Oberlin and Mail Art

In 1974, local artist and Oberlin student Harley received an exhibition catalog from Ellen Johnson, professor of Contemporary Art. Ellen already knew Ray Johnson, heralded by many as the founder of the mail art movement in the United States, but apparently was not familiar with artistamps. The catalog she gave to Harley was from the first North American artistamp exhibition held at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver. A stamp collector from an early age, Harley found he was powerful drawn to artistamps. The next year he founded "Tristan Local Post" (named for his son) and started issuing stamps.  Later he created a full-fledged imaginary country, Terra-Candella.

Soon after, Reid Wood (OC '70), another local artist, discovered the mail art movement through his association and later membership in the "Church of Sub-Genius" a loosely organized group of artists, poets and performance artists who worship J. R. "Bob" Dobbs and share a Fluxus sensibility.

Then in 1987 the Allen Memorial Art Museum held "Corresponding Worlds," a major exhibition featuring artistamps from around the world. The first week was filled with a wide range of activities and events, from the traditional (panels) to the creative (opportunities to make artistamps) to the informal (parties, open houses, and general joviality). Most of the visiting mail art artists stayed in the homes of Oberlin residents allowing friendships and interest to develop beyond those typically associated with an art exhibition.

After "Corresponding Worlds," Oberlin was known as a mail art hot spot. Even Ray Johnson, founding father of mail art and a seminal character in contemporary art, visited from time to time.

Oberlin’s love affair with mail art has withstood the test of time though remains 'under the radar' as time has passed. Recent events suggest a mail art renaissance may be close at hand: