Bruno Chiarlone from Italy has sent his digital print “Yellow Book for Daltonists” (“Libro Giallo Per Daltonici”). Bruno is well-known name in the mail art networking, and he’s mail art and artistamps are included in many collections and archives around the world. Also, he took part in last 3 Droitwich Mail Art projects.
Marie-Christine De Grave from Berlaar in Belgium is another late submission, but very welcome nevertheless. She sent us her collage with (unofficial) title “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”, which is a rather humorous critique of today’s obsessions with selfies and social media.
Maria E. Quiroga is an artist from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She sent us a collage, which arrived too late for the exhibition in July, but will certainly find its place in some future exhibitions.
Janine Kucharczyk is a French artist who has been part of Droitwich Mail Art projects from the beginning. She is working in various techniques including etching, monoprint, watercolour, ink, drawings… Her inspiration comes from nature and the human body, and she combines them and experiments with different forms and ideas.
Janine sent us 2 envelope arts – “Self Portrait: At Work” and “Self Portrait: At Work Like A Puppeteer”.
For more about Janine’s artwork, please visit her website.
There is something about the mail art that puts it on the completely different level than any other art movement. The artists involved in the networking are, before all else, a curious people who are open to new experiences. They are interested not only in visual arts but also in poetry, writing, photography, music, filmmaking, performance. Some of the artists are very socially aware and involved in various social activities that deal with human rights, justice or the environment. Some dedicated the whole life to the right cause. They share their joy of creativity with a passion and open-handedly. The sense of camaraderie is strong but spontaneous not assertive.
To have artworks of all these people at one place is an incredible experience. The theme of self-portrait might be well exploited, but I offered it with a hope of a different approach. The mail art that arrived answered to the call in a fantastic way – from traditional and digitally created self-portraits to portraits that showed inner life of the artists (their joys, fears, anxiety, happiness). Portraits that reflect artists’ dreams, wishes, and their roots. Some serious, some humorous. Some a results of assiduous work, some done in a jiffy. All echoing the artist’s persona.
The exhibition in 2018 got together works of 195 artists from 27 countries. It is an incredible achievement for Droitwich Mail Art. It is the time to raise the project one step higher and future projects may need a bigger exhibiting venue and a small budget, which is something to think about in the next several months.
A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL ARTISTS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROJECT. Your creativity is contagious!
Daniel M. from Coruna in Spain send us his card and, as far as I know, is the only mail art submission that was lost and arrived at the wrong address. Luckily, after a bit of online research, Droitwich Mail Art is tracked down and Daniel’s postcard has made its way to the exhibition.
Miche-Art-Universalis from Belgium has sent us his self-portrait with very contemporary context. A sort of.
Ruth Bourne from Droitwich Spa is a photographer with Licentiate of The Royal Photographic Society (LRPS) distinction. She enjoys creating all types of photography and often takes part in photo challenges and competitions. Ruth also experimenting in digital art and mixed media. Her submission is titled ‘Looking inward’.
To see Ruth’s portfolio please visit f-action Group website
Antón Liñares from Coruña in Spain has sent us a card with a drawing of a devilish-looking mirrored self-portrait. On the back, he wrote: “This is a self portrait done by Antón Liñares, a very important artist. I wanna you like this!”.
And I do!
Eliane Patricia G. Serrano is an artist and art lecturer from Brazil, who is a coordinator of Visual Arts course at the State University Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP), Bauru campus. Her articles on various art subjects and researches are published in numerous books, magazines, newsletters, journals and she took a part in various art conferences.
Eliane has sent us her mixed media double-sided card.
Droitwich Mail Art 