mister Chips" (which is one of my all time faves - Robert Donat took best Actor over Clark Gable - amazing!), "The Wizard of Oz", "Wuthering Heights", John Ford's "Stagecoach", "Ninotchka" with Greta Garbo, "Beau Geste", "Of mice and men", "Drums along the Mohawk", "Love Affair" and of course "Dark Victory". Anybody think of a better year for the movies?
Your correct address is duly noted my friend - glad that last postcard made it to you even though I transposed a number - ugh! Sure got kick out of your Mail Art - Thank you very much C.Z. - and for the kind words as well!

Heebee Post #569 - Jennifer Kosharek - St. Petersburg, Florida - USA

Jen sure captures the Fluxus Affair 'feel' with this splendid slice of charted romance. It has been a while since my dear friend has submitted something here and she hit the Affair nail right on the head. One of my favorite things in life is reading facial expressions - especially when taken out of context - and this is a lovely example of what I mean. Love it Jen!
The brilliant "eve-n-odd" gallery is a unique shop that is the current brainchild of the very creative Jen and is another of the many gems to be found in beautiful St. Pete. Outsider, Folk, local art, Fluxus, collage and candy! Anything Jen is involved in is automatic fun and it is just oozing out all over this place! See if I am wrong: eve-n-odd and Wee Hoo's Looking Glass.
There are few artists that posses as much energy as this human dynamo. I have been pretty close pals with Jen for a long time and it is really great to see her in all her glory these days with the shop and all. Her current Mail Art project is a fun one as well: Utopia/Dystopia. I'm sending something extra special for your shop my dear. Thank you very much!

Heebee Post #568 - Janet Heritage - Wheatridge, Colorado - USA

I am a big fan of Janet's brilliant collage works and am very happy to have her return to the Affair. Her wide range of imagery and subject matter shine in her world of fantasy and phantasma. Here we find her guilding serious Italian Renaissance work with modern fun. Raphael never looked so good! I love this piece.
The reverse side is a nice little spectacle as well, adorned with IUOMA artistamps and a public service message message to potential Mail Art brigands "Choose kind words". Thank you very much Janet, nice to have you here again.

Heebee Post #567 - Coralette Damme (The Crafty Hag) - St. Petersburg, Florida - USA

The lovely Hag showed up at the Affair with this unusual double headed talisman Snake Charm. Will we be seeing marine life such as this if we spill any more oil into the Gulf? Yeah, we're staying tuned. Thank you very much my dear Coralette for this 'charm' of grave portent!
Nice line-up of delicious vintage US postage on the address side - A tiny bit of irony that one of them should be "Water Conservation"? Coralette is a busy artist and has her thumb in a lot of creative pies. The Crafty Hag and Dread Lippencott's Menagerie.

Heebee Post #566 - William L. Philyaw - Shawnee, Kansas - USA

The Affair is always thrilled to have old friend and mail art visionary William L. Philyaw visit our establishment. I love the parallel universes of the same reality juxtapositioned together here. Boldly arbitrary, sensuous and beautiful in it's irony!
I have been having a rather engaging MA exchange going on with William for some years now, as well as many collaborations and I must say it has been fun. Just had to say that. And get a load of that incredible Romanian Airship postage stamp. What a beauty!
William really puts on a show with this sumptuous assortment of lovely vintage U.S. postage. I genuflect in postal reverence! Thank you very much William - Great work as usual. Addressee.

Heebee Post #565 - From the front page of my little hometown newspaper -Centralia, Washington - USA

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to wow my audience with a tale of the ridiculous from my bizarre neck of the woods. This is actually about 50 miles or so away from here, but seems like my back yard. I didn't print the entire story (trust me, it is dumb), but the little headline is classic! Anybody remember the "Hardy Boys"?
Just for every body's info, this is one big cave! Ape Caves.

Heebee Post #564 - Ria Cabral - Minot, North Dakota - USA

Always nice to have Ria rejoining the fun at the Affair. What a terrific postcard work this is - I can't take my eyes off of it. ""Africa opens windows to the world". It sure seems to be lately! I love this card Ria.
Thank you very much Ria - Since sending this, she has decided to take a little hiatus from mail art for a short while. I hope you are okay my friend and see you when you return. This is lovely work!

Heebee Post #563 - Ryosuke Cohen (Brain Cell - Life Form) - Moriguchi-City, Osaka - Japan

I received this Brain Cell Fractal from Ryosuke just a day or two before catastrophe struck the mighty country of Japan. I am very worried for our wonderful friends and what shall further befall those sturdy, polite and clever people as these agonizing days of repair and survival continue. Ryosuke is pretty far away from the disaster area, but this is a tricky business now. I hope you will stay safe my friend - I love your country and wish the best.
Here is the list of contributors for this Brain Cell (#784). Your name could appear here if you send in some stuff to Ryosuke's ongoing project. It is quite a badge of honor, if you are a mail artist - and if you do not know who Ryosuke Cohen is, you need to check this out: Ryosuke Cohen Official site.
Ryosuke's Bulletin Board. Damn near hurt myself reading this!
The Affair could not be happier to have the mail art Mecca artist Ryosuke Cohen visiting with his stupendous Brain Cell Fractal composition. I have admired his work for years and the Affair also admires his graceful countenance as well (The affair notices things like that)! Thank you very much my friend and your country shall stay in our prayers!

Heebee Post #562 - De Villo Sloan - Auburn, New York - USA

The Affair gives a very warm welcome to De Villo as he arrives with this fine example of 'Asemic Writing' that seems to be all the rage these days at IUOMA. And rightfully so, Wikipedia says: "The open nature of asemic works allows for meaning to occur trans-linguistically; an asemic text may be "read" in a similar fashion regardless of the reader's natural language". I am crazy about this stuff and will creating my own soon.

The Affair agrees, Asemic Writing is interesting, clever and piques the observer's imagination as to it's meanings - just beyond the viewer's comprehension. Thank you very much De Villo. This artist really has a thumb on the mail art pulse and is the host of Asemic Writing for Mail Artists at IUOMA.

Heebee Post #561 - Russell Manning - Dallas, Texas - USA

Nice to have Russell back on the Affair. I cannot view this postcard without thinking about 'The Cliff House', a grand old-time, land mark restaurant that sits at "Lands End", the very tip of the rocky San Francisco peninsula. One of my absolutely favorite places in the world!
Thank you very much Russell. Your super postcard sure brought me a lot of pleasure in memories of the many, many times I have been in the Lands End area. It really made my day!

Heebee Post #560 - Art Tower (Gunter Schwind) - Aschaffenburg - Germany

I really must say, that it is a distinct pleasure to receive something from cousin Arty after his brief hiatus (computer problems - ugh!). Great to see you back in mail art action old man! Our annual meeting in the U.S. had to be postponed this year - times being what they are for us. Ah well - the two Towers shall fly new missions together again at some point. Killer card!
Thank you very much, my dear cousin, your card made my morning on a very rainy day. Something is currently in the mail art oven for you. Be seeing you soon in the post! Art Tower Mail Art.

Heebee Post #559 - Valery Shimanovky - Nizhekamsk, Tartarstan - Russia

Valery Shimanovsky wishes the Affair a happy New Year with his festive postcard that was sent December 6 2010 - 3 1/2 months ago! It sure seems that the postal service between two major countries could be a bit quicker than 3 1/2 months! Not the first time either! I love trading work with Valery and some other Russian friends, but I have come to expect long travel times for the snailiest mail ever. Doesn't mean I'll stop, in fact something on the way to you tomorrow Valery!
Check out the fantastic appeal of the beautiful Russian postage used on the card. Happy New year to you my friend - something special going to you this time. Hope you get it before summer! Thanks Valery.

Heebee Post #558 - Dopesick SF - Plymouth, Massachusetts - USA

'The King' causes a bit of a stir at the Affair with his sparkly presence - compliments of Dopesick SF (whom I thought was in San Francisco - Did you move?). Ladies and Gentlemen, Elvis is in the House!
I've been seeing a lot of Dopesick work around the internet lately - nice to see you around again. Love these little pop iconic pieces. Thank you very much!

Heebee Post #557 - Frips - Gent - Belgium

Veteran Mail Artist Frips appears on the Affair with a mighty dose of her distinctive and delightful work. The envelope was bulging with all manner of mail art mayhem!

An 'Add and Pass' (1 of 3) that was included in the fun pack. Can you see where I added my new "Happy Mail Trails" insignia?

These delicate bunny Artistamps are just cool and perfectly Frippish! Love her style and technique.
This Mail Call was included. Soccer anyone?
Now where could Frips have gotten a hold of this very old snapshot of Heebee Jeebee Island? Note the original castaways flocking to the very first Tower that was built there. Brilliant!
The clever Frips also breathed a gaseous life into this ethereal spectre.
This stunning vision is a result of her interesting camera work that she has been conducting for a very long time. Architecture-a-go-go! Great work!
It is always a grand time of it when the talented Frips is on the premises. Always a favorite, she is an old mail art friend of which I am thankful to have. She runs the popular Frips Mail Art. Thank you very much!

Heebee Post #556 - Viviana Cernjul - Buenos Aries - Argentina

Viviana makes her return visit to the Affair with a handsome collage that somehow resembles a 'First Place' prize ribbon from the county fair. A faux prize is a great idea - I may have to use that myself sometime (hence: a concept wrangled!)
I know Viviana has a great festive exuberance for Mail Art - This decorated envelope for instance, doesn't it appear to be a celebration of sorts - like fireworks? Nice to see you here again my friend and thank you very much. What else is she up to? Find out: Arte Correo Para El Mundo.

Heebee Post #555 - Karen Champlin (Art Nation) - Highland Park, Illinois - USA

A visit to the Affair by Karen includes this set of gorgeously cryptic ATC's. I love the juxtapositioning of various informations - they are like little info-traffic signs.
I really enjoyed the enthusiasm Karen's very brief note conveyed: "Hi Test - Let's trade"! That joy for the medium is infectious! Something from my end of the deal will be in the mail tomorrow!
"Art Nation", quoth the Raven. This set of fine ATC's is a good example of Karen's superb work. I have seen her work in various places, but this is the first I have seen in person. Very nice.
Thank you very much my new friend. If anyone would like to see more of Karen's beautiful and thoughtful work, it is here: Art Nation. Great stuff - See you in the post!