"From the 1960s through the '90s, there was a huge burst of creativity among artists who used the mail to create and send artworks. Instead of paint, canvas, etc., their mediums were postcards, envelopes, rubber stamps, and the like. Some of the works were like miniture paintings and collages, while others were basically text art. But what makes this movement especially interesting in today's context is that none of the works were made to be sold. Mail art was a true "do-it-yourself' phenomenon, in which everyone found and made their own materials and the medium of exchange was the art itself. Mail art was never meant to be bought and sold. Some of the artists also particiapated in the art market, but the point of mail art was to cut out commerce and make art that was truly for art's sake. It was also very much about community building. Considering the level of commoditization we've arrived at in the Art world, it is very refreshing to see these little artworks and think about who made them and why, and where they have been."
