Heebee Post #882 - AARPEX 2012 -- Artistamp Artists Reunion & Philatelic EXposition (Part #1) - Seattle, Washington - USA

 Well folks, I drove up to Seattle yesterday to witness this incredible event - and I was not disappointed! AARPEX 2012 =  Artistamp Artists Reunion and Philatelic Exposistion.

Upon entering the buzzing room, I was greeted by none other than Dogfish (Robert Rudine), in terrific "Tui Tui" regalia. He was very friendly and helpful, pointing out various artists stations around the room.

 Another wondrous poster for the merry event. There were many and all of them are fantastic.

 The adorable Jennie Hinchcliff  posed for a picture with Jack Lattermann jumping in at the last moment before the snap! It was a happy moment that we all enjoyed.   I have a lot in common with all these artists and the large room sure felt comfortable to wonder around in, meeting those that I only knew through artful correspondence. Jack runs the entertaining universe of Cascadia Artpost.  Jennie is one of the two authors of the fabulous mail art book that every mail artist should own - particularly newbies. It is called Good Mail Day.  Find out more about her: Red Letter Day.

 This is a beautiful signed artistamp sheet by the legendary C.T. Chew  that I traded one of my postcards to him for. What a great, gregarious fellow to meet.  I seem to have hit it off with all the artists I met.

I spoke to Mailarta for a long while - A great conversationalist - Interesting and entertaining. I just loved meeting these artists that I have been exchanging art with for years. Mailarta rocks!  Mailarta - Queen of Poste. And Dames Portrait Gallery. See ya in the mail soon my friend. That was a gas finally meeting you.

Heebee Post #881 - XX Jones - Vienna - Austria

"Fearful Symmetry" -  XX Jones doubles down on her howling "Placerias", a mammal like reptile from the Triassic period. This card, seen in person, shows that the Placerias is surrounded by a shiny metallic silver (wouldn't scan properly) and looks pretty "Neo Triassic"! She writes "A homage to nature, art and science - represented by Blake's fearful symmetry and Darwin's tree of life" - (reverse side).  And check out that wonderful "Time to wake up" artistamp. Perfect.

 

Miss Jones also included  included these three A4 sized Edgar Rice Burroughs's "Tarzan" panels. These gorgeous illustrations are super examples of artist Burne Hogarth's work. He drew the Tarzan Sunday page in newspapers for 12 years (1937- 1945 and 1947 - 1950) but, it has been reprinted many times.  With Tarzan, Hogarth brought together Classicism, Expressionism and Narrative into a new form of dynamic sequential art.  His teaching to art students often included odd thoughtful study: "Paint me this sound: A spider walking on it's web - what is the music of that sound?".

XX  Jones also included a long note that I thoroughly enjoyed.  I don't publish notes - they are regarded  as personal - but, I can tell you it was one of the nicest notes I have received. She asked me a few questions which I shall answer in subsequent mail back to her in Austria.  Thank you very much Miss Jones - you made my day! See you in the mail my new friend. See her thoughtful  mail art site: Word and Image.   And her XX Jones  IUOMA blog.

Heebee Post #880 - J M Rastorfer (Mail Art Events Edition DAO Radio) - Lausanne - Switzerland

 Jean-Marc makes a spectacular debut in Heebee Jeebeeland with his Dam Batai special edition postage. He sent in a myriad of the stunning Artistamps from this particular (Myanmar/Burma) collection. Incredible just from the volume alone!  I am marveling!

 The prodigious Artistamp creator and his classy whimsy take the viewer to many different worlds.

 So many beautiful Artistamps , a dizzying amount really- does Jean-Marc ever rest?

 The two seen above are special "Spoliation" issues. Fabulous work.

 It seems no subject is safe from being immortalized into Artistamps.

 You have to admire the tireless Artist - every single stamp is done nicely.

Both sides of the Swiss Artists' little envelope that carried the fine collection. Great work Jean-Marc, thank you very much and I shall be seeing you, subsequently, in the mail!

Heebee Post #879 - "E" Ambassade d'Utopia - Guivry - France

Utopian Ambassador "E" in all his trademark red and black glory. Another piece of roguishly elegant Mail Art by one of the genres most notable imaginations. The Z (Fluzus) Guivry rubber stamping is a gas and a great enhancement to the handsome and noble looking card

Here are the two current Utopian Mail Art projects that Monsieur E is conducting. No deadlines and all entries must contain some red and black (of course!).  I like to play the game of Bocce Ball and had to grin seeing the similar French game of Pentanque  being played on the large postage stamp. The little wooden ball is called the "cochonet (literally "piglet").  Thank you Ambassador, I will be thinking of what to send for your  interesting projects.    "E" Ambassade d'Utopia Mail Art.  

Heebee Post #878 - Wilma Duguay - Shigawake, Quebec - Canada

 Wilma checks in with this beautiful Canadian Maple Leaf on Birch bark arrangement.  This really is lovely to behold - especially wrapped in brilliant crimson tissue. It has already been incorporated into our household decor

Wilma lives in the remote coastal region of the Gaspe Peninsula in north east Quebec.  For some reason, it seems quite distant to me.  I suppose it is because of it's remoteness.  I find myself wondering what life is like in rugged, far away places such as this one.  I think I would like that very much - for a while that is.  Thank you very much Wilma - See you in the mail

Heebee Post #877 - Thom Courcelle - Seatlle, Washington - USA

 I like the way Thom's "Love Meter" card is designed to go off the chart.  That's passion for ya!  Can't say much for our national debt but, it sure looks like Love is "Back in the black".

 I can dig it.  The opposite side of the starry eyed postcard finds Thom waxing poetically about how ghouls and goblins may be somewhat darkly amusing though, it is Love that truly envelopes us with spell casting tentacles and we must keep our red carpets eternally rolled out for it's royal treatment.  I'll leave it to Nick Lowe to sum it up for us: "What's so funny 'bout Peace, Love and Understanding".

  

Nice to have Thom's post Halloween sentiments to sober us all up a bit.  Okay, maybe some of us are not "Sober-up-able" - but, that's okay too.  After all,  this is a vacation destination  known for it's frolicsome business - not to mention international intrigue!  Thanks very much Thom - see ya in the mail!

And Thom, I hope to see you at AARPEX. I'll be there taking a few snaps for Heebee Jeebeeland. Ain't life grand?

Heebee Post #876 - Sky City (Lord Fugue) - Hickory, North Carolina - USA

 I see the Halloween night life is alive and well in the newest effort from the effectively imposing Sky City.  A playful, malevolent majesty seems to be injected into each of the smiling Dandies seen above. Perfect for a delightful Halloween posting! Great colors Count Fugue!

Sky City's vibrant postcards are invariably wonderful works of incredible mixed media. Lord Fugue is a great artist to exchange creative mail with. His enthusiastic approach to Mail Art is somehow tangible and infectious. Thank you very much dear Fugue and Happy Halloween to you too! And for you folks that are reading this late Halloween night - you might want to consider listening, with your eyes closed,  to my favorite spooky tunes:  "Biomutanten" and  "The Witches Multiplication Table"..

Heebee Post #875 - Otto D Sherman (Part #2) - New York, New York - USA

 This dazzling , apparition-like, decorated Sultan is powerful, dreamy and surreal. The vivid color scheme makes this postcard a psychedelic museum relic. Lovely, entrancing appeal - wonderful work!

The large Artistamp rode in on this thick,  trademark looking envelope from Otto. Doesn't it seem as if it came from far, far away?  Otto can sure capture an exotic look.

Beautiful detail of adorning medals.  Kind of like a cross between a military Toulouse Lautrec style and Yellow Submarine. Fantastic!

Also included in the packet was this large delicately printed tissue extravaganza! It is incredibly fragile and and, I must say, much nicer to behold firsthand. Thank you Otto - Be seeing you in the mail.  Otto D Sherman Medals and Stamps.

Heebee Post #874 - Otto D Sherman (Part #1) - New York, New York - USA

 Otto's cast of nefarious looking fellows should make for a tough 'spy ring'  for the Squid Patrol to 'sweep up'.  Otto's artistamps appear as if in a 'line up' to be 'found out' and identified. Fantastic work - like a 4th Dimensional "Casa Blanca" -  very entertaining!

 Some of these characters are a bit more sinister than the others. This fellow (Joseph Goebbels?) looks more suspicious the more I peer at him.  Super artistamp!

 Otto is quite versatile with different printing techniques.  The above panel is actually quite large (18" x 10") and very delicately printed on a fine tissue paper. It is rather amazing seen in person - tender and beautiful! These are some large rubber stampings.

Seen above are both sides of Otto's envelope. I am a big fan of his work and am glad to receive this great stuff. Although the next posting shall prove to be the real show stopper!  Thank you very much Otto - If you haven't been to Otto's Art site, it is recommended that you do: Otto Art - Badges and Stamps.
-----  And I think I should be terribly remiss if I did not mention the dreadful circumstances unfolding in Otto's wonderful city.  The "Super Storm" has sea water into the subway system, 3 1/2 million without power (for days to come too) and Manhattan and much of New York and the east coast are just getting battered and flooded by the wicked "Sandy", the 'Super Storm'.  Our west coast hearts and minds are with you my friend!

Heebee Post #873 - Crackerjack Kid - Hancock, New Hampshire - USA

 The Crackerjack Kid returns in full 4th Dimension espionage regalia with his 'Troubled Extra-Dimensional Agents in Action' postcard. What a gorgeous Lichtenstein-ish collage of secret agent fun! The Kid can really bring the Mail Art  magic and he has woven a pretty good spell here. I am enjoying the life or death desperation felt without revealing too much situation detail. The ambiguity each viewer adds to the piece only furthers the mysterious tension. Add the Kid's playful gusto into the mix and voila! Sound the alarm!

I don't think a disguise will ever conceal the poor agent that owns these eyes.  Perhaps that right eye is actually a single shot, tiny pistol? I love the Kid's version of "Mission to Heebee Jeebeeland".  Thank you very much Kid and see you soon in the mail!

Heebee Post #872 - William L. Philyaw - Shawnee, Kansas - USA

 William's postcard is superb in it's 'Hitchcockian' appeal. Feel the palpable tension as the binocular man  desperately searches the skies and nervously awaits the arrival of something unpleasant.  Enemy agents? Great card William (or Alfred).

 The reverse side of the 'North by North Philyaw' postcard is "Plate 96". The large Russian postage stamp is a beauty and - hold on!  Now how did that little Mail Art tart slip out of my files and onto William's card? That blasted Fluxus Girl is actually flirting with the venerable "Professor Philyaw".  Dose she know no couth at all?  Sorry about that folks!

I think William, like myself, kind of lives Halloween in the head all year long.  It is an interesting frame of mind to be in. His subtle inference of doom in the featured postcard is impressive and disciplined in it's reluctance to reveal more and ruin the spell. William has a wonderful knack of knowing how to get under his viewer's skin and is quite popular because of that regard. Thank you very much my friend. I love the card - and as for little miss Fluxus Girl, it is just the essence of Fluxus being out of control - as it often is in real life!  Addressee - Mail Art.

Heebee Post #871 - Arac - Huntsville, Alabama - USA

From the desk of Agent Cara - Huntsville, AL branch: Nothing short of a Military Tribunal for these two peanutty looking rascals.  Wow, do I love the fiercely scowling Tribunal of Three!?!  Can you imagine being interrogated in a small back room, a glaring spotlight in your eyes, somewhere in the 4th Dimension - you don't even know where, by these three champions of the strange?

Heh-heh, isn't this fellow charming close up? I'm not really sure why I like stuff like this so much - but, I do. Great intensity of character agent Arac! A certain prominent military 'grandeur of fear'  is captured, in all three of these distinctive 'staff' memebers. Super job!

Plenty of unanswered questions in Heebee Jeebeeland alright. This really is a fabulous espionage postcard and Arac, I mean Agent Arac,  is becoming one of my favorite mail artists - she is always focused on fun. I like that, very much.  Thank you Arac, your brand of entertainment is remarkable - See ya in the mail!

Heebee Post #870 - Lothar Trott (Lotro Poku) - Zurich - Switzerland

 Like hanging Mail Art laundry out to dry, Lotro displays his 'dirty sheets' adorned with 'Pop-Dada" bright red lips labeled art. There is something about this chaotic like composition that I like very much. It is quite unique to Lotro and identifiable a mile away. It is, however also a rambling mess and fell apart just after opening. Oh, that Lotro.....

 I have to say that Lothar sure makes some beautiful Fluxus Artistamps with that Pop-Dada approach he has.  Great stamps!

 This large fold out (nearly A2 in size!) is a compilation of mail art sent to Lothar and assembled on this big page - as he does every few weeks or so. Kind of like the Trott Report!

Well, I see Pokuland is doing quite nicely. I love these envelopes Lothar 'decorates'.They are always fun and frolicsome - thank you very much old boy. See you in the mail Lotro!

Heebee Post #869 - Viviana Cernjul - Buenos Aires - Argentina

 "I love Llamas?". Well, scantily clad, 50 foot women with attitude problems, but love their Llamas -  are an awful lot of fun!  The altered poster is festooned with some great faux postage

 I thought we just might get a better look at the postage made by Viviana. Quite nice.

I know Viviana is a hard working Mail Artist and I appreciate that very much. Looks like she is getting a bit 'edgier' lately - much to everyone's delight! Thank you so much Viviana. I am sending something to you right away (it's already made and sitting on my desk) - so, see you soon in the mail!  Mail Art around the World.