Heebee Post #589 - Kiki Desvaux - Le Vigen - France

Kiki rejoins the Affair with this splendid edition of Artistamps that look quite familiar! The reproductions are exquisitely done in six "plate blocks". I'm not sure why I have never made these into artistamps before - they are lovely! Thank you very much for making my stuff look great Kiki dear! Perfect job - Love 'em.
Another fantastic envelope in the spirit by the clever Ms. Desvaux. Lovely artistamps and James Dean and the beating heart = Fluxus Affair. Thank you to one of my favorite mail art friends - See you in the mail! Ce que je recois.

Heebee Post #588 - Douglas Galloway - Cherry Valley, California - USA

The Affair welcomes Douglass and his conflagration looking art spectacle entitled "East Print". I cannot determine the media used in this piece, but it is gorgeously done and powerful looking. Great card Galloway! Gallery385 by Galloway. Thank you very much!

Heebee Post #587 - Kiera Pannell - Montreal, Quebec - Canada

Ever fallen in love with someone you shouldn't have fallen in love with? The only thing that makes that nasty sting go away is time. Notice the words "I never loved you" are accompanied with the stark emptiness that often travels along with words such as those. Thank you very much Kiera.........This is Art.

Heebee Post #586 - Mara Thompson - Santa Monica, California - USA

Mara Thompson's current appearance here on the Affair is an attractive 'double bubble' of creative postcard manufacturing. Comprising this set of handsome cards is the clever pairing of a universally delightful treat - Milk and Cookies! Seen above is the "Milk Wagon". A striking card with a technique that keeps the eye interested and busy.
It's counterpart, equally as charming, is the "Cookie Wagon". Gorgeous and fanciful work in a kind of 1960's Pop feel (Mary Poppins?). The Affair is quite happy to have these curious "Action Snacks" - Great work!
Thank you very much Mara, the postcards are super and as a pair are especially fun. Nice to see you again and watch your mail box old girl. Mythmara Mail Art.

Heebee Post #585 - Janet Heritage - Wheat Ridge, Colorado - USA

Janet's brilliant handiwork is seen above having sewn this lovely mail art envelope into a handy purse - zipper on top! Actually, Janet has sent me two of them. I must apologize for having accidentally setting these aside to show someone and lost them for a couple of months in the fray that is my art bench. Sorry, old girl - they are fabulous however and I am delighted to finally get to show them off! This amazing "The Museum at Purgatory Souvenir Sheet" seen above is quite interesting and beguiling. Science & Art! My cup of tea!
Yeeowch! No 'Lucky Monkey' here. What a great postcard or just 'collector' card I should say - The reverse side is completely blank. Good one for the Affair's collection.
This postcard is stunningly gilded, although you cannot tell from my scan of it. A beautiful Fluxus Affair card probably printed between 1900 and 1910. What a super specimen of the state of the early 20th century printing arts!
The other decorated envelope purse - complete with zipper and very sturdily constructed. Janet really knows how to have fun with mail art and the Affair adores her creations.
Thank you very much Janet - Sorry these got lost in the "Test Tower Zone" for a while, please forgive. Something fun and colorful is on the way to you very soon. I love your work and the extraordinary and exquisite vintage postcards are quite a treat. See you in the mail.

Heebee Post #584 - Uli Grohmann - Munster - Germany

Popular revolutionary figure Che Guevara makes an appearance via Uli's provocative postcard. For many folks around the world, Che's image has become a symbol for the underdog, the iconoclast, or the man willing to die for his cause. When the enthusiasm for rebellion is crying out "Mayday, Mayday", you know things must be in a terrible state. Uli has a terrific sense of humor!
Uli's work usually has a wry twist and is always entertaining in some cerebral way. I enjoy his style and am glad to have him visiting the Affair. Like that "Flying Fish" artistamp too! Thank you very much!

Heebee Post #583 - Valery Shimanovsky - NIzhnekamsk, Tartarstan - Russia

Veteran mail artist and all around bon vivant Valery Shimanovsky returns to the Affair with this extraordinary set of ATC's (3). It's not easy to manufacture fascination and these three fellows do a good job in that regard. Can't take my eyes of of them!
Two decidedly Russian mail calls to have fun with. Valery's "Sviyazhsk" on the above left and Tatiana Makarova's "Bulgar" on the right. These historical natured themed calls are interesting and fun - give one a try?
It is always a pleasure to host a visit from Shimanovsky. And I see "24 MAR 2011" stamped clearly - That means it is only taking 3 1/2 weeks from Russia these days - That is an improvement by a good margin! Sad, but true. Ah well, makes it seem so much farther away and exotic. Thank you very much Valery. Check out his merrymaking Valery Mail Art. See you soon in the post.

Heebee Post #582 - Kiki Desvaux - Le Vigen - France

Kiki rejoins the Affair with this excellent double artistamp sheet. These are exquisitely made and inspired by the fascinating Modernist French artist Jacques Villegle'. Symbolic alphabet and decollage - where the lower layers are revealed by removing portions of the surface. - Love this stuff!
Kiki explains, in a very nice note, that this envelope is decorated (decollaged) with pieces of posters she peeled off while visiting Limoges last week - great work! I recognize a distinct Frips print artistamp up in the left hand corner to add to the fun. Thank you very much Kiki! She has a lively and popular mail art site: Ce que je recois.

Heebee Post #581 - Karen Champlin (Art Nation) - Highland Park, Illinois - USA

Karen's enthusiasm for ATC trading is contagious and it is fun trading for little masterpieces like these from her. I like the directions of the above "Love Compass".
This well made ATC seems like 'Asemic Architecture'' and is a harmony in my head.
Huh? Hey, they don't call it "Jitter Juice" for nothing! They didn't even spell caffeine correctly. Imagine the disappointment of no caffeine - sounds cruel. They are two fun ATC's though.
Art Nation waves it's banner of coolness and the Affair couldn't be more delighted to find Karen here again. Thank you very much my friend. Something is on the way to you tomorrow (already made). Like to see more of Art Nation? Karen Champlin's Art Nation.

Heebee Post #580 - Lothar Trott - Zurich - Switzerland

I am certainly glad to see that the report of Lothar (from his own pen!) no longer being involved in Mail Art has been highly exaggerated. Great to have you back again my old friend - Although I still am finding, after all these years, that your work is still a bit 'cryptated', although very entertaining! Above is the little artistbook's first four pages. I think I'm getting the message, but it is, as usual, puzzling evidence.

I see that I am a contributor ("Feel the Power") as is veteran Mail Artist Buz Blurr in the 4 pages shown above. Don't get me wrong folks - I am a big fan of Lothar's work and it is always interesting to 'feel' what his passionate global thinking mail art is about. Be sure to fasten your seat belt when analyzing his work.

By the way, Lothar, I just sent you something a couple of days ago, so be on the lookout. It really was a treat to find you here, on the Affair - I had feared I would not hear from you again. I hope you are staying well and active and being happy. I know you won't forget to have fun once in a while! Thank you very much.

Heebee Post #579 - Goop Gallery (Helene) - Ottawa, Ontario - Canada

Bonjour Helene. Nice to know that GOOP is still in action and will be taking the results of these cool invitations on the road. The Svengali-like center portion of this postcard is a mirror and makes the card appear shiny in person.
I will be sending something tomorrow for your mobile collection my friends. I hope your project is a lot of fun and everything works out nicely for you in the field. I hope you might send a snap of your efforts. Thank you very much. GOOP Mail Art.

Heebee Post #578 - Frips - Gent - Belgium

I have long been an admirer of Frip's block prints and carving techniques, and have a tidy collection of them, but this has to be my favorite. As far as the Fluxus Affair theme, whatever that is, this is graceful and magnificent! I am crazy for it.
I couldn't help adding some 'Bad Girl' to this vintage looking, but just starting out 'add and pass'. I also added the "Posta Insecta" cancellation mark to give the document a more obscure, tropical disease appeal.
More of Frips charming prints and ATCs. The handsome envelope (below) was quite a bundle.
Thank you very much my old friend. That terrific pair of Fluxus dancers is just beautiful and just the right vibe for the Affair. This is #3 out of 10 cards made - 9 other lucky folks out there! Frips Mail Art.

Heebee Post #577 - Christine H. (The Daily Postcard) - Portland, Oregon - USA

The Affair was certainly happy to receive this lovely decorated envelope from Christine of "the Daily Postcard", one of my favorite websites. I love the 'Ocean Liner' paper she used to create the envelope. The spider theme is continued below.
This interesting tiny souvenir card (1.75" x 2.75") is one of a set of little New York tourist cards that were purchased in a pack. This one, "The Spider Web", is the top of the Brooklyn Bridge, which is actually a promenade deck for pedestrians - the busy traffic traveling below them. Be sure to visit "The Daily Postcard" if you enjoy things like this - Christine does an excellent job there.
Christine also left a friendly correspondence note, not shown, but above is the splendid vintage official Republic of South Africa stationary (requisition form?) letterhead. It is written in English and Dutch. I did not realize the Dutch East India Company founded Capetown and when the British took over, the Dutch settlers, called the Boers, moved inland and actually had wars with the Brits and the indigenous peoples over the minerals (diamonds, gold, etc.) and other resources. A very colorful history for that fascinating country. Thank you very much Christine! Keep an eye on your Post Box - something is on it's way.

Heebee Post #576 - Pierpaolo Limongelli - Bari - Italy

Wow! Pierpaolo was kind enough to send this brilliant postcard made by visionary mail artist Alfonso Caccavale. "The Discension" into the discipleship of mail art - Like a mini Da Vinci or micro Michelangelo - it bursts with super human pathos. Alfonso has a grand sense of humor - and a divine notion of mail art!
Also included was this large A4 size add and pass - which I promptly added to and shall soon pass on.
Haven't seen Pierpaolo here for a long time and it certainly is nice to have him drop into the Affair. Thank you so much for the goodies - especially the Caccavale postcard, which is utterly splendorous! Pierpaolo's Art.

Heebee Post #575 - Elizabeth Zois for Her Grace, The Dak of Droll - Troy, New York -USA

The lovely Dak of Droll visits the Affair and I have to say, it is always great to see Her Grace on the premises again. Her timely message: "Imagine Peace" is always in style - Even if, as the card itself boasts, it is "Petite Anarchy". Keep up the good work!
I love Elizabeth's artistamps - they are always a gas. A pleasure to see you again dear Dak - and thank you very kindly for your compliment!

Heebee Post #574 - Red Head Love - Plymouth, Massachusetts -USA

RHL stops into the Affair on her campy ride with some of the characters from Desilu studios. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz comprised "Desilu" and that entity is responsible for more TV show productions than anyone realizes. Besides "I love Lucy" there was "The Andy Griffith Show", "Dick Van Dyke", "Star Trek", "Mission Impossible", "I Spy", "Gomer Pyle USMC", "The Real McCoys", "My three sons", "Our Miss Brooks" and many, many others. I admire Miss Ball very much and like the postcard!
Thanks Red, glad to have you and your pop icon style postcard to add to the Affair. Be seeing you in the mail.

Heebee Post #573 - Stan Askew - Pasadena, California - USA

Stan's return to the Affair is a tidy bunch of mail art and assorted interesting postal memorabilia. I cannot look at the above postcard without seeing it as an old TV set. It's great.
I love the 'glorification' of the family portraits Stan often creates. They always seem so timeless - a glimpse of everyone at their best in their roles. Guess mom took the snap.
I could not help but to take a cue from Christine at "The Daily Postcard" with the above vintage example of a "C.T. American Art" postcard "The Hindu Temple" in Kentucky. I could not determine the year, but I have become fascinated with the message on the reverse side. By the way, The Daily Postcard is a fabulous site - Christine is the best postcard detective!
"An interesting pair to draw to", as I've heard it said. An ATC and holder envelope in usual grand Askew style.
A super 'Kodachrome' postcard of Chriricahua National Monument near Douglas Arizona.
This actually is 'part 1' of a double pronged Askew mail art assault. Thank you very much Stan - I'll be posting 'Part 2' very shortly. Be seeing you in the mail old chum.

Heebee Post #572 - Aurelie Berthelon (Lilou) - Documentation for "Marianne" Project - Saint-Privat - France

Lilou sends in fantastic documentation for the wonderful Mail Art call "Marianne". For many years, She was the female allegorical symbol for victory - representing liberty, freedom and "The triumph of the Republic". Though her image changed over the years and today has nearly faded into obscurity, she is usually seen depicted as she was first created - for the first French Republic wearing her "Phrygian" cap and wielding a spear.
The "Marianne" booklet, when opened up, is an A4 size and an absolute delight to read. The booklet is well made and rather a classy job at documentation.
My participation in this call was quite a while ago (3 years?) and I was, frankly, happily surprised to receive this. There are so many super contributions to this project. I decided to show a few pages from it. You can see my effort in the lower right corner.

Seen above is the Marianne I made for Lilou's fabulous project - pulled from my old files."Always on top"!

I couldn't help but to notice that I was the only American to join in the fun Francais mail call. I had not realized that until I received this. Thank you very much Lilou - Since your distinguished project is still going on, I shall be sending you another piece for your collection. Litterartis Arte Poste. Check out the lively French mail art!