Heebee Post #672 - William L. Philyaw - Shawnee, Kansas - USA

This hypnotic, Svengali-ish, smokey mail art parlour looking development seems to beckon the viewer into another kind of Post Office adventure..............Fantastic work William! It really seems to take you away with it.
The reverse side of "No. 6957". A great looking Romanian postage stamp, canceled by William's own rubber stamp.
When you are using vintage, unused U.S. postage stamps, such as these lovelies - you can, evidently, get by with 43 cents worth of stamps (passing for 44 cents, the usual cost of U.S. domestic mail). Old stamps are more powerful - there is proof right here! I really do love the oldies. Thanks William, love that 'Passport to a Mail Art seance' card. Visit William's collection here: Addressee.

Heebee Post #671 - Helder Coelho Dias - Fajarda / Coruche - Portugal

Oh, what a mysterious beauty Helder has sent in. I like to think that this gorgeous "Acrylic on cut box" is actually myself welcoming the new and astonished visitors to wonderful Heebee Jeebee Island (located here, in the 4th Dimension). I love this piece - great work Helder!
I added onto this already busy 'Add and Pass' and will send it on to the next artist. There are some pretty interesting Mail Art celebrities included here: "E" - France, Helder - Portugal, Cascadia Artpost - USA, Haphazard Communications - USA, and now me, Test Tower, too!
The decorated envelope is adorned with some lovely Portuguese postage stamps as well as the familiar IUOMA artistamp and Helder's trademark rabbit. In all, a smashing mail art package -Thank you very much. You can find out more of this very entertaining artist here: Art in the Mail - Helder Coelho Dias Artsite. See you in the mail!

Heebee Post #670 - Erin Fae - Auckland - New Zealand

Erin Fae joins in the fun here with this cryptic sort of 'Lie Detector' postcard. An interesting notion - only to be thwarted as you read the result below!
I am reminded of the old story: Why did the owner of the talking dog sell it for so little money? "Because everything it says is a lie!", growled the owner. In other words: nobody likes a liar. By the way, I see this is a "Mail Art 365" card. Good show Erin, although I am wondering - Were you on vacation in the states when you sent this? USA postage? Thanks for the interesting mail and something will be off to Auckland quite soon.

Heebee Post #669 - Susan McAllister - Berkeley, California - USA

Looks like the 'Pizza Eskimos' built a lovely and tasty Totem Pole for lunch. Actually, Susan's lively postcard reminds me of the crazy 1959 horror film "Caltiki - The Immortal Monster".
Thank you very much Susan. Glad you joined in the fun here with your bone-crushing blob card. Also, I have to say that I used to hang out on Haste St. - just 1 block from where you are. Haven't been in that neighborhood for years now, but sure had a lot of fun for decades there. And thank you also for your kind remark. Something is already in the mail for you. Happy Mail!

Heebee Post #668 - Art Tower (Gunter Schwind) - Aschaffenburg - Germany

The "Head Project Phase 3" had it's gallery opening back in September and it appears that my dear cousin Arty had a grand time of it. The little brochure for the showing declares the address to be "Nelly 5 im Hinterhaus" = "Nelseestrasse 5 in the rear building" - as seen above. I trust it went well my old friend. Wish I could have attended.
See that postage stamp in the upper left? Bet you won't see that one again. This is one of Gunter's postcards that was resent to him from the remote coral atoll and island nation of Seychelles! Actually called the Republic of Seychelles, it is an archipelago of 115 islands about 1500 kilometers (932 miles) from mainland Africa , northeast of the Island of Madagascar.
The very festive envelope that held the contents shows a younger Art Tower adorned as a Matador - seems fitting somehow. Love the artistamps and rubber stamping and the happy birdie - which reminds me of of the old Yard Bird here in Centralia. You can find out more about Art Tower here: Art Tower Mail Art and here: Art Tower Art. Thank you very much my dear friend - See ya in the mail!

Heebee Post #667 - S. Lee - Somerville, Massachusetts

S. Lee's nomination for presidential candidate looks familiar, even at a brief glance. Yes, in case you do not recognize him, it's Mickey Dolenz from the 1960's ersatz supergroup "The Monkees"! (What is it about the continuing monkey theme lately?). No, I won't leave a link to a Monkees song, God forbid, but, I will show you to the way to "Apeman" by none other than the fabulous Ray Davies and the Kinks (circa 1970). You know Lee, this postcard is nicely done - kind of like a mini Herman Kamphuis! Nice job!
And thank you for your compliment. Nice to see Dolenz looking so dapper after all these years. I don't remember seeing anybody decorate with an other's address label - interesting notion. Great card Lee - see you in the mail.

Heebee Post #666 - Eduardo (ZenDada) Cardoso - Sines - Portugal

Eddie returns with his usual bizarreness from his "Paranormal Mail Art" Laboratory - this time with the curious distinction of being Post #666. Looks like he chose his character well for this dubious honor! Zalop!
"Hagamos el simulacro" = "Let's fake it"! Simulacro is actually difficult to translate, but I think we get a vague idea of what it is about. Anyway, I am loving the way ZenDada has put this piece together - A skillet of nervously crossed out notes with a big pinch of Dada and sensuality - that too, crossed out and made fun of. Eddie has become very good at this form of construction, bringing the viewer into the new normal.
Eduardo also added this little "Trashpo" (Trash Poetry) booklet. Trashpo has shown some recent popularity - especially among some of the IUOMA (International Union of Mail Artists) members. You can check out a discussion for it here: Trashpo Talk.
"Alone with the Gods". Such pathos! - I feel like that sometimes as well my old friend. Thank you very much for your Mail Art package Eddie. Great stuff (as usual). Find Eduardo conducting mail art experiments here: Paranormal Mail Art.

Heebee Post #665 - Roland Pierre Karcher (Rolka) - Wittenheim - France

I am certainly enjoying the splendid artwork from the good natured "Mail Artiste", Rolka. He sure captured the tenacity of the contest quite nicely. Fabulous spirit to it as well.
Sometimes letters are unknowingly written into a rather marvelous poetic formation. Don't you just love notes like this? My reply shall be on it's way soon. *"The patchwork of some of his creations" that he mentions above, can be seen below.
I am so happy to find Rolka's large (A4) and cleverly decorated (note the "Test Power" on the address label - nice touch) letter/postcard. Fantastic mail art as usual from this meticulous artist. Will be sending something for another exchange between us soon. Rolka Mail Art . Thank you so much - Love your work!

Heebee Post #664 - Anna Banana - Robert's Creek, British Columbia - Canada

It is always a memorable occasion when the illustrious veteran Mail Artist Anna Banana drops in for a visit to your post box. Above is one of a set of nine postcards with Vile Magazine (sold out long ago) covers. You can check out these, now legendary art treats, here: Vile Magazine.
Anna's current Art Mag is the fantastic Banana Rag. Eight luscious pages of what the pulse of the Mail Art Universe looks like. Anna has been in the business a long while (forever) and the Banana Rag is solid proof of that fact. If you are interested in an in depth overview of the genre - you would be hard put to find a more enjoyable read on the subject. "But is it Art"? Check it here: 2011 Banana Adventure update.
Network publications, Books, Catalogues, Zines and Artistamps - this wonderful edition is packed with both the humorous and darker sides of the realm. Click here: Anna Banana Art.
Lots of stuff you always wanted to know but didn't know you wanted to. There is an order form below if you are so inclined. But take it from ol' Test - Anna always delivers an entertainment punch that is sophisticated and delightful!
A sample of Ms. Banana's artistamp creation. Sterling quality and a lively sense of humor and wonder. Check here for more about her artistamps: Anna's Stamp Collection - Anna's Artistamp NewsSubscribe today and never be sorry you didn't!
Thank you very much Miss B. Always a pleasure to find your lovely brand of art happiness in my smiling mail box. Will be seeing you in the post very soon old girl - keep up the fine work! (I know you will).

Heebee Post #663 - RCBz - St. Clown, Minnesota - USA

A nice stack of some pretty formidable Mail Art was waiting for me when I arrived back from my short little trip to the Bay Area in California. Never to be outdone in the digital realm, is RCBz with his gorgeously hellish vision "MOLOCK"! This is a large, 7" x 10", exquisitely laser printed work that I had complimented Roy on some time ago - and he was kind enough to send me this fine print of little masterpiece! As if an awful Hot Dog sacrifice had to be made into a terrible ritual to appease the foul godlike Molock! Great job Roy - this is quite an achievement old boy! Thank you very much.

Off to California for a week - See ya then!

Heebee Post #662 - Dopesick SF - Plymouth, Massachusetts - USA

Dopesick SF returns with this Planet of the Apes postcard and I am so delighted he did because, it reminds me of a great song, by a band that I used to love, but haven't heard of for a long while: You Drive me Ape, you big Gorilla!
Nice to have you back D-SF. And thanks for the simian adventure card - Brought back some cool memories for me. Isn't it odd how some things trigger off other things? Like fingers snapping at a Beatnik party? Be seeing you in the post my friend. Dopesick-SF site.

Heebee Post #661 - Ross Priddle (Bentspoon) (Part #2) - Calgary, Alberta - Canada

Ross was kind enough to send in the newest edition of his Fluxus magazine "Gar #76" which is a rollicking and amusing collection of Art, Poetry, Dada and general weirdness by various artists - which can sometimes border on the disturbing. The above collage was created by long time Mail Artist Pascal Lenoir of France.
Above is a work by Ross, "Examine the Text". Ross power drives right through the poetry with a continuous onslaught of observation from his unique perspective. Nice black and white depiction of Ross under the text.
Al Ackerman's work seems as if he is speaking his little soliloquy to you with big round eyes - as if telling a ghost story. Interesting things happen to Al - as he journeys down a path that was meant for his steps alone.
Thanks for this Mail Art package Ross. Gar #76 was a gas! I nearly included the ghastly cover by 'The Haddock', but, wow man, that was a bit much for our younger viewers and those with a faint heart. Be seeing you in the mail Mr. Priddle. Bentspoon.

Heebee Post #660 - Ross Priddle (Bentspoon) - (Part #1) - Calgary, Alberta - Canada

As I have said many times, I don't usually post 'Add and Passes', but this one, I kind of liked and found entertaining and, an interesting bunch of contributors found their way onto this. I just added some colorful variations of the U.S. "Trans-Pacific Airmail" stamp and a wintry Fashionista and voila, it's off to the next mail artist. Oh yeah, and I made the original document into a layer and put a new layer of color under the whole thing in Photoshop. I have been doing this for years and still I wonder - am I cheating? Any views on using Photoshop for the "Add and Pass"? I know there are plenty of 'old school' types that frown on the digital - is their prohibitive view of this valid in these modern times? And, does anyone even care? Bentspoon Mail Art.