Ex Postal Facto 2014: what a weekend!

now THAT’S an opening reception!

A great big, gigantic THANK YOU to everyone who traveled from near and far to attend the Ex Postal Facto weekend — words can’t describe how incredible this event was. Three days filled with stories, laughter, and creativity underscored the fact that the mail art community is filled with some of the kindest, most generous people on the planet.

From the bottom of my heart, I’d like to thank the XPF team who helped make it all happen: Maureen Forys, Kate Kaminski, Sally Wurlitzer, Jennifer Utter, and Angelique Evans — through the talents of these five fantastic “postal partners in crime”, Ex Postal Facto came together into one unforgettable weekend.

Over the next few days, I’ll be posting video and photos, snapped over the course of the weekend. I’d also like to invite anyone who has Ex Postal Facto related stories, artworks, photos, etc. to send them my way; plans are already in motion for an Ex Posto Facto yearbook! More details to follow, ASAP.

Thanks for the amazing weekend.

Now I can reply to all of that correspondence that’s been piling up!

–JH

2014 has arrived — Ex Postal Facto can’t be far behind!

new year’s greetings from Leslie C/Creative Thing…

Happy New Year to all mail artists, artistamp makers, visual poets, collagists — in short: this always expanding Network that we happily work within and with. As 2013 turned into the “fresh start” of 2014, I couldn’t help but be excited by all of the possibility and promise offered: new correspondents to meet, new projects to embark upon, new address books to fill.

Leslie C/Creative Thing’s XPF artistamps, close up

Part of this excitement stems from my anticipation of mail artists and postal enthusiasts arriving in SF for next month’s Ex Postal Facto event. Every day my email inbox seems to hold another piece of I-can’t-hardly-believe-it news: another luminary, attending XPF; an idea for an additional event; someone working on a wonderful design or artwork for the weekend (ed: see Leslie Caldera’s artistamps for the event, above).

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing all of this exciting news with XPF readers. Places to stay, special announcements about “in-the-works” outings, names of other attendees, write ups in the press — these are all topics that will be addressed over the next few weeks. Be sure to stay tuned! And it goes without saying: I can hardly wait for 2014 to GET STARTED!

–JH

some lovely Ex Postal write ups…

a little love for the City…

Now that the deadline for “mail/art/book” has wrapped up, it’s time to move on to other exciting aspects of the Ex Postal weekend. I took a little bit of internet “vacation time” and found that the following bloggers, artists, and Networkers have posted about Ex Postal Facto! Very exciting, and I’d like to thank each one of them for their kind words…)

Tic Tac (words of encouragement and visuals from this incredible artist!)

Margaret of  Paper Pastries (a great show-and-tell of her project for the “mail/art/book” exhibit)

Jackie of Letters & Journals (thanks to Jackie for helping get the word out about the event!)

Heebee Jeebee Land (I always love and appreciate Test’s well written posts…)

Planet Susannia (wonderful photos of Susannia’s entry for “mail/art/book”…)

Karen of I Am Rushmore (talking about her excitement re: visiting SF)

Emma of Letter Loves (writing a bit about her project for “mail/art/book”)

just a handful of the many…

Do you have a blog? A “real-time” magazine or zine? Would you like to know more about the Ex Postal event, and share the story with your readers? Let us help! Send an email inquiry to Jennie at: redletterdayzine@gmail.com; I’m happy to answer questions, conduct interviews, and share photos!

Keepin’ it postal —

–JH

best. present. ever.

fluX postal facto!

Mail artist extraordinaire Sally Wurlitzer gifted me with this gem over the weekend; you better BELIEVE that all of my outgoing, Ex Postal related correspondence will be stamped with this puppy!

An event like Ex Postal Facto is only as good as the people working to make it happen — organizers and attendees alike. Planning an event such as this takes a dedicated and talented group of planners — something I am oh-so-lucky to have on my side. Networkers Sally Wurlitzer, Maureen F., JU13, Kate K., and Angelique E. are generously giving their time and talents to the Ex Postal Facto cause, and I cannot thank them enough. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be highlighting each of them (and their mail artworks) in order for Ex Postal followers to get an idea of just who we are and why we are doing this.

–JH