Two Collages

Collage sent by Micu (Hungary) for Easter; it arrived a bit later...

And another collage postcard, sent by Rosemary (Canada).

I like how many elements they include: robots, stickers, tape, maps, cats, rubber stamps, papers, cuttings, a Queen... even an stamp from Vietnam!

Reading Animals & Robots

I keep receiving Reading Animals, like this postcard from Bryon (the USA). I wonder what kind of catalog is the frog reading.

Ruth Caroline Eger from Rimskittle's Book, 1926

Ant the rabbits on this stamps from the UK, what are they reading?

But not just animals like reading. Look at the collage sent by Eutrapèlia (the USA). It seems that robots enjoy comics a lot...

An Open New House Full of Friends

Postcard for Micu (Hungary).

Turquoise People

Sent to Monika Mori (Austria), for the mail art call Turquoise:

Create a postcard sized piece with the topic TURQUOISE and mail it!

Everyone is welcome to participate in this project, all ages and skill levels.

Postage and Deadline: Post it like you would a regular postcard, please don’t use envelopes. Ensure that you use the correct postage to reach Austria. Artists may submit only one piece.

Entries must be postmarked by March 31, 2015

More information

Smiling Robots

Sent to Júlia (Hungary) for the Mail a Smile project. The theme last month was Robots. I'm afraid I didn't participated on May, but I am looking forward to participating in the next challenge.

Íme, a titkon

Íme, a titkom (='Here's the secret').

Collage sent to Micu (Hungary).

Made of press cuttings, stickers, cheese labels and a quote from The Little Prince.
Also published here.

Blue Dreams Of A Child

Sent to Eve (the USA).

Collage made of press cuttings, a reused magazine for children, labels of cheese, stickers, a reused shop bag, washi tape and a T-shirt label. Yes: I like to list what I used for the collages when I finish. It is a way to realise that everything can be (re)used! Finding materials is a funny part of the process.

This collage was made for the Mail a Smile 6th challenge (in July). The theme was Your favourite childhood book. I chose the Smurfs (of course!). But I put a lot of people on the collage, so I also sent a postcard to Eve, just to clarify which was my childhood secret dream (well, not so secret now...):

By the way, the Mail a Smile theme for this month is The 80ies. You have until 31st September to participate! 

Of Course They Can

We're not alone, but they can' be creative.
-What a silly idea...
-Of course we can!

Sent to Eric (France).

Collage made of stickers, rubber stamps, washi tape and two reused notebook covers. For the mail art project We are not alone! / Nous ne sommes pas seuls!
Also published here.

The cover:

Of course you are not alone. Silly humans.

The back:

We Are Not Alone

Sent to Eric (France), as my contribution to his We are not alone! mail art call. You can see the works displayed in this blog.

LoveLetters

Could a machine write love letters better than people? Dr David Link carried out the successful project LoveLetters to show that it is possible.

The Ferranti Mark 1 was the world's first commercially available general-purpose computer, built in 1951. Dr Link's art installation is a replica which executes the original recovered software by Prof Christoper Strachey, a philosopher and pioneer in programming. Visitors can interact with a functional replica of this old computer containing many of its original components, and gain an authentic impression of the look-and-feel of the old computer. The project has won the first annual Tony Sale Award.

The original Ferranti Mark 1 or Manchester University Computer

The old computer was able to do unimaginable tasks 60 years ago. Now it writes algorithm-generated love letters. These would be addressed to "Darling Love", "Honey Love", "Jewel Duck" or whatever, and signed M. U. C. (which stands for Manchester University Computer). For instance:

  

DEAR DUCK

MY KEEN CHARM SIGHS FOR YOUR FERVENT ENTHUSIASM. YOU ARE MY FOND HUNGER.: MY LOVESICK HEART.YOU ARE MY DEAR FERVOUR.: MY FOND WISH.

YOURS AFFECTIONATELY

MUC

Or 

HONEY MOPPET

MY FERVOUR ANXIOUSLY ADORES YOUR LONGING. MY THIRST PASSIONATELY CHERISHES YOUR LOVESICK YEARNING. MY CHARM DEVOTEDLY PANTS FOR YOUR TENDERNESS. YOU ARE MY PRECIOUS THIRST. MY FERVOUR PANTS FOR YOUR ADORATION.

YOURS LOVINGLY

MUC

(You can read the letters here).

The original purpose of this machine was mathematical calculations. I wonder why Dr Link brought it back to life in order to write such old-fashioned love letters. Maybe only old machines can write love letters?

Robots Cannot Be Creative

Sent to Heleen (the Netherlands).
Collage made on an envelope with a brochure, stamps, rubber stamps and colour pencils.
Also publishe here.