“Historical Arti-Fiction” – Rebecca Guyver (Suffolk/UK & Maine/USA) pens the MinXus-Lynxus epic of the French Revolution
Mail-art by Rebecca Guyver (Suffolk/UK – Maine/USA)
The release of a book about MinXus-Lynxus is always an occasion for celebration, even if the subject of the tome is weighty. We are proud indeed to present to you, most dear Tenderfoots, Miss Becca’s Historical Arti-Fiction: destined to become a classic as it was a classic even before it was created (if we are to believe MinXus cosmology).
Historical Arti-Fiction is an artists book. The work is roughly 5″ x 6″ inches and made from a recycled book or perhaps more likely a notebook. A rectangle has been cut into the book’s interior where Miss Becca has ingeniously constructed a three-dimensional scene (diorama-like) depicting iconic images from the era of the revolution and its aftermath. Here is a view of the spine:
Perhaps it is more than coincidence that Historical Arti-Fiction is revealed at a time when Dark wall is embarking upon a new vispo series. The tentative titles are “The Trial of Empress Marie Antonette,” “The Martyrdom & Execution of Empress Marie Antonette,” and “The Canonization & Sainthood of Empress Marie Antonette.” These works will accompany the opening of the Empress Marie Antonette Waterpark and Wax Museum at the Mink Ranch. Miss Becca’s Historical Arti-Fiction is far more sweeping in its grasp of history and philosophy when compared to Dark wall’s humble effort. Yet both pieces confirm the pivotal role of Empress Marie Antonette in MinXus-Lynxus history and iconography.
Miss Becca included this text, which we consider a part of Historical Arti-Fiction:
What are we to make of the inclusion of Jacques Derrida? Our interpretation is that Derrida represents the extension of the French philosophical strain emanating from Jean Jacques Rousseau. Careful readers of official MinXus-Lynxus propaganda know that Confessions is considered an essential work, particularly its position on spanking. For those sleuths seeking to find their own answers concerning the inclusion of the Derrida passage, here is a link to the article from which Miss Becca made the excerpt:
http://anarthistoricalimpression.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/interpreting-painting-of-shoes-benefits.html
Here is the book’s back cover:
Historical Arti-Fiction was wonderfully packaged:
The reverse side:
Our deepest, heartfelt thanks to Miss Becca for this wondrous contribution to the canon of MinXus-Lynxus books.
MinXus Mail Bag: Claudia McGill (Wyncote, Pennsylvania, USA)
Mail-art by Claudia McGill (Wyncote, Pennsylvania, USA)
We are thrilled to be adding this gorgeous collage by Claudia McGill to the MinXus USA Archives. We have had this piece displayed on an Overlook Hotel table and have been admiring it for a long time, but apparently it was never officially documented. This is a gorgeous example of Claudia’s collage work that uses images of household items and furniture. The abstract background, we believe, is particularly stunning.
Most of the work we receive from Claudia McGill is done on an oversize postcard format, at least twice the size of a regular postcard. She seems to be very good at assessing scale to give the work a maximum powerful impact.
As ever, thank you Miss Claudia!
Previous posts about Claudia McGill:
MinXus Mail Bag: Diane Keys (Elgin, Illinois, USA), Borderline Grafix (Austin, Texas, USA), Dustin “Ray” Hamby (Austin, Texas, USA)
Mail-art by Diane Keys (Elgin, Illinois, USA)
Diane Keys (aka Queen of Trash) sent this great piece to the Mink Ranch. Since MinXus-Lynxus is ultimately about who has the best hair, we find the work extremely relevant. Trashion, which ranges from constructing clothes from garbage to questioning the fashion industry, is an integral part of DKult. This has extended even further to Trashpo tattoos and body art. Trash lashes are another logical extension and provide the occasion for this very clever collage. Here is the reverse side of the card:
Many thanks for another D-Klassic!
Mail-art by Borderline Grafix (Austin, Texas, USA)
Borderline Grafix is a new friend we made through the IUOMA. As this postcard-size piece indicates, he seems to work primarily in collage with cryptically juxtaposed images and liberal use of stamps. Borderline Grafix has an extensive mail-art archive going back decades, and he has shared some interesting historical work. (He actually has pieces from Mike Miskowski’s Bomb Shelter Propaganda outfit.)
Borderline Grafix has taken an interest in the current practice of Trashpo and DKult. In fact, he has been initiated into the still-congealing DKULTX (DKult Texas). We are very much looking forward to see how this exposure will impact the evolution of his work.
Many thanks for the piece! We look forward to more exchanges.
Mail-art by Dustin “Ray” Hamby aka Dustin de Wind (Austin, Texas, USA)
We now present a manifesto by Mink Ranch fav Dustin Hamby, another Texan. He sent us this piece some time ago, and we have just gotten around to documenting it. We are not sure how widely “A DRUNKPO MANIFESTO” was circulated, but we do believe it has some historical significance. Dustin has had considerable success drawing followers to the theory and practice of Drunkpo.
Dustin has taken an active role in DKult and has produced some amazing Trashpo, in addition to working in other genres.
Deepest, belated thanks to Dustin de Wind! We are glad to see you back in actions again!
MinXus Mail Bag: Fluxus IUOMA celebration footprint pizza from Moan Lisa (Iowa City, Iowa, USA)
Mail-art by Moan Lisa (Iowa City, Iowa, USA)
Documentation of our extensive Moan Lisa Collection continues at MinXus USA. We are thrilled to share with you this recent acquisition, which we find exciting for several reasons. First, this is an authentic Moan Lisa footprint, the chronicle, no doubt, of a Moan Lisa action art performance. The occasion of this performance appears to the the 25th anniversary of the International Union of Mail Artists (IUOMA) created and established by Ruud Janssen (Netherlands).
We are becoming increasingly familiar with Moan Lisa’s complex, fluid and sometimes cryptic forms of expression. We venture to interpret this piece, with some certainty, as a very positive contribution to the ongoing IUOMA celebration. The reverse side is also very interesting:
Moan Lisa is a visual poet and currently generating an epic cycle of lyric poems. The work shown here relies far more on found material than many other current pieces. Indeed, we also think this work qualifies as Moan Lisa Trashpo.
It is a great thrill indeed to have this unique work by Moan Lisa!
Kerripo – asemic visual poem for Kerri Pullo by Dark wall
MinXus Mail Bag: Asemic-haptic-visual-object poem from Richard Canard (Carbondale, Illinois, USA)
Mail-art by Richard Canard (Carbondale, Illinois, USA)
Frankly, Richard Canard spoils us by sending us anything we hint at wanting. And this is another piece we greatly desired to acquire for the MinXus USA Archives. In return, Richard receives nothing from us but grief. Our “Fake Richard Canard Series,” oh we have to admit to you gentle Tenderfoots, was a total disaster. We incurred Richard’s ire, and he is the mildest of citizens. We believe he has finally gotten past it, as he is sending mail-art to us again. A public apology will be forthcoming.
We doubt there is anyone who does not know the story of the haptic-asemic poem Richard sent Geof Huth in 2010, and which Geof posted and discussed on his much-admired vispo blog. This was all part of a fascinating discussion about what is and isn’t poetry. As we recall, the “poem” in Geof’s possession is a beer can that had been run over by a truck. The tread marks made asemic patterns. This work (above), proudly held by MinXus-Lynxus, is a bit different. Richard has done more wordplay with the label. Yet we consider it an unqualified masterpiece.
If there is any value to “conceptual poetry,” it is that it encourages post-literates who never have read or listened to poetry to confront the idea of poetry and poetics and to discover that once, long ago, people engaged in the practice.
As ever, thank you Richard Canard!
