interested in purchasing a “mail/art/book” catalog?

The exhibition catalog for “mail/art/book” is a soft cover, full color record of all the artwork on display at the SF Center for the Book. Designed by Maureen Forys of Happenstance Type-O-Rama and photographed by Von Span Photography, this catalog is a welcome addition to bookshelves and reference collections.

Included in the catalog are two essays: “A History of West Coast Mail Art: Artwork from the Patricia Tavenner Archive” by John Held Jr. and “Our Path is Strewn With Words and Letters: Making, Mailing, and Postal Modernism” by Jennie Hinchcliff.

Info for ordering:

Copies of the exhibition catalog can be purchased in person at the San Francisco Center for the Book. If you would like to order via email, please direct all queries to malgosia@sfcb.org, with the subject header “mail/art/book catalog”. You can also call SFCB during business hours (415.565.0545) and ask to speak with Malgosia directly.

Price:

Catalog price is $40.00 per copy, plus $8.00 shipping and handling (domestic). Catalogs can also be shipped internationally, with shipping prices varying depending on destination.

All catalog sales directly benefit the San Francisco Center for the Book, a 501(c) non-profit organization which fosters the joy of books and bookmaking, as well as the continuing presence of books in our culture.

–JH

you want rubber? XPF’ll give you rubber…

got a passport? then you’re in luck!

Ex Postal Facto has plenty of rubber stamping going on throughout the weekend — what would a mail art get together be, if it were lacking in rubber stamps? (boring, that’s what!) Attendees are encouraged to bring their favorite rubber stamps and art making tools to wreak artistic havoc in other people’s passports — all part of what makes a good correspondence “congress” GREAT. Here’s some inspiration:

During Ex Postal Facto, each day’s event has a special “visa” (see first photo above) which will only be stamped in Ex Postal Facto passports. Stop by the “Passport Control/WILL CALL” table to get yours!

yep: it’s exactly what you think it is…

In addition to passport visas, there will be a commemorative postal cancellation available during the opening reception of “mail/art/book” at SFCB. Ex Postal Facto attendees are welcome to bring their own pre-addressed mail art and hand it off to our Postmaster-For-The-Evening, Mr. James. For those of you travelling light, there will be a mail art creation station for those last minute valentines and love letters.

The following guidelines must be observed, if you are interested in bringing your own mail for cancellation:

• postcards/letters must be legibly addressed with proper postage. Your return address must be included in the upper left hand corner.
• if you have 3D elements attached to your outgoing mail, please affix the proper amount of postage (i.e. “more”). Otherwise, the recipient runs the risk of having “postage due”.
• mail art that does not have postage affixed, cannot be read, or does not have a return address will not be mailed and will find it’s way to the Red Letter Day Dead Letter Office.
• mail will not be cancelled at the event. It will be cancelled and mailed once Ex Postal Facto has wrapped up.

Alright gang: time to get to work creating something fabulous! Photos can be shared over at the Ex Postal Facto FaceBook page (if you’re into such things); just search “Ex Postal Facto 2014”.

Postally speaking —

–JH

here’s the schedule of events for XPF!

All events (with the exception of Thursday night’s lecture at Chronicle Books) are free and open to the public.

Thursday, February 13th:

5:00 – 7:00 pm: Chronicle Books and Ex Postal Facto kick off the Ex Postal Facto Conference with  “A New Look At Stamp Design”, presented by Niko Courtelis

located at: Chronicle Books, 680 Second Street (between Brannan and King) PLEASE NOTE: this event is currently at capacity. If you register for this event, you will be placed on a wait list.

what’s happening:

-award winning creative director and philatelic designer Niko Courtelis will speak about contemporary postage stamp design and aesthetics.

Friday, February 14th:

5:00 – 6:00 pm: pre-reception and “mail art mixer” for Ex Postal Facto attendees

located at: Arch Drafting and Graphic Supplies, 99 Missouri (at 17th Street)

what’s happening:

-shopping and socializing

-issuance of commemorative Ex Postal Facto/Arch artistamp

after stopping by Arch, walk over to the San Francisco Center for the Book for the opening reception of “mail/art/book”!

6:00 – 9:00pm: opening reception for “mail/art/book”

located at SF Center for the Book, 375 Rhode Island Street (btwn 16th and 17th Streets)

what’s happening:

-“will call” passport pick up/passports also available for purchase

-passport stamping for official Ex postal Facto passports

-mail art creation station-postal cancellation window –> make your mail art, deposit at the postal “counter”

Saturday, February 15th:

11:00am – 4:00/5:00pm: vendor shop & swap, with over 25 vendors of mail art and artistamp items!

located at: SF Elks Lodge #3, The Kensington Park Hotel450 Post Street (btwn Powell and Mason Streets)

what’s happening:

-passport stamping for Ex Postal Facto passports

-25 different vendors selling, sharing, and swapping their wares

-ADDED BONUS: San Francisco’s Chinese New Year parade starts at 5pm; parade route runs 1 block away from the Elks Lodge

Sunday, February 16th:

1:00 – 4:30pm: panel discussion series on correspondence art and artistamps

located at: Koret Auditorium, SF Public Library Main Branch, lower level, 100 Larkin Street (at Market)

what’s happening:

-passport stamping for Ex Postal Facto passports

-1:00pm lecture: “A History of West Coast Mail Art” with guest speakers Lowell Darling, Carl Chew, Leslie Caldera, and Anna Banana. Moderated by John Held, Jr.

-2:30pm lecture: “Artistamps and Their Makers: Seeing the World in Miniature” with guest speakers James Cline, Harley/Terra Candella, James Felter, and Ginny Lloyd. Moderated by Jennie Hinchcliff

-3:45: reception for speakers and Ex Postal Facto attendees

if a photo’s worth a thousand words…

(ed: take a look in the upper right hand corner of this page…notice the newly added “artists: “mail/art/book” tab? If you click through, you can view an alphabetical listing of all participating artists.)

I’m happy to report that things are moving along quite smoothly for Ex Postal Facto! Today, I bring you news about the “mail/art/book” exhibition — if you contributed artwork for the show, you might want to read further!

This weekend, photography will begin for the exhibition catalog. See that photo above? That’s what 300 pieces of mail art looks like, when it’s been categorized, archived, and prepped for photos. I feel extremely lucky to be working with Von Span (photographer) and the Happenstance Type-o-Rama design crew (hey Kate! hey Maureen!) once again; if you liked the look of Good Mail Day, you’re gonna love this new catalog.

I’m not gonna lie: it’s been a pretty epic task organizing and sorting all of your incoming work. I mean — three hundred pieces?!?! But each and every artwork is a fantastic world unto itself — taking the time to enjoy each one has been a delight.

As with every mail art show I’ve curated, there are a couple of orphans — pieces where the sender forgot to include their name, return address, or any sort of contact info. See those four pieces above? If one of them belongs to you, please get in touch ASAP! For one reason or another, I was unable to determine who sent these pieces in. redletterdayzine@gmail.com

Stay tuned for more updates!

–JH

just a few days left!

…to send in your entries for the “mail/art/book” exhibit, taking place at the SF Center for the Book. Artwork needs to be in the mail by October 15th; we are fast approaching 100 wonderful pieces of mail art, from all over the globe! The video below shows Nina’s (from The Netherlands) mail art “in action” :

Exhibit details are at the bottom of this entry; if you haven’t sent anything in, now’s the time!

The SF Center for the Book will publish a catalog that will be available for sale both at the opening reception and online. (details about the catalog will be posted here at the Ex Postal Facto blog). Additionally,  Jennie Hinchcliff/Red Letter Day will send out limited edition documentation created specifically for participating artists.

Questions? Ask away! –> redletterdayzine@gmail.com

See you in the mail!

–JH

details:

THEME: “mail/art/book”

Artists are invited to submit work exploring the intersection between mail art and artists’ books, in whatever way, shape, or form that may take. Mail art, artistamps, artists’ books, and other artworks that can be mailed and relate to the theme of mail/art/books are encouraged.

POSTMARK DEADLINE: October 15th, 2013

FORMAT: work must be sent directly through the postal service. Please apply postage directly to your work.

TECHNIQUE: All techniques and mediums accepted including mixed media, collage, montage, sculpture, painting, printmaking, photography, etc.

NON-RETURNABLE. NO ENTRY FEE. ALL WORK WILL BE SHOWN.

Documentation in the form of an address list and art zine will be sent to participating artists. Please include your mailing address. The San Francisco Center for the Book will produce a print catalog of the exhibit, which will be available for sale at the opening reception and throughout the show (February 14-April 30, 2014)

MAIL ENTRY TO:

Jennie Hinchcliff

Attn: mail/art/book

PO Box 170271

San Francisco, CA. 94117

(Artwork submitted for the exhibition becomes part of the Red Letter Day archive)

This show is curated by Jennie Hinchcliff and John Held Jr. and hosted by the San Francisco Center for the Book. The opening reception for “mail/art/book” on February 14, 2014 kicks off the Ex Postal Facto Conference, which runs February 14 – 16, 2014. For more information about Ex Postal Facto, visit: http://www.expostalfacto.wordpress.com.

By submitting artwork for this exhibit, you agree that both the San Francisco Center for the Book and Jennie Hinchcliff/Red Letter Day can photograph and use images of your work for future publication and press materials. Additionally, the artist also agrees that they will not receive any direct financial compensation from either the San Francisco Center for the Book or Jennie Hinchcliff/Red Letter Day.

Questions? Contact Jennie at redletterdayzine@gmail.com

 

 

thank you to everyone who has…

be on the lookout!

…sent in artwork for the “mail/art/book” exhibition! Wonderful postcards, artistamps, zines, and artists’ books have been arriving from around the world! There is still time to send in artwork: the show deadline is October 15th, 2013. The call-for-entry can be found here.

perforation confetti!

–JH

 

incoming artwork for “mail/art/book” at SF Center for the Book…

a first look at…

Postcards, artistamp sheets, artists’ books and zines are starting to roll in for the “mail/art/book” exhibit…

…some of the incoming artwork!

So far, artwork has been received from the following artists:

Stan Askew, Vittore Baroni, John M. Bennett, buz blurr, Torma Cauli, Leslie Chow, Niko Courtelis, Michel Della Vendova, Pamela Gerard, Elke Grundmann, John Jennings, Bethany Lee, Kathleen McHugh, Kazunori Murakami, Cheryl Penn, Mrs. Sawbones, Jaromir Svozilik, Ed Varney, Simon Warren, and Laura Zander.

Thanks to everyone who’s sent something in so far — an acknowledgement and thank you is coming to your mailbox very soon! If you’d like to submit work for the show, the CFE can be found here.

–JH

“mail/art/book” exhibit at the SF Center for the Book…

The postcard has been designed (see above –ed.) and is on it’s way to the printer! I’m excited to announce that the San Francisco Center for the Book will be home to the “mail/art/book” exhibition for the months of February – April, 2014.

Mail artists, Networkers, artistamp makers and paper people of all stripes are encouraged to submit work for the “mail/art/book” exhibit. SFCB will host an opening reception for contributing artists, Ex Postal attendees, and the general public on February 14th, 2014. The Ex Postal crew is already hard at work planning hijinks and shenanigans for the evening — what’s a party without (good) surprises? I can tell you this much: rubber stamps and chocolate will be involved.

If you’d like to submit work for the “mail/art/book” show, take a look at the details below; head over to the XPF Newsroom to download a copy of the postcard front and back!

THEME: “mail/art/book”

Artists are invited to submit work exploring the intersection between mail art and artists’ books, in whatever way, shape, or form that may take. Mail art, artistamps, artists’ books, and other artworks that can be mailed and relate to the theme of mail/art/books are encouraged.

POSTMARK DEADLINE: October 15th, 2013

FORMAT: work must be sent directly through the postal service. Please apply postage directly to your work.

TECHNIQUE: All techniques and mediums accepted including mixed media, collage, montage, sculpture, painting, printmaking, photography, etc.

NON-RETURNABLE. NO ENTRY FEE. ALL WORK WILL BE SHOWN.

Documentation in the form of an address list and art zine will be sent to participating artists. Please include your mailing address. The San Francisco Center for the Book will produce a print catalog of the exhibit, which will be available for sale at the opening reception and throughout the show (February 14-April 30, 2014)

This show is curated by Jennie Hinchcliff and John Held Jr. and hosted by the San Francisco Center for the Book.

MAIL ENTRY TO:

Jennie Hinchcliff  attn: mail/art/book

PO Box 170271, San Francisco, CA. 94117

(Artwork submitted for the exhibition becomes part of the Red Letter Day archive)

By submitting artwork for this exhibit, you agree that both the San Francisco Center for the Book and Jennie Hinchcliff/Red Letter Day can photograph and use images of your work for future publication and press materials. Additionally, the artist also agrees that they will not receive any direct financial compensation from either the San Francisco Center for the Book or Jennie Hinchcliff/Red Letter Day.

Questions? Contact Jennie at redletterdayzine@gmail.com