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Istvan Kantor aka Monty Cantsin – founder of Neoism – Vandalizes Jeff Koons Exhibition at the Whitney Museum
23 Aug 2014 Leave a comment
in anti-art, events, mail-art, neoism, performance art, post-neo, Uncategorized Tags: mail-art, neo, neoism, performance art, post-neo
As widely reported in the media, Istvan Kantor aka Monty Cantsin vandalized the Jeff Koons exhibition at the Whitney Museum in New York City on August 20.
Kantor managed to write a message on a blank wall using his own blood before he was apprehended, removed from the museum and confined in a mental hospital. No artwork was damaged. Kantor has a long history of similar art actions in museums and galleries across the world.
Kantor and mail-art legend David Zack established Neoism in the late 1970s. The underground movement reached an audience of many thousands if not millions in the 1980s and into the 1990s by skillful promotion via the international mail-art network and related zine networks. Kantor is not known to be currently active in the mail-art network but certainly stands as a historical figure.
A cabal known as “The 14 Secret Masters of the World,” members alleged to have been well-known mail-artists, were involved in the promulgation of Neoism as well. Their identities remain mostly unknown and disputed, although Blaster Al Ackerman self-identified as a ringleader of the group.
Monty Cantsin is a multiple-user identity created by Zack and Kantor. Originally, Cantsin was conceived as the identity of an imaginary pop star anyone could become for a limited period of time.
Neoism’s decline (at least in the mail-art network) was related to a belief among members that the Monty Cantsin identity was too closely identified with Kantor. British author and artist Stewart Home created another multiple-user identity – Karen Eliot – at least in part as a response to Kantor’s use of Monty Cantsin. A third multiple-user identity – Luther Blissett – is also associated with Neoism.
Neoism splintered and evolved into various other movements and projects connected to the mail-art network: Plagiarism, Tourism, Anti-Neoism and the global art strike of the early ’90s, among others. Some former Neoists as well as new initiates currently identify themselves as Post-Neo and have a presence both in and outside the network.
Kantor, recipient of Canada’s Governor General’s Award in performing arts, underwent extensive psychiatric evaluation following his art action and was soon released.
http://animalnewyork.com/2014/istvan-kantor-vandalizes-jeff-koons-exhibit-blood/
MinXus Mail Bag: Rebecca Guyver’s Trashbubble sets new postage due record (Suffolk, UK)
04 Jun 2014 9 Comments
in collage, found art, mail-art, object poetry, stamps, Trashpo, Uncategorized Tags: collage, correspondence, found art, mail-art psychic, object poetry, trashpo
Mail-art by Rebecca Guyver (Suffolk, UK)
Is it a reflection of the global economy? Will mail-art become a pastime only of the affluent due to escalating postal costs? We’re not sure, but we can report an outbreak of postage due notices when we visit the post office these days. This piece from our dear friend Miss Becca has set a new record. Ironically, she has left her beloved Suffolk chicken ranch and is visiting the state of Maine in the USA where she mailed us this Trashbubble. Perhaps she has forgotten how to navigate the USA postal system.
First, profuse apologies for the wretched scan. This is a 3-d, haptic Trashpo piece. We believe it is a Trashbubble (invented by Lynn Radford (Pennsylvania, USA). The contents of a plastic and cardboard container have been removed and replaced with trash assemblages, a very interesting piece actually. We are very pleased to have it at such a reasonable price but due believe that it is, as they say, a sign of the times.
“Trashbubble” photo – provided by Rebecca Guyver – many thanks!
MinXus-LynXus Who Has The Best Hair Contest – Contestant # 10 – Snooky the Amazing Mail-Art Dog (Port Washington, Wisconsin, USA)
25 Feb 2014 2 Comments
MinXus-Lynxus Who Has The Best Hair Contest – Contestant #1 – Entry #2 – Rebecca Guyver (Suffolk, UK)
22 Feb 2014 5 Comments
in collage, events, mail-art, mail-art calls, post-neo, stamps, Uncategorized Tags: collage, events, mail-art, post-neo, stamps
We can now begin to place entries in categories. This entry:
Whig Party
Blondes Have More Puns
Best Copyright Violation
MinXus-Lynxus: This is not an original from Ray Johnson about the “Bob Rausch” de Kooning erasure (Carbondale, Illusion, USA)
04 Sep 2013 Leave a comment
in collage, conceptual art, mail-art, Uncategorized Tags: collage, mail-art
Mail-art by Richard Canard (Carbondale, Illinois, USA)
Frequent Mink Ranch correspondent Richard Canard sent us another Ray Johnson fake. This one concerns Robert Rauschenberg’s erasure of Wilhelm de Kooning’s work – a fabulous piece. Frankly, we are thrilled with it.
MinXus Mail Bag: Shine on you crazy diamonds from Amy Irwen (Rosemount, Minnesota, USA)
18 Aug 2013 4 Comments
in collage, conceptual art, found art, holism, mail-art, post-neo, Uncategorized Tags: collage, conceptual art, correspondence, found art, mail-art, neo, neoism, post-neo
Mail-art by Amy Irwen (Rosemont, Minnesota, USA)
We have been aware of Amy Irwen’s mail-art for several years now, and we have completed a number of successful exchanges. Lately, we have been particularly impressed with the evolution of her collages. So we were thrilled to receive this recent correspondence from her that, by chance or design, responds to themes on the MinXus-Lynxus blog.
We think we see Amy’s work growing in complexity, sophistication and density in terms of multiple interpretation and interesting juxtaposition. The collage above is decidedly geometric, or put another way, it plays with the idea of geometry and formal construction. In terms of MinXus symbology, we have the use of the playing card (which frequently appears in MinXus compositions) and holes, referencing Holism. Very nice! We are tickled pink!. Amy includes an interesting message on the reverse side:
Thanks for the thanks, Amy. Here at MinXus-Lynxus, we always call “a spade a spade.” That is, when we see something we like in particular, we say so and try to explain why, working on the assumption that it is one among many more or less equally valid opinions and that attention to one thing in no way negates many other things. Amy Irwen’s wonderful mail-art inspires us to share two MinXus relics that hopefully provide context:
Mink Ranch playing card collage by Dark wall (2012)
Amy notes a “complicated soul” in her kind note. Neither confirming nor denying the assertion, we share a chapter from “The TOXIS Adventure” that addressed the same issue:
“Dark wall why are you so complicated?” from The TOXIS Adventure (2012)
Deepest thanks to Amy Irwen for a wonderful and inspiring collage!
MinXus Mail Bag: Asemic writing (asemics) & abstract art by Claudia McGill (Wyncote, Pennsylvania, USA)
04 Aug 2013 4 Comments
in anti-poetry, asemic poetry, asemic writing, calligraphy, collage, conceptual art, conceptual poetry, Fluxus, found art, mail-art, Trashpo, Uncategorized, visual poetry Tags: asemic fiction, asemic poetry, asemic writing, asemics, calligraphy, collage, conceptual art, conceptual poetry, correspondence, experimental writing, found art, trashpo, visual poetry
Mail-art by Claudia McGill (Wyncote, Pennsylvania, USA)
Mink Ranch regular Claudia McGill aka Miss Claudia has wowed us with an envelope brimming with her art, most of it post-card size but with larger items also. She sent this message:
The piece that opens the blog is larger, approximately 6 X 10 inches. Tenderfoots are familiar with Miss Claudia’s distinctive collage work and painting style. This batch of work incorporates language/text in various ways, especially asemic writing; this work could also well fit the definition of visual poetry. The piece above is a fantastic example of her paint-over approach. Here is the reverse side:
This is an asemic-oriented piece that suggests book pages. Many comparisons can be made to provide a context. We are reminded of Cy Twombly in particular due to the flowing cursive forms and painterly approach.
We could appreciate Claudia’s use of colour and texture forever. The paint-over is evident above and the composition is more rugged and dissonant than much of her far more subtle work.
This reverse side moves into the asemic realm even further. Readable words and letters are suggested in places but meld back into abstraction.
Here is another black on white asemic piece that we think works very. We cannot recall other b&w work by Miss Claudia. The reverse:
We present a vertical scan to give another perspective, as that can be an option with asemic writing.
This (above) is a favourite piece in the collection.
Here is another great piece with predominant black. Claudia McGill’s large envelope that contained all this work is also a piece of art:
The reverse:
Deepest thanks to Claudia McGill for this fantastic package!
“Holiday Resorts of Finland” – a spectacular boekie by Carina Granlund (Petsmo, Finland)
09 Jul 2013 Leave a comment
in books, collage, found art, holism, mail-art, Uncategorized Tags: collage, correspondence, found art, mail-art, mail-art psychic
Cover of mail-art book by Carina Granlund (Petsmo, Finland)
Miss Carina sent us this spectacular boekie that we believe represents a very successful and sustained work in the genre. Primarily grounded in collage, Carina uses an abundance of different materials including postcards, comics, photos and other varieties of found materials. Juxtaposing non-related materials gives the boekie its energy and interest. While we do not find an actual title, we are taking the liberty of naming the piece “Holiday Resorts of Finland” (from the cover) because the idea of a resort, vacation, relaxation, conviviality and general good will comprise a consistent theme.
Back cover: “Holiday Resorts of Finland” by Carina Granlund
As ever, deepest thanks to Miss Carina!
MinXus-Lynxus 
