The Zillman Art Museum presents STUDIO SESSIONS:
A virtual hands-on-art making lesson with
Senior Museum Educator Kat Johnson.
Hello and welcome!
My name is Kat, and I’ll be walking you
through today’s lesson of STUDIO SESSIONS:
Mail Art.
Through this process, we will use everyday
household items to create a unique piece of
art.
We will begin with a brief history on mail
art and its components, go over the materials
list, then work through the lesson step-by-step
together to create a fun object.
Feel free to pause the video at any time to
prepare your materials, set up your work station
or stretch your legs!
So, what do you say?
Let’s make some art!
In the 1950s and 1960s, a movement emerged
that sought to give space to the art that
otherwise would not be included in the contemporary
exhibition setting.
The origins of Mail Art can be traced back
to Marcel Duchamp, Kurt Schwitters and the
Italian Futurists, and include postcards,
packages, emails, faxes and blogs that share
art outside for the conventional commercial
channels.
Because this form welcomed the serious and
silly without judgement, several marginalized
groups were able to connect and create community
across large geographic space.
Ray Johnson, a Neo-Dada collagist associated
with Pop Art was one of the largest contributors
to the movement.
Johnson created hundreds of small collages,
prints of abstract drawings and other ephemera
that he sent via post to other art world notables.
He asked the recipients to add or alter the
work in some way and pass it along to another
artist.
Postal workers were even encouraged to join
in when Johnson asked them to add wavy red
cancellation tape to his mailings.
These collaborations grew and eventually became
the New York Correspondence School.
Today, the movement continues as artists share
their work via mail.
Ray Johnson expert and guest curator for the
“Pushing the Envelope” – an exhibition
of Mail Art organized by the Smithsonian’s
Archives of American Art at the Lawrence A.
Fleishman Gallery in Washington D.C. (August
2018- January 2019), had this to say about
the art form: “…Nothing beats the experience
of receiving classic, tangible mail art…
it can never really be replicated digitally…When
you open it up, you are responsible.
It’s like 'How do all these things connect?'
And I think because you’re taking them out
one by one and having that experience – of
putting the puzzle together – materiality
is really, really important.”
For this lesson you will need:
Cardstock, or very thin cardboard cut to size
-These should be cut to standard postcard
size: 6”x11”, 5.5” x 8”, 4”x9”,
4.25”x 5.5”,
4”x 6”
Pencil and eraser
To sketch out your ideas
Markers, paint, pens, paper and glue
To create and decorate your mail art.
Today we will created a painted postcard as
well as a collaged work for our Mail Art
Stamps and addresses
To send your work out to a friend or collaborator
Take a moment to gather the items you need
to join in art making.
The first thing we need to do is decide what
size we want our postcards to be.
For my first postcard, I will be using the
4” x 9” template.
I really like the wide, landscape look of
these dimensions.
And for my collage postcard, I will be using
the 4” x 6” size.
My first postcard will be on this black cardstock,
so I’ll use my pre-cut template to trace
the parameter onto the page.
You can simply use a ruler to measure the
correct size directly onto the page.
Once you have it drawn out, simply cut off
the excess.
Repeat with your other postcard.
Great!
We’re ready to move onto the fun part – creating
our Mail Art!
I’m going to start with my illustrated postcard.
I decided already who I want to send this
card to, and that person is going to be the
inspiration for the image I make.
This person loves plants, a cool, modern aesthetic,
so I’ll be keeping that in mind as I work
on this image.
You can use anything you like as your inspiration
– have fun with it!
Just be sure to fill the space and try to
create a complete composition.
Great!
I’m pleased with that.
We’ll set this aside for now, and work on
our next Mail Art piece.
And now I’ll work on the collage postcard.
I’ve already gone through some magazines
to find interesting images.
I’ll cut these up, arrange them on the surface
and glue them down.
Wonderful.
I’ll let that dry and add some final finishing
details with pen before adding my message
and address.
Now, how to correctly address it.
Turn over your postcard so that the longest
side is parallel to your work edge.
Come in about a third of the way into the
card, and using a ruler or a straight edge,
mark a vertical line to distinguish between
the address area and where you will write
your message.
On the right you will add name, street, city,
state and zip, and on the left you can add
the letter portion.
Now we need to put our stamps in the upper
right-hand corner, just like you would a letter.
I’m pretty sure this would be fine with
one stamp, but I’ll add another just to
be sure.
And now, your postcard is ready to go into
the mail!
Here are my finished postcards.
I had a lot of fun creating work for people
I know and care about.
I know how exciting it is to receive a letter
in the mail, and I can’t wait for my friends
to receive these.
While you have your supplies out, create more
postcards and letters for your family, friends
and collaborators.
Bring a little happiness and creativity to
someone’s day!
For more information on all of the educational
offerings at ZAM, please visit our website
– zam.umaine.edu.
Thank you for watching this video from The
Zillman Art Museum…
Maine’s Museum for Modern and Contemporary
Art.
