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