Christine Bongibault, Saint Remy du Plain, France

 Another amazing entry for the Bicycle themed Mail Art exhibit arrived here in Richmond, VA on Friday, 16 October.

It's fabulous.
Size: 23 cm x 32 cm / 9" x 12.75"

The narrative is delightful! I can't believe it missed being in the exhibit, but I'm going to take it round to the coffee shop so they can see it.

Here's the postmark.
Doesn't it look like this was mailed on 2 July at 4pm?

Help me out here, if I'm reading this incorrectly.

If this is true, then this has been on it's way for a long time. I hope that people have enjoyed it along the way.

Thank you so much, merci beaucoup, Christine. This is such fun and so beautifully done. Brava!

Nicolas de la Casiniere, Nantes-la-Bleue, France

 Look what arrived TODAY!!

How long has it been on it's journey?

And why did the USPS think it needed to be in a protective envelope?

 I really like the mixed media collage that was sent to me for the Bicycle exhibit. I'm sorry it missed the deadline for the installation, however, I will bring it by for the folks at the shop to see it.

Who sent it? I can't read that information clearly, nor can I read the cancellation date on the stamp.
If anyone can help me decipher this, I'd appreciate that.
Thank you, Uli Grohmann, from Münster, Germany, for giving me the correct name and address for this submission. 

Dean, Artist in Seine, Paris, France

Dean is a friend of mine and an active member of the international Mail Art community. He has sent a very interesting, interactive piece for this exhibit. The piece came in two parts, with instructions on how I was to assemble. All of it was very clearly written, and here is the resulting piece. Dean tells the story of receiving an actual bicycle rim from our friend, Erni, who is known for sending interesting things through the mail. (note: Dean, also, sends interesting things through the mail.) The details are on the tear off tabs, which Dean hopes will all get torn off and there'll be lots of visitors to the site, HERE.

Thank you, Dean, for your always interesting Mail Art.

Christine Bongibault, St Remy du Plain, France

Christine's entry is a pen and ink drawing. It depicts a moment in the Tour de France,   in 1938. Gino Valetti of Italy won the race that year.

What a nice capture of a historic moment.

Thanks Christine.

Richard Baudet, Marseille, France

Richard Baudet creates envelopes as art with wonderful calligraphy. He uses vintage images. He's included a small work, size of a playing card.

Thanks to Richard for sending in additional work for the exhibit.

Anne Guiberteau, Le Pecq, France

Anne has sent another terrific card for the exhibit. It's collage on velour paper. Quite nice to touch. The statement reminds me of how free I felt as a child, when my father no long had to balance the bicycle for me and I could take off on my own.
Our children learned young and said the same thing - I feel so free! Yes, to be able to propel oneself around the neighborhood, to have transportation at hand, so freeing.

But wait, what kind of bicycle is this? Hmmm?

Anne Guiberteau, Le Pecq, France

 This is terrific! Three entries, one after the other, from my friend Anne in Le Pecq.

They are collages made from multiple pieces of paper in layers.

 Do you have a favorite?

I do, but I'm not telling which one it is.











Anne is an active blogger.
 She's working/playing on two blogs at the same time.
 You can see them at
365bonsjours.blogspot.com
and
365jollygooddays.blogspot.com

Ti Ar Raden, Aulnay-sous-bois, France

 

This is such a fun entry from Ti Ar. At first I didn't see the cyclist, and then I stepped back, AH, there it is. Don't you think that the postal services are doing a good job? Notice the placement of the stamp and the address. My address is, also, on the reverse for good measure. Thanks, Ti Ar, for participating.

You can see more of what Ti Ar does HERE.

Richard Baudet, Marseille, France

 

Mail from Richard Baudet is always addressed beautifully in a variety of calligraphy styles. On the reverse is my address printed clearly and it's got a French cancellation mark on it.
This side, with the actual postage stamp, but my address done in an Art Nouveau style, with my city spelled like a mountain, I love it, has a concellation on the stamp. I like thinking about how the postal person turned the card over to cancel both sides, that an actual person, not a machine, handled this to get it to me.

The miniature vintage bicycle posters are so nice. Don't you think so? Bicycle races have been popular for a long time!

Thank you Richard.

Richard Baudet, Marseille, France

 

What a lovely vintage bicycle and it cost 780 francs! I wonder how much that would be today?
Richard sets the route for touring between France and Switzerland it looks like.

Richard is a member of the International Union of Mail Artists and send out beautiful calligraphy mail art.

Thank you for your entry to this upcoming exhibit.