A-MAIL-ZINEING

A "zine" {according to that font of knowledge that is Wikipedia} is "is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier." I've come across some zines that I think all L.W.A. members would be interested in.

First up is Red Letter Day by Jennie Hinchcliff. Jennie, co-author and PodPostess with Carolee Wheeler of Good Mail Day, also writes and creates this lovely zine."Dedicated to making ordinary mail extraordinary, each issue contains articles relating to mail art, book/show reviews, and techniques for use in mail art. Artists submit artwork for each themed issue and are featured not only in the zine itself, but in a photo CD which is included with the zine. Red Letter Day is handbound and often incorporates vintage ephemera, interesting papers or unusual folding techniques. This zine comes out four times a year in an edition of two hundred copies per issue. Subscriptions are available upon request" -ZineWiki {who knew there was a ZineWiki?}

Next is artist Carroll Woods, who, in addition to being a contributing artist to both Good Mail Day and 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse, has created her first mail art zine which is actually an instruction booklet for making your own mail art kit as seen on her Flickr page. She's also got some photos up of a mail art kit she assembled with a medical theme. It's pretty awesome. 

I picked up this teaser-zine of Uncle Envelope at Windy City Comicon last year. Uncle Envelope was founded by Kristin Lindner and is an art surprise mailing program. You subscribe and get sent 12 envelopes through the year from Uncle Envelope.

James, over at the Everyday Correspondence blog has a zine coming out soon. {Submissions are just now closed for the first issue.} It's called blotter paper and it theme is one of"Correspondence as..." According to the site, some examples would be: correspondence as art, correspondence as communication, correspondence as documentation, correspondence as technological rebellion, et cetera. 

Who else has some mail zines to share? Tell us about them!

Comments

[Julie]

One of my favorites is the Letter Writing issue of All This Is Mine.
http://allthisismine.com/shop/zines/12.html

[James]

Thanks for the mention!

James

[Sarah]

Sadly, there has not been an issue of Red Letter day in about three years! :( A real disappointment to the people who have sent in artwork, I can tell you.

[Jennie Hinchcliff]

Miss Donovan -- many thanks for the mention of "Red Letter Day"; I really appreciate it! As mentioned above by Sarah, I haven't put together an issue recently. Right about the time I was gathering articles for issue #4, "Good Mail Day" came along! But I have every intention of putting together the elusive issue #4. Mail artists and contributors who sent in wonderful submissions will be among the first to hear about it/see it!
--JH