What follows is a gallery of received invites “in situ” wherever they end up in the world / generally unannotated to protect erstwhile privacy unless publicly shared by recipient.
Overall, 300+ packets mailed. Some will get lost in the mail (speaking from experience) but anyone who doesn’t receive a dossier in the post can create their own as desired, plus checkout the pieces not in your packet.
The 6 (at least) tranches of mailouts had varied contents and packaging as the batches were sent from different countries, using different printers (pro and home) and different iterations of items, specifically a variety/sub-set of:
* Announcement storybook (4 panel, 2 iterations) * Invite to ceremony (2 panel) * Invite to party (2 panel) * RSVP card (pre-stamped for folks in Japan) * Transportation info card (for folks in Japan) * Letter to friends (on Grand Oriental Hotel letterhead) * Gig Poster by Joanna Pag (mini-size via various printers and substrates)
Of course, the most critical part of postcards and letters are: a proper address to send it to, and a friend to write.
Also, I like to think about all the hands which touch the card as it makes the journey from my writing desk to a happy (I expect) recipient who peeks in their post box / letter slot and see something other than a utility bill or an bulk/junk mail from a real estate agent. .
I also wonder how the “hand off“ in international mail works from one country to the next.
Do the workers peek at the – almost illegible – scribble on my postcards? .
Do they wonder who wrote the missives and who the recipient is?
Do you think about these logistics & vagaries? Or is it just me?
I think the temptation must be almost irresistible. Especially when they are doing the rounds and a dispatch from some interesting place ends up in their hands.
Postcards: Stick No Bills, cinemaPostcards: Stick No Bills, cinema
As often mentioned, i love postcards – both the writing / sending and the buying / collecting. When i find excellent postcards, i am indeed tempted to keep em stashed in a dossier or shoebox for my own amusement, however such action does not allow the humble postcard to fulfil its apparent destiny. As such, as per usual routine, i gather the finest cards, write sentiments (albeit in semi-legible scrawl) upon the back, squeeze in an address, flourish with inky stamps, complete with requisite postal stamps and send send on their way via the magical wormhole of postboxes. However, before sending on their journey, i take snapshots of the front / arty side for art and documentation purposes (sometimes the backs too for personal audit and memory).
This batch comes via a stay in Galle, Sri Lanka where, in the historical Fort Galle (previously Portuguese, Dutch and British), i bought basically everything Stick No Bills had on offer – postcard-wise that is, they also sell posters which aren’t handy for traveling though i have a mighty stack in a storage locker faraway.
Each card rung up with unique UPC barcode resulting in a receipt approx a metre/yard long with 92 entries. I mentioned this dedications to them and they offered me a poster t say “thanks” but alas i split before taking them up on the kindness.
Most notable about Stick No Bills is:
Respect for artists – the art is carefully curated, artists are compensating appropriately and the artwork is reproduced accurately
Quality of materials – delicious tactile cardstock with fine silkscreened ink which feels wonderful under pen and finger
Eclectic variety – as evidenced in my collection shared over 7 volumes, the assortments includes vintage Air Ceylon and hotel art, cinema art, various folklife, landmarks, maps and transportation themed pieces. (They also offered a line featuring funny/weird/unironic english t-shirts worn by local folks which i didn’t collect as i recall.)
Anyhow, mine are shared here for historical record (and modified with my personal stamps to prevent unauthorized reproductions) and your support/purchases is/are encouraged/recommended either by mailorder or even better, stopping into their lovely shop in Fort Galle, Sri Lanka.Tell em Uncle Weed sent ya (they won’t know what you mean but i’ll be amused).
A rather large batch of handmade cards made from excerpts from my Fck Stats, Make Art dossiers (heroes and metaphors), scraps for poetry, and pre-franked stamps from Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North), collaged on white stock, with personal (albeit cryptic) notes scribbled, and sent somewhat anonymously (with assistance from a friend) to unsuspecting folks who seemed in need of a little pick-me-up parable to remind they are remarkable and executing noteworthy import-ness.
Displayed in batches, with limited annotations.
Greetz from Elsewhere: Re: Amsterdam canals – be sure to jot down the name (pencil and marker on paper)
Greetz from Elsewhere: Go further to explore interestingness
A rather large batch of handmade cards made from excerpts from my Fck Stats, Make Art dossiers (heroes and metaphors), scraps for poetry, and pre-franked stamps from Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North), collaged on white stock, with personal (albeit cryptic) notes scribbled, and sent somewhat anonymously (with assistance from a friend) to unsuspecting folks who seemed in need of a little pick-me-up parable to remind they are remarkable and executing noteworthy import-ness.
Displayed in batches, with limited annotations.
Greetz from Elsewhere: My coordinates are my own but my sentiments are yours, with admirations and affection
