[ video de la inauguración

en Buenos Aires ]

[ video de la inauguración

en San Francisco ]

[ obras de los artistas argentinos ]

"MULTIPLICITY / MULTIPLICIDAD:

ARTISTAMPS AND MAIL ART ARCHIVES"

by Eleanor Kent

July 5, 2007

Artists make things and they want everyone in other times and places to see their creations.

Because artists want to connect with people of like mind and to share ideas freely without the complicated requirements of most galleries and museums, many have sent their art to each other through the mails. Artists' stamps, postcards, envelopes, leaflets, and posters have surged around the world internationally, through the postal systems of every country.

The actual art objects of this network of people are variously called Mail Art, Correspondence Art, Stamp Art, Postcard Art, and more. Faxes, computers and the Internet add to the ways artists connect, as postal fees rise and carriers proliferate. The movement, which began in the early 20th century with Dadaists and Futurists, continues today and is still evolving. Anyone can join in, or quit.

This exhibit is titled "Multiplicity/Multiplicidad," in honor of the multiple ways artists make art and send it around the world. A multiplicity of ideas is freely expressed here. There are political comments; homage to people living, dead or imaginary; parodies of commercial stamps and official documents; commemorations or condemnations of world events and people; celebrations of ideals; and small, beautiful pieces of art. There are postage stamps invented for entire imaginary countries with cancellation stamps to match. There are parodies of pompous people, criticisms of government policies, outcries against discrimination or torture. All these are connected through the postal systems of the world that deliver the art to the multitudes of people waiting to receive it.

Vortice Argentina, a Mail Art Collective and Museum in Buenos Aires, and SomArts Gallery have co-sponsored this exhibit that celebrates the generous concept of Mail Art. Fernando Garcia Delgado and Juan Carlos Romero of Argentina and Eleanor Kent of San Francisco have invited four other artists to join them in displaying works from their distinguished archives: two from Canada, Anna Banana and Jas W Felter, and two from the SF Bay Area, John Held, Jr. and Patricia Tavenner.

In these six archives established since the 1970's you will find works with myriad ideas to provoke thought. There are multiple means of production: offset lithography, xerox, rubber stamps, silkscreen, drawing, photographic processes, computer printouts and more. When you visit again, bring a magnifying glass to help you see small details in these miniature artistries. Join the network.