Author Archives: Marius van der Graaf

Celebrate Kindness

An Art Call from Italy “You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force”, noted Publilius Syrus (85–43 BC) in his Sententiae some 2000 years ago. The Roman author knew a lot about the subject because he was a slave from Syria who was sold in Rome and later set free and educated by hisContinue reading “Celebrate Kindness”

#Navalny Exhibition: Participate in the Mail Art Call

Ruggero Maggi and the group Matera International Photography have started a call dedicated to the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny (1976 – 2024) who was killed in the infamou  “Polar Wolf” prison in Kharp on 16 February 2024. They state: “One cannot look, know and turn away. Reacting is a moral obligation for everyone. (…) The ordealContinue reading “#Navalny Exhibition: Participate in the Mail Art Call”

Permutations, Pertumations, Partemutions …

This is a call for mail art that is open to artists from all over the world on the theme permutations. Participation is free, and all artistic, pictorial and graphic techniques, both analogical and digital, are admitted. The works must be sent as letters by ordinary mail. Parcels are not allowed.The works will not beContinue reading “Permutations, Pertumations, Partemutions …”

Roll the Dice

Everyone has played board games at one time or another, whether it was Catan, Monopoly, Scrabble, or Snakes and Ladders. Board games have been around for thousands of years. The ancient Royal Game dates back 4,600 years to the Sumerian city-state of Ur in Mesopotamia where the ancient cuneiform writing system was developed. Perhaps becauseContinue reading “Roll the Dice”

Strong Contrast in Turkey

“Black and white stories” was the theme of an exhibition in memory of Mustafa Okan at the Painting and Sculpture Museum – Kültürpark Art Gallery in Izmir in early July. The show featured more than 700 works by artists from 44 countries. Mustafa Okan (1963-2016) was a Turkish artist with a keen interest in politicsContinue reading “Strong Contrast in Turkey”

Kaleidoskop

Sie sagt, sie versteht nicht, dass er sie nicht versteht. Er versteht nicht, dass sie nicht versteht, dass er sie versteht. Sie sagt, er versteht sie nicht, weil er nicht versteht, wie sie ihn versteht. Er sagt, er versteht, wie sie ihn versteht, aber nicht, wie sie ihn nicht versteht. Sie versteht nicht, wie erContinue reading “Kaleidoskop”

Get Rhythm

An Anthology with an enhanced Reader’s Connection Update 11/24: The anthology “Cadence-Life’s Poetic Rhythms” has been nominated as a finalist for the American Writing Awards. Congratulations to all who have contributed to this anthology! In various places on the web, the Raleigh-based Prolific Pulse Press is characterized as a micro-press. In terms of output, however,Continue reading “Get Rhythm”

Music to make Mail Art by

“I hope you have fun going through the list and listening to something that you may not have otherwise known about or something you my have forgotten about.” In January, Adam Roussopoulos, a well-known and very active mail artist, started his project The Ultimate Mail Art Playlist. He asked the community two questions: Adam collectedContinue reading “Music to make Mail Art by”

Fantasy / Fantasia

Imagination in Power The Museo Bendandi, under the direction of Dr. Paola Pescerelli Lagorio and in collaboration with Roberta Savolini, organizes a mail art project as well as an exhibition in December 2024. Please clearly indicate name, address and/or e-mail address on the back of the card/s. Send your card/s to:Paola PescerelliCasa Museo BendandiVia Manara,Continue reading “Fantasy / Fantasia”

Bad Luck, good Luck, whatever …

13 is not just synonymous with bad luck. The number stands for different and sometimes contradictory things in various cultures . It is the number that follows the – often positively connotated – twelve: the number of lunations per solar year (12,41), the first number outside the Babylonian base-twelve numeral system, the number of theContinue reading “Bad Luck, good Luck, whatever …”

Bücher mit Verspätung

Die meisten Schreibenden freuen sich, wenn ihre Texte in Schulbüchern erscheinen. Allerdings erfahren sie nicht immer davon. Zwar ist vorgesehen, dass sie die Fahnen überprüfen, doch das funktioniert mal besser, mal schlechter. So kommt es zu überraschenden Entdeckungen: Die Seite mit dem Troll-Gedicht von Gerald Jatzek stammt aus Lern-Express: Deutsch 3, Arbeitsheft B vom DeltaContinue reading “Bücher mit Verspätung”

Keep smiling

Matera is a town in the Basilicata, in the Deep South of Italy. The region has been conquered and reconquered many times and has been under the rule of Romans, Lombards, Arabs, Byzantines, Swabians, Angevins, Aragonese, and Bourbons. The name is of Greek origin and means mother (μητέρα), and the high ground with the cathedral is still called acropolis. InContinue reading “Keep smiling”

Perspectives of Global Citizens

Broma Arte Correo is the pseudonym of an artist who teaches art and art history in Santiago de Chile. Last year, he ran an art call for submissions with the theme mi país (my country). The theme could not be more timely. While aggressive nationalism is on the rise, many creative people see themselves asContinue reading “Perspectives of Global Citizens”

Mail Art Call: Birds and Nature

COA-PoA (Clube de Observadores de Aves de Porto Alegre) was the first birdwatchers’ club in Brazil, and it is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year. To celebrate, they are launching a mail art call with the theme birds and nature. Maximum dimensions are 297 x 210 mm or 11.7 x 8.3 in.Minimum dimensions are 100Continue reading “Mail Art Call: Birds and Nature”

Birds of many Feathers

A Mail Art Exhibition as Part of the World Book Night 2024 World Book Night (WBN) is the umbrella term for a series of events by the Centre for Print Research at the University of the West of England in Bristol. The institution deals with art in books as well as books in art. TheContinue reading “Birds of many Feathers”

Borders in Italy

Artists have not forgotten Padhi Friedberger “With his mail art, Padhi Frieberger has disseminated the concerns of ecological and pacifist movements and referred to political debates.” This statement started the international call on the subject of borders.

#krems #austria #padhifriedberger #mailart