Received Aug. 27th- Aug.29th, finishing up!

First, here are the last two entries that arrived this week~ this first one is from Sarah, my project partner here at Lackman. Sarah is from Lenexa, Kansas:

And the second is from my son Andrew, who lives in Olathe, Kansas:

Thank you, Sarah and Andrew, for sending these along! The deadline is now past, (although I will hang anything else that comes in) so here are the photos that show how the exhibit looks!

I borrowed the top section of one of the cards for a header for our sign.

An empty room divider screen mounted on a coffee table  keeps things stabilized.

Smaller items that would not hang surround the screen.

I put together a display of library materials about collage and postcards, and by the end of the first evening, half of them were checked out!

I used the plastic binder on the end of the table for large or fragile items that needed further protection, making sure the artists’ names are easily seen.
The “mailbox” was loaned to us for this display, so I made comment cards for patrons to fill out. And library card applications are also handy. I’ve already heard some very positive remarks, although most people are totally unfamiliar with the concept of sending first class mail, let alone mail art!

Once again, I’d like to thank everyone who participated, the artists, my co-workers, and friends who contributed display props and ideas for presenting the artwork. If anyone has questions or remarks about the display, please leave me a comment!

Thank you for helping us observe Library Card Sign-up Month!

Jeanne Kasten
Lackman Library
Lenexa, Kansas

Received Aug. 25th- 27th

Three new ones in three days, and I know of two more still to come!
We received two from Jeff Newhook of Newfoundland. This first one includes the Chinese character for “Read.”

The second one was made to promote Johnson County Library’s Maker Space! Thank you, Jeff!

This next one is from Michelle Sherry, in Olathe, Kansas! It’s exciting to see work from Johnson County residents. Thank you, Michelle!

 

We started to work on the layout for the display pieces last night. They’re moving some of the  desks in our main  circulation area, so we plan to put the display out when they’ve finished playing musical chairs, hopefully Thursday evening.  Here’s a sneak peek at Sarah, my partner, putting some of the pieces on the framework:

 

I’ll plan on showing you the other items that arrive (in individual photos) as well as the entire exhibit when I post next Saturday!
Thanks again for your art!

Jeanne

Received August 18th- 22nd

We had a great mail week here at Lackman Library! Our first card came from Connie Jean in Cocoa Beach, Florida. It features Frances, from Russell Hoban’s books for children, who is one of my favorite characters!

We also got three cards in an envelope from Meral Agar in Istanbul, Turkey. Each card is from a different artist so I will show you front and back from each card. Check out their blog:  http://artsin2010.blogspot.com/ It has some really great pieces you don’t want to miss plus a photo of their own mail art display.
First, from Turkan Elci:

Next, from Oznur Kepce:

And the third, from Meral Agar:

Our next 5 pieces came from Moan Lisa , a prolific artist and member of IUOMA, the International Union of Mail Artists, where most of these contributors show and trade their work. Moan Lisa is from Iowa City, Iowa.




Moan Lisa, thank you for your generous contribution to our exhibit!

Our last feature for this week is from one of our own Johnson County Library employees, Terri Bostic, who is from Gardner, Kansas. Terri was one of our Lackman employees until just last week, when she was transferred to another branch. Her collage shows Lackman employees, both past and present, with a display of book titles including our names! Thanks, Terri~ we miss you, too!

If I receive more cards during the next few days, I’ll feature them in one more post, but next weekend the exhibit starts, so I will do a separate blog entry showing photos of the entire display. Thank you once again, everyone, for your participation!

Jeanne

Received August 10th- August 16th

We got two this week! Our first one is a photo from Shannon Lee Mannion of a “maverick” Little Free Library in Ottawa, Canada. (If you’re not familiar with Little Free Libraries, take a look at this link.  They’re getting to be quite popular!

 Awareness of Little Free Libraries has skyrocketed in the Johnson County, KS area recently due to the publicity about a  library built by a youngster in Leawood. City ordinances prohibit structures in front yards, but he’s received a temporary moratorium. http://www.kansascity.com/news/government-politics/article687562.html. I know I’ve gotten off-topic, but I like seeing pictures of these very much!

Our next card is from Linda Williams in Callao, Virginia:

Linda regularly makes art pieces using card catalog cards for a project called “Hide Some Art in a Book.” I’ve hidden several of her works in books at my own library, and it’s a fun way to share your creativity. Thank you, Linda!

We’re counting down to the deadline, now, but there are still two full weeks for you to mail in  your art!
Jeanne

Received August 3rd- Aug. 9th

 

Four cards came in the mail this week! This colorful card is from Sheila Wright, in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.

 

Thank you, Sheila!

The next three cards came from Sara Grob in Flauwil, Switzerland. Sara is one of my pen friends, and I have always admired her creativity.

Here’s her second:
And the third:
Many thanks, Sara!

We still have until August 29th to accept your submissions for the exhibit, so if you have something you’d like to contribute, send it along! (Check the About page for guidelines.) Also, if you’ve mailed something and not seen it on this page, leave me a comment and I’ll double check to make sure I haven’t missed anything.

Thanks again, and I hope you have a creative week!
Jeanne

Received July 16- Aug. 2nd

We had several great submissions while I was on vacation, so let’s catch up with more mail art!

First, from Suzlee Ibrahim in Malaysia. I’ll show both sides of the card because I think stamps, postmarks, and air mail stickers are also interesting! Thank you, Suzlee.

Next, our youngest contributor, Elizabeth Schwartz, age 9. This one is postmarked San Francisco. Nice work, Elizabeth, thank you for participating!  If any other children are interested in sending their art, we would love to see it!

The next one is titled “Book Love” and is from Jill Wiggins, in Austin, Texas. Thank you so much, Jill, and thank you for your description of your process in the message!

Our next artist is Consuelo Debiagi from Campinas, Brazil.  Lieratura Literatura. The encaustic technique, using wax, will take a polish to preserve the shine. It’s lovely to see in person. Thank you, Consuelo!

This next one is from Anna Dana in Sausalito, California. There is so much to see on the envelope as well as the card! I’ll show you the whole piece:

Fantastic work, Anna, thank you!

Our last envelope for this week is a second set of cards from Dorian Ribas Marinho in Brazil. I really admire his work. Thank you for your generous contribution!

 

We’re still accepting submissions for the next four weeks, so if you’re interested, there’s plenty of time left. It’s looking like this display will be an amazing one, and there is a possibility that it will travel to other library branches when September is over. Many thanks again to everyone who has sent their art!

Jeanne

 

Received July 6th- July 12th

Last week we didn’t get any new submissions, but this week three things came in the mail!

First, a collaborative work  from Ryosuke Cohen in Osaka, Japan:

From redni.com in Fresno, California:

 

And from Carlo Maria Giudici in Lecco, Italy, La Divina Commedia – Paradiso:

Thanks to all of you! We are still accepting submissions for our display until the end of August, so you still have plenty of time to send something to us. I will be on break from documenting submissions until the beginning of August, so if you mail something in the next two weeks, I will post it when I get back.
Spread the word…. mail art is lots of fun!

Jeanne

Received June 22- June 28

We received two lovely cards this week! The first one is titled “The Path” and it is the work of Sheila Evans from Ocala, Florida:

 

The next one is from Adrienne Mason in Tofino, British Columbia. Check out her blog, she’s got some lovely work there: http://toughcitywriter.blogspot.ca/

 

Thank you, Sheila and Adrienne!
Until next week,

Jeanne

Received June 15- June 21

Only one came in this week, from Wheeling Ice, postmarked Charlotte, North Carolina:

Thank you, Wheeling Ice! There are still two months left to submit your art before the August 30 deadline. We appreciate everyone who is sending us mail, and please pass the word along to anyone else who might want to participate!

Jeanne

Received June 8th- June 14th

Another great week for mail here at Lackman Library!

“Moment Book” a pencil drawing by Jaromir Svozilik from Oslo, Norway:

From Andre Pace in Phoenix, Arizona, a letter, a card about his book and two more cards with poetry on the backs!

 

From Peter Mueller in Bremen, Germany, an entire book with a stamped image on every page:

 

 

 

From Dorian Ribas Marinho in Brazil, three signed prints:

 

 

And a card and decorated envelope from Eni Ilis, also in Brazil:

 

We’re so pleased and excited about these submissions! I also made three that I will contribute myself, so here they are. The first one is from a sewing pattern, an old Classics Illustrated comic, and a children’s dictionary:

This second one is a collage I did from a summer reading program log that my mother kept for me in 1963 for the Johnson County Library. In those days, Lackman library didn’t yet exist, but there were 72 bookmobile stops!

 

This last one includes photos of my own home library:

 

 

Many, many thanks to all of you who are participating! The staff here are all impressed with your talent!

Jeanne