FEB: Senders Receive - a mail art sampler service

Senders receive: a mail art sampler service

With this swap, I introduce you to the Senders Receive Sampler Service. Think of it as an introductions agency, if you will, for the postally inclined. Mail art, like any expression of creativity, differs dramatically from person to person: some you will embrace like a long-lost friend, some you will be ambivalent towards. A successful mail art correspondence comes about by happening upon a fellow mail artist whose style suits, or complements your own (in whatever arbitrary manner). You may have dramatically different styles, but so long as you find some random means of connection, your correspondence may still bear fruit.

The idea of the Sender's Receive Sampler Service is simple: you will send 3 mail art samplers and receive 3 mail art samplers. There is no guarantee that these pairings will develop beyond the initial contact; however, the odds are that the more samples of your mail art that find their way into the world, the greater the likelihood is that you will find appreciative correspondents.

What should my sampler include?
Mail art as a concept is a very broad umbrella. The following list could go on indefinitely; it is not meant to be all-encompassing:

• a piece of naked mail
• a handmade address book
• a decorated envelope
• 4 hand-folded envelopes
• 2 handmade postcards
• 2 items of 'found' or handmade stationery
• 2 ATCs
• 10 artistamps (faux postage), loose or small sheet
• 10 DIY mailing labels
• 10 DIY envelope seals
• a mini-zine
• what, I need to think of everything? Just be creative!

Therefore, the type of item you send is entirely up to you. The only requirement is that it should give a reasonable representation of what a person might expect, should they wish to enter into further correspondence with you. Quantities suggested are approximate – you may of course include more, if you wish! If the items you send are not listed above, please use the sizes of the above items as a rough guideline for quantities. If in doubt, ask!

The requirements for joining the Senders Receive Mail Art Sampler Service are as follows:

• You will send 3 mail art samples to each of your 3 partners.
• Samples must include at least 3 different types of mail art. The envelope that your items are mailed within may be one of your 3 items, but it does not have to be. If you wish to send an item of naked mail and it is separate from the rest of your package, let your partner know by PM that 2 deliveries are expected.
• You must include a brief introductory letter, including your user name, swap title, an overview of the types of mail art you like to send and receive, and a few notes on the items you have included in your sampler. Alternatively, you can download and print the Mail Art Sampler Service tuck-in postcard (2 pages to print back-to-back): A4 version or letter-size version
• Samples should be handmade by you. This Sampler Service is not for store-bought items, or for de-stashing of ATCs, zines, etc by other artists.
• Please scan/photograph your addressed mail art before mailing. If your mail art should go missing in transit but you can provide your partner with photographic evidence of what you sent, they must not rate you down for a part of the swap being missing.

The obvious bit
As well as meeting requirements as outlined on group homepage participants must have no late swaps on their dashboard, no 3 ratings in the last 3 months, and no 1 ratings in the last 12 months. I will check before assigning partners, so please contact me if you are concerned. I will take extenuating circumstances into account, but the happy swapping of the majority is the most important factor.