As some of you probably already know, I've been incredibly interested in the world of MailArt and last year I initiated my own MailArt call based on portraits. The only rule I have is that any person who sends me their interpretation of a portrait will receive a portrait from me in return. Since last May, I've received somewhere over 100 pieces of MailArt, (mostly portraits), from 13 different countries, France being the most represented, as well as from 13 States in the U.S. In turn i have sent out over 100 handprinted postcards.

I've been communicating with High School Art Instructor, Barbara Burns, in Alberta Canada over the past year and somewhere along the way I mentioned that it would be fun to do a MailArt exchange with her students. I have fond memories of exchanging a handmade felt, (made from raw wool, start to finish), envelope and letter with all of the wording embroidered with an artist named Sas Colby while I was in High School and thought that I'd like to turn the tables and be the artist on the other end. Barbara agreed to the idea and incorporated a MailArt project into her curriculum with this years students and in addition to myself, a number of other artists have jumped aboard and are exchanging artwork with her classes as well.

Today I received the package with a bundle of 11 students decorated envelopes with their Artist Trading Cards or postcards included as well as a wonderful gift from Barbara Burns the instructor.

Below is one example of what I received, the rest of the images are posted on my Portrait Mail Art Blog


ROBYN BLACK / Athabasca Alberta CANADA