Mail Art Project: Altered Altoid Tin; Shrine or Reliquary Cards
Although I consider this Altered Altoid Tin Project a Mail Art project, this particular project is being exchanged by hand rather than through the mail. This project involves about a dozen local artists in Hawaii. It is typical of projects that could easily be carried out through the mail.
Each artist will make a dozen Shrine or Reliquary cards of their own work to swap. The hostess will receive twelve pieces from each artist and then swap them back out to participating artists. When cards are swapped back out, each artist will receive one card from each of the other participants. Part or all of each card is hand drawn, painted or otherwise created and embellished with attachments.
In this particular swap the hostess is contributing the Altoid tins as well as a card to each artist. The cards have been created to a size that will fit into the tin. When the artist receives the mixed set of cards and their Altoid tin, it is then up to each artist to alter, embellish or decorate the tin as they wish for their set of cards.
The theme for this swap was designated as a "Shrine or Reliquary". The subject of the Shrine or Reliquary was left up to the individual artist. Other than size most every thing else about creating the cards was left up to each artist as well. The visuals in this article are my cards for this swap.
Nine of Fifteen Be Peace Shrine Cards
All of my cards were made individually with Lanaquarelle 140 lb. hot press watercolor and Bristol papers, permanent water-soluble ink, watercolor, and ribbon or silk ribbon. Punches were used to facilitate weaving paper and attaching ribbons. Because thickness was a consideration for the finished set of cards, which is intended to fit into the Altoid tin, I did not attach anything thicker than ribbon or paper. The dimensions of these cards are two by three and one eighth inches. I often sign and number work of this nature on the front and back, in this set I signed only on the back because of limited space.
Three Of Fifteen Be Peace Shrine Cards
Front, Back and "Beneath" The Ribbons
In general when I work on a project like this I set out to make a few more pieces than required. The intent is to end up with a few extra in case I run into a problem with a piece or there is a participant joining the project late. This way I am also able to keep one or two pieces for myself as samples of my work. I have found that initially intending to make a few extra pieces has worked out well for me as I now have a representative collection of my own Mail Art pieces.
Questions or comments are welcome. If you would like more information about my process, materials or projects similar to this, please let me know.
(c)07 Daddario
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Comments: 14
Susan i'll email you with some info.
Gautami - a lot of the article is based on how a swap project involving things like this take place. it was difficult for me to understand it all initially when i began to get involved with Mail Art. it's something that is simple once you see how it works, but explaining it well is a challenge. so if things are difficult to follow it's probably in that process that is really only a concern for those in the swap. if you would really like to follow what happens and i am not clear let me know and i will see if i can explain it better.
cool on the adobe photoshop. i hope you wont wait too long to post things. there is a lot to learn on photoshop but you can do some amazing things once you get some base knowledge with it.
have fun. aloha Wrick
Mariana - i cant take credit for the concept of this swap - Mail Art has a broad range of ongoing formats. Altering is very common, so are Altoids Tins and even shrines and reliquary ideas in Mail art groups. That structure is a great place to explore and play within, and every mail art artist explores it in their own way. which is way cool and a lot of fun. hahaha - i'm not sure the world, let alone myself would want to deal with another me. yikes. i'm challenged enough as it is. ...and my studio is isle only moving space. i know that is how i work and actually i know how to find what i want in it... as long as someone else does not move something. whew. you are very prolific yourself and i know you have a lot going on. i think we should do what we enjoy and forget time sometimes... as well as the broom occasionally too. thanks for you support and words. have fun. and enjoy both up and down on that hill. aloha - rick.
I like these pieces a lot. Listening to you and Mariana is making me think that someday we Gatherers should do a set of art cards or create a book of original work together. That would be so fun. But what am I saying? I have too many unfinished projects as it is. And you guys are busy too. Forget it. Well, maybe someday. Great article, Wrick!
hey... i might not want you to forget that Gathering Art Book/cards Crow, because that WOULD be fun. i have a few loose swaps and other things going on now with Gather people - if i can get to them. yikes. shhhh!
many of the chunky books are very much like your 80's book stuff Mariana. (i too have done some form of mail art for a long time - but not like it is now - the last few years have seen incredible evolution in the genre.) chunky books have an established format but there are spin offs on that too. literally anything you can dream up and create is possible.
Altered Books are also another spin off in creating original works. each participant starting a book and theme and then the books travel to the other participants for their contributions. or... tip-ins are used. that is where you do your work to size on a separate piece of paper with a fold in the middle where the binding edge of the book is. you send that to the person with the book and they "tip it in" to the book.
there are dozens of ways that collaborations take place in the Art Mail world. some quite simple. some very elaborate. and of course ATCs are swapped all the time (Artist Trading Cards) these too are a set size.
i do know how space can grow in on me Mariana. i try very hard to hold it back. the best i've been able to manage is to slow it down a bit. my list is slightly different than yours but i have always been an accumulator. it would be nice if i were a collector but i'm not sure i quite qualify. bonsai, stones, art stuff, books, and an assortment of other stuff... yup, i know how that works.
nature in art. cool. i've put seaweed (laminated), shells, kikui nuts and other stuff in my pieces - fun and more. as you both know - t.i.m.e. yikes. have fun and be well you two. aloha - Wrick