Flight an international mail art project
credits: catalogue design + cover & clean kit photos by John Gayer all artworks © the artists
Flight is a no-nonsense project and Heavenly Goat Road Production Helsinki Finland 2021 ISBN 978-952-69500-3-7
introduction It might be nice to fly off somewhere, but are any countries taking visitors? Bad luck, eh! Perhaps an email art project for a little distraction… While the timing of this mail art project and the Open Call’s text (reprinted above in italics) linked the undertaking to the coronavirus pandemic, that coincidence does not fully explain the project’s rationale. By adding the words “…invites any and all perspective on air travel,” Flight also presented participants with a challenge. One was free to consider the pandemic, but pandemic-related scenarios clearly was not the project’s prime focus. Since ‘flight’, as a word, embraces multiple meanings, a great deal of flexibility was clearly an inherent feature of the project. The artists were thus free to explore the theme from multiple angles and as directly or indirectly as they wanted. Just flipping through these pages proves that’s what they did. The selection of artworks not only presents visual poems on space travel and scenes of imminent crash and burn events, but also calls attention to the delicate structures and much more subtle movement of butterfly wings, birds’ feathers and wind-stirred leaves. Romantic and spiritual visions punctuate the stream of pictures, as do images that reveal various cravings. In this regard, fashion, food and dirt biking all make their presence known. Almost all forms of air travel are represented, as are some of their limits and risks. While doltishly feeble attempts at leaving the earth’s surface bristle with humour, other artists have zeroed in on technical innovations and feats of aviation, which run the gamut from being wholly imaginary or drawn from mythology to citing reallife happenings. Supplementing these artworks are wondrous scenes that direct our gaze upward to that
starry dome or look down toward planet earth and the clouds that hover over it. In addition to demonstrating many modes of picture making, the project encompasses a multi-generational array of artists. The scope of the participants includes well-seasoned mail art practitioners, budding child artists and a host of others who, like me, are situated somewhere between these two extremes. As is demonstrated by its content, Flight comprises a collection of artworks that juxtapose satire, fantasy and playfulness with references to the sensation of being airborne, catastrophic outcomes and magical aspects of our world. The artists’ diverse contributions not only embody Flight’s inherent sense of wonder, freedom and potential risk, but also re-ignite the imagination during this stagnant interval.
NOTE: This catalogue gathers all artworks exhibited online at postbox to mailbox no plain art into a single digital volume. It, moreover, organises the artists’ submissions alphabetically (first by country, then by name), rather than by date of receipt (online). Though the guidelines specified email submission – due to disruptions in postal delivery across the world – all submissions received via regular post appear online and have been included here. As the organiser and publisher of this project, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all the talented artists who participated in Flight. Each artwork not only presents a unique viewpoint, but also contributes to the visual and conceptual diversity that defines the overall project. While closings such as ‘Stay safe, stay well and stay sane’ ended many pandemic era emails, I would like to propose an alternate recommendation for this introduction by stating: ‘Stay safe, stay well and be creative in the face of adversity’. —John Gayer
artists Argentina: Viviana Andrada, Raquel Gociol, Irene Ronchetti Austria: Piroska Horváth Belgium: The Wasted Angel Brazil: Rosilda Sá, Edna Toffoli Canada: Slim Blanks Denmark: Poul Poclage, Marina Salmaso Finland: John Gayer France: Zavarof Germany: Ingeborg Henrichs, Uwe Höfig, Lars Schumacher, Susanne Schumacher Greece: Julia Andriadou, Demetrios Coutarelli Hungary: Biró Ildikó, Anna Dóra Szepesi Italy: Pier Roberto Bassi, Marzi Maria Braglia, Angela Caporasa, Domenico Ferrara Foria, Ruggero Maggi, Cristiano Pallara, Silvano Pertone (PSYCHE OUT FANZINE), Renata and Giovanni Stradada, Daniele Virgilio
artists Malaysia: Muhammad Azim, Putri Fazlyen Azzaharah, Aishah Ismadi, Luqman Rosnan, Farid Sarudin North Macedonia: Zlatko Krstevski Poland: Marta Frackowiak, Dariusz Rułka, Marcjanna Wysocka Romania: Diana Andreescu, Alexandru Bunii, Alexandru Jakabházi Russia: Alexander Limarev, Vasilisa Maklakova, Matvey Maklakov, Vitaly Maklakov Spain: Sabela Baña, Pedro Bericat (MUTE SOUND), Daniel de Culla, Isabel Gómez de Diego, Antonia Mayol, Domingo Sanz Montero Turkey: Mustafa Cevat Atalay, Ilsu Aydin, Ulviye Ozonder Aydin, Ni̇lgün Aydoğmuş, Ceren Baykan, Okan Boydaş, Burak Boyraz, Irmak Boyraz, Ahmet Ceri̇t, Hayati̇ Çi̇l, Hazal Dedekoca, Merve Duydu, Meli̇s Erkoç, İpek Göker, Mehmet İlhan Gül, Göktuğ Karakaş, Meli̇sa Özkan, Hikmet Şahin, Esen Süle, Esma Tatar, Beyza Nur Uyar United Kingdom: Alwina, Raj Verdi, Simon Warren United States: Connie Jean, Robert Matejcek, Michelangelo Mayo, Andre Pace, Joey PatrickT Uruguay: María Victoria Boné Ramírez Venuzuela: _guroga
Argentina: Viviana Andrada
Argentina: Raquel Gociol "La belleza es la perceptión de algo en su contexto adecuado" (Otra forma de mirar) "Beauty is the perception of something in its proper context" (Another way of looking)
Argentina: Irene Ronchetti
Austria: Piroska Horváth Flight
Belgium: The Wasted Angel
Brazil: Rosilda Sá
Brazil: Edna Toffoli
Canada: Slim Blanks
Denmark: Poul Poclage
Denmark: Marina Salmaso
Finland: John Gayer Escape to Planet Earth
Finland: John Gayer The Lounge
France / Turkey: Zavarof
HOP – LA !
Germany: Ingeborg Henrichs
Fantasy Flights
Germany: Ingeborg Henrichs Blue Bird in Blue Night
Germany: Uwe Höfig Emergency Landing
Germany: Uwe Höfig Flying Pigeon
Germany: Lars Schumacher
Germany: Susanne Schumacher
Germany: Susanne Schumacher
Greece: Julia Andriadou Nature Morte
Greece: Demetrios Coutarelli
Hungary: Biró Ildikó PiGeOn FLiGhT
Hungary: Biró Ildikó shadows at the AiRpOrT
Hungary: Anna Dóra Szepesi
Italy: Pier Roberto Bassi
Italy: Marzi Maria Braglia
Italy: Angela Caporaso
Italy: Domenico Ferrara Foria
Ducks
Italy: Maggi Ruggero
Soaring Flight
Italy: Cristiano Pallara
Italy: Silvano Pertone / PSYCHE OUT FANZINE My and my Wife…flight again!
Italy: Silvano Pertone / PSYCHE OUT FANZINE
Italy: Silvano Pertone / PSYCHE OUT FANZINE
Italy: Silvano Pertone / PSYCHE OUT FANZINE
Italy: Silvano Pertone / PSYCHE OUT FANZINE
Italy: Renata and Giovanni Stradada
Italy: Daniele Virgilio
Malaysia: Muhammad Hazim
Skull
Malaysia: Putri Fazlyen Azzaharah ITS ALYNNALONN
Malaysia: Aishah Ismadi
Keep It Sweet
Malaysia: Luqman Rosnan
A Man
Malaysia: Farid Sarudin My Brain Just Thinking Food
North Macedonia: Zlatko Krstevski
Poland: Marta Frackowiak
Hologram flight
Poland: Dariusz Rułka
Poland: Marcjanna Wysocka Mirror
Poland: Marcjanna Wysocka Wing
Romania: Diana Andreescu
Romania: Alexandru Bunii Modern Freedom
Romania: Alexandru Jakabházi
Russia: Alexander Limarev Flight Do Not Cross
Russia: Vasilisa Maklakova Birds over the lake
Russia: Vasilisa Maklakova and Vitaly Maklakov Behind the cloud
Russia: Matvey Maklako
My second drawing
Russia: Vitaly Maklakov
Yekaterinburg-Moscow Moscow-Yekaterinburg 21-23.10.2018
Russia: Vitaly Maklakov
Yekaterinburg-Moscow Moscow-Yekaterinburg 21-23.10.2018
Russia: Vitaly Maklakov
Yekaterinburg-Moscow Moscow-Yekaterinburg 21-23.10.2018
Russia: Vitaly Maklakov
Yekaterinburg-Moscow Moscow-Yekaterinburg 21-23.10.2018
Russia: Vitaly Maklakov
Yekaterinburg-Moscow Moscow-Yekaterinburg 21-23.10.2018
Spain: Sabela Baña
Fly
Spain: Pedro Bericat / MUTE SOUND
Spain: Daniel de Culla
Dentadura perdida en un vuelo Dentures lost on a flight
Spain: Daniel de Culla
Dos Asteroides Atormentados Two Tormented Asteroids
Spain: Isabel Gómez de Diego
Fly
Spain: Antonia Mayol
Árbol de los pájaros The tree of the birds
Spain: Antonia Mayol
Árbol de los pájaros The tree of the birds
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero Aurora en el Cielo / Aurora in the Sky
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero Paisaje con rio a vista de pájaro
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero Landscape with a river from a bird’s eye view
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero
Cometa West en pleno vuelo El cometa West, cuyas denominaciones oficiales son C/1975 V1, 1976 VI y 1975n, fue un cometa que según algunos expertos debería catalogarse en la categoría de "gran cometa". Según los observadores, su máximo brillo era tal que se podía estudiar durante el día.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero
Comet West in flight Comet West, whose official names are C / 1975 V1, 1976 VI and 1975n, was a comet that according to some experts should be classified in the category of "great comet". According to observers, its maximum brightness was such that it could be studied during the day.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero
Tormenta y relámpagos sobre el autogiro Juan de la Cierva fue el inventor del Autogiro, aparato antecesor del actual helicóptero En caso de una parada del motor en vuelo, el Autogiro planea y empieza a descender poco a poco, tal como cae la semilla de un sicomoro. Esta pequeña introducción es simplemente un anticipo de la importancia de su contribución a la ciencia, al mundo de la aviación, y a la historia de España
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero
Storm and lightning over the autogyro Juan de la Cierva was the inventor of the Autogyro, the predecessor of the current helicopter In the event of an engine stop in flight, the Autogyro glides and begins to descend little by little, just like a sycamore seed falls. This short introduction is simply a preview of the importance of his contribution to science, the world of aviation, and the history of Spain
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero Volando sobre “La Isla” “La Isla” - Un recuerdo para Aldous Huxley. La isla (en el original en inglés: Island) es una novela de Aldous Huxley, publicada por primera vez en 1962. Es la historia de Will Farnaby, un periodista con aires de poeta que vive en una isla llamada Pala. La isla es el contrapunto de la novela Un mundo feliz de 1932.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero Flying over “The island” "The Island" - A memory for Aldous Huxley. The Island (in the original in English: Island) is a novel by Aldous Huxley, published for the first time in 1962. It is the story of Will Farnaby, a journalist with the air of a poet who lives on an island called Pala. The island is the counterpoint to the 1932 novel Brave New World.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero El vuelo de los fuegos artificiales Estrellas de los fuegos artificiales Los fuegos artificiales, son mecanismos que al accionarse producen explosiones de colores, no obstante, todo depende del cohete que se utilice. El color, la imagen y la ramificación de la explosión se establecen por los compoentes (entre otros pólvora para cohetes) que se empleen para originar la Fireworks Stars o estrellas de los fuegos artificiales. El nacimiento de la pirotecnia se encuentra claramente relacionado con el invento de la pólvora en China.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero The flight of Fireworks Fireworks Stars Fireworks are mechanisms that when activated produce explosions of colors, however, it all depends on the rocket used. The color, the image and the branching of the explosion are established by the components (among other rocket powder) that are used to originate the Fireworks Stars or stars of the fireworks.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero
Pegaso volando al amanecer Pegaso En la mitología griega, Pegaso es un caballo alado, es decir, un caballo con alas. Pegaso fue el primer caballo que llegó a estar entre los dioses. Pegaso era el caballo de Zeus, dios del cielo y de la Tierra.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero
Pegasus flying at dawn Pegasus In Greek mythology, Pegasus is a winged horse, that is, a horse with wings. Pegasus was the first horse to come to be among the gods. Pegasus was the horse of Zeus, god of heaven and earth.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero Pájaros volando al atardecer Me fascina contemplar, el atardecer, el cielo y los pájaros volando. La paleta de colores de un atardecer es extraordinaria, especialmente en otoño con sus coloraciones rojizas y con tonalidades ámbar.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero Birds flying at sunset It fascinates me to contemplate, the sunset, the sky and the birds flying. The color palette of a sunset is extraordinary, especially in autumn with its reddish colors and amber hue
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero
Mariposas revoloteando sobre el mar Rojo Bonitas y sutiles, diferentes y atractivas, criaturas cercanas, las mariposas nos transportan a la orilla soleada de la vida. Ya que cada uno de nosotros merece sol y felicidad. Mar Rojo. Lo cierto es que, al observar este mar desde la parte alta del lado occidental, en la frontera entre Israel y Egipto, sobran las palabras, el mar se ve de color rojo. Cuando el sol se está ocultando sobre el costado occidental del golfo, el mar sirve de espejo y sobre sus aguas se reflejan las montañas desérticas de color rojizo situadas en el costado oriental (Jordania).
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero
Butterflies hovering over the Red Sea Beautiful and subtle, different and attractive, close creatures, butterflies transport us to the sunny shore of life. Since each of us deserves sunshine and happiness. Red Sea. The truth is that, when observing this sea from the upper part of the western side, on the border between Israel and Egypt, words are unnecessary, the sea looks red. When the sun is setting on the western side of the gulf, the sea serves as a mirror and its waters reflect the reddish desert mountains located on the eastern side (Jordan).
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero
Zepelín volando sobre el valle El zepelín o dirigible es un aerostato autopropulsado y con facultad de maniobra para ser manipulado al igual que una aeronave. Fue el primer aparato volador capaz de ser regulado en un vuelo de amplia duración. Su utilización más importante se desarrolló entre los años 1900 y la década de 1930. Para ir disminuyendo, tras sufrir varios accidentes de cierta importancia.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero
Zeppelin flying over the valley The zeppelin or airship is a self-propelled aerostat with the ability to maneuver to be manipulated like an aircraft. It was the first flying machine capable of being regulated in a long duration flight. Its most important use was developed between the years 1900 and the decade of 1930. To be decreasing, after suffering several accidents of some importance.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero
8 de marzo. Día Internacional de la Mujer Mujer vertical: obra que representa a todas las mujeres El grácil, sutil, etéreo, ligero, delicado, suave, flexible, primoroso, hermoso, armonioso, escultural, bello, esbelto, y brillante: vuelo de la mujer
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero
March 8. International Women's Day Vertical woman: work that represents all women The graceful, subtle, ethereal, light, delicate, soft, flexible, exquisite, beautiful, harmonious, statuesque, beautiful, slender, and brilliant: Woman flight
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero
Artilugios voladores Leonardo da Vinci Recientemente hemos hallado un viejo legajo o carpeta, en un polvoriento desván, con numerosos dibujos, esbozos y diseños sobre los artilugios voladores de Leonardo da Vinci. Aunque el primer helicóptero real no fue realizado hasta la década de 1940, se considera que los bocetos de Leonardo dan Vinci de finales del siglo XV fueron los antecesores del actual artefacto volador.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero
Flying Gadgets Leonardo da Vinci We have recently found an old file or folder, in a dusty attic, with numerous drawings, sketches and designs on Leonardo da Vinci's flying contraptions. Although the first real helicopter was not made until the 1940s, Leonardo da Vinci's sketches from the late 15th century are considered to be the predecessors of the current flying artifact.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero
El vuelo del búho en otoño El estallido del otoño. Renovación de colores, de olores, de sonidos y de clima. El otoño posee una gracia exclusiva que se nota especialmente en los bosques. Un tapiz de hojas reviste lo que previamente fue verde hierba, dando paso a la gama de ocres, amarillos, rojos y magentas.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero
The flight of the owl in autumn The outbreak of autumn. Renovation of colors, smells, sounds and climate. Autumn has a unique grace that is especially noticeable in the woods. A tapestry of leaves covers what was previously grass green, giving way to the range of ocher, yellows, red and magenta.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero El vuelo de los pterodáctilos Pterodactylus es un género de pterosaurio, cuyos miembros son popularmente conocidos como pterodáctilos. Fue el primer ser calificado y reconocido como un reptil volador.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero Nacieron en el nido y pronto levantarán el vuelo En el parque Miguel Servet de Huesca se ubica uno de los símbolos de la capital de la provincia de Huesca. Se trata de la obra que Ramón Acín, artista oscense nacido en 1888, dejó como legado a su ciudad natal: el monumento a Las Pajaritas. Al pasear por el centro de Huesca, los visitantes se encuentran con esta escultura de hierro y cemento engalanada con los colores de la ciudad, el blanco y el verde, que corona un paseo arbolado.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero They were born in the nest and will soon take flight One of the symbols of the capital of the province of Huesca is located in the Miguel Servet de Huesca park. This is the work that Ramón Acín, an artist from Huesca born in 1888, left as a legacy to his hometown: the monument to Las Pajaritas. When strolling through the center of Huesca, visitors come across this iron and cement sculpture adorned with the colors of the city, white and green, which crowns a tree-lined promenade.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero El vuelo de los estorninos. 1 El vuelo sincronizado de una multitud de estorninos es uno de los espectáculos de la naturaleza que mejor expresa la coordinación entre los miembros de una especie animal.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero The flight of the starlings. 1 The synchronized flight of a multitude of starlings is one of the spectacles of nature that best expresses the coordination between the members of an animal species.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero El vuelo de los estorninos. 2 En estas aves, su tendencia desenfrenada por cantar, y en ocasiones sus grandes dotes de imitadores, son los que les dieron la fama de mensajeros o hechiceros. Por estas razones, antiguamente se creía que eran capaces de pronunciar encantamientos.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero The flight of the starlings. 2 In these birds, their unbridled tendency to sing, and sometimes their great gifts of imitators, are what gave them the fame of messengers or sorcerers. For these reasons, it was formerly believed that they were capable of casting incantations.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero Revuelo de hojas Remontan la montaña. Y el sol las acompaña.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero Leaf stir They go up the mountain. And the sun accompanies them.
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero
“El espíritu del bosque sobrevuela” “El espíritu del bosque” Como si el ángel del Señor cruzara, se embellece la tierra santiaguesa y bajo el abrigo de la noche sosegada nace el alba en el pecho de la flor finesa.
Quien ha aprendido a escuchar a los árboles ya no desea ser un árbol. No desea ser más que lo que es. Hermann Hesse
Spain: Domingo Sanz Montero
"The spirit of the forest flies over" "The spirit of the forest" As if the angel of the Lord were crossing, the land of Santiago is beautified and under the shelter of the calm night the dawn is born in the chest of the Finnish flower.
Whoever has learned to listen to trees no longer wishes to be a tree. You do not want to be more than what you are. Hermann Hesse.
Turkey: Mustafa Cevat Atalay
Turkey: Mustafa Cevat Atalay
Turkey: Mustafa Cevat Atalay
Turkey: Mustafa Cevat Atalay
Turkey: Ilsu Aydin Flying to the Stars
Turkey: Ulviye Ozonder Aydin
Turkey: Ulviye Ozonder Aydin
Turkey: Ulviye Ozonder Aydin
Fly
Turkey: Ulviye Ozonder Aydin
Fly to Freedom
Turkey: Ulviye Ozonder Aydin
Butterfly
Turkey: Nilgün Aydğmuş
Turkey: Ceren Baykan bird of prey watcher
Turkey: Okan Boydaş
Turkey: Burak Boyraz
Turkey: Burak Boyraz
Turkey: Irmak Boyraz
Turkey: Ahmet Cerit
Turkey: Hayati Çil
Turkey: Hazal Dedekoca
Turkey: Merve Duydu
Turkey: Melis Erkoç
Turkey: İpek Göker
Turkey: Mehmet İlhan Gül
Turkey: Mehmet İlhan Gül
Turkey: Göktuğ Karakaş
Turkey: Melisa Özkan
Turkey: Hikmet Şahin In memory of Sabiha Gökçen
Turkey: Esen Süle
Turkey: Esma Tatar
Turkey: Beyza Nur Uyar
United Kingdom: Alwina
United Kingdom: Alwina
United Kingdom: Alwina
United Kingdom: Alwina
United Kingdom: Alwina
United Kingdom: Raj Verdi
United Kingdom: Simon Warren
Simon Warren flying
United States: Connie Jean
United States: Robert Matejcek
...f...
United States: Michelangelo Mayo
anywhere but here
United States: Andre Pace
United States: Andre Pace
United States: Andre Pace
United States: Joey PatrickT
Uruguay: María Victoria Boné Ramírez
Uruguay: María Victoria Boné Ramírez
Venuzuela: _guroga I fly with my imagination
colophon Heavenly Goat Road Productions c/o John Gayer Taivaanvuohentie 3 B 13, Helsinki, Finland 4johngayer@gmail.com