Postmarked 2012: New Art

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

New Art | September 25

Only a few more days to mail your Postmarked 2012 artwork! All submissions must be sent in by September 30. Be sure to add your own artwork and join us for the opening on Friday, October 5th!

L. Gabel, Ontario, CA | No. 246

Amanda Wallace | No. 247

D. F. Steffer, Ontario, NY | No. 248

D. F. Steffer, Ontario, NY | No. 249

Amanda Wallace | No. 250

D. F. Steffer, Ontario, NY | No. 251

Cory Kram, Haddonfild, NJ | No. 252

Cory Kram, Haddonfild, NJ | No. 2533

Alan Bisbort, Cheshire, CT | No. 254

Amanda Wallace, Norfolk VA | No. 255

D. F. Steffer, Ontario, NY | No. 256

Claudia Kumpe, Claremont, CA | No. 257

Claudia Kumpe, Claremont, CA | No. 258

Natalie Rojas, La Verne, CA | No. 259

Connie Jean, Titusville, FL | No. 260

History of Postmarked

The Prison Library Project receives hundreds of letters every week from inmates across the country. These letters (and envelopes), requesting books and dictionaries, are often beautifully illustrated. In the spirit of these talented prison artists the Postmarked show was created, using the envelope as a canvas to create and share mail art.

The art of letter writing and the use of "snail mail" is on the decline, a casualty of the electronic age. But who among us would not smile if we received a letter in our mailbox? Who wouldn't thrill to find art instead of junk mail and bills?

The Postmarked show is a chance for all of us to reconnect with the magic of "snail mail" while helping a population whose voice, if heard at all, is limited to the humble envelope, letter and pen.

Call for Mail Art

Requesting your original mail art for display and sale to raise funds for The Claremont Forum's Prison Library Project (PLP). The PLP is a prison book and literacy program which sends thousands of books, study aids, educational and spiritual resources to inmates nationwide.
Please send submissions of mail art of any size and medium to:

Postmarked 2012
Prison Library Project
112 Harvard #303
Claremont, CA 91711

Submissions accepted June 25, 2012
Deadline is September 30, 2012

Note: ONLY the side with the official USPS Postmark/barcode will be displayed. Your mail art may be painted, stamped, collaged, printed, and/or otherwise decorated or constructed. It may be any shape and size that will go through the mail and receive an official postmark. It may get worn or torn through the mail, but the handling process is an important part of the theme. Only the side with the postmark can be displayed, due to space limitations, but the art doesn't have to be limited to that side. You may include any message inside the envelope, which will be opened only by the person who purchases the art envelope. You may submit more than one piece… and begin sending now!