uncle alex

Cope'n mechanisms R us! They evolved. I utilized. I practiced. I believed. Loved. Shared. And now MISS (and I hate miss'n crap). Ode to mY beloved's, the things that saw me through. I wrestle with sum words (not my forte!) and attempt to share. Here Goes!~ I started trash'n in sixth grade (to fill the void of having lived on the beach,shell and sharkstooth hunt'n) on the way to school, in St. Augustine, Florida. Leather & candle shops were my main scores. I'd hit them on the way in and me classmates and I employ'd the find'ns in art class. Fun!~ Time and trucks happened, and poof, I had myself a collect'n problem. Sanford and Son music HERE, Dances with Dumpsters, if'n U will. Give me a mostly foodless(it is mainly a bug,stanky thang!) container of misc. fun stuff out back of a thriftstore and I sure 'nuff b's in hog heaven for sum hours, I do mean hours! Friends of the Library Book store dumpster in Gainsville will always be my ideal set up. Bullet proof, cleanish, and an endless variety of materials. I have video if'n ur interested. I documented it all! U see, words were always momma's medium (she was the writer). They were not for me, or so I believed (to this day I have difficulties with, see: exibit A) ,so I found a means to express myself. I use a little thing I've come to call PAT, Postal Art Therapy.(P@)! She is and will always be, my Babygirl!~ Yes, that is major silly, alas, it is how I feel. It is what I did to survive. It was such a beautiful, step by glorious step, process, in it's unveiling to me, like a bloom'n flower it was. I get too excited to type about it. (I must work on that, seriously). I started to employ discarded book covers (hardback(optional), double sided canvas like) and anything my big heart can locate and glue. Found something in FOUND objects! My every step was a treasure hunt, always look'n round. A recyclers dream Everythings Art, and art happens!!! Top'd that with a generous help'n of postage, sprinkle in some funny(optional), throw on an address, and I had myself a PAT. Let her set sail in de mail and TA-Da! I'd feel swell, as we hope will the other party involved. (Here's hope'n the post person welcomes the act,a break from de blah white drab of de day...maybe?!Yep, I'm a Dreamer). PAt, Patti (postal art therapy try it!~), mail art art thou, I thank u. Don't forget to Document, because life, she's happen'n and change is a come'n. Thangs, they r a shift'n. (wind wooshes Here) Photos, video (film form of ur fancy), draw'ns, write'ns...any means available! Get it down. Notions & whatknots. Dive in, claim/define ur medium! GIT 'er DONE, Just Do It, ExPreSS urself! Carpe, carpe!!! Si, Si!!!! Ok, also, freedom in sketchbooks. [I scrap'd with a lady in the scrap book isle @ de Walmart, 'bout me be'n a scrapbooker. I didn't think I was, I might B.] See I took a sketchbook class in college. U had to keep three different ones: observation, memory and theme. I love'd it, lordy lordy lordy. She is how I communicate best. So I highly recommend! Absolutely anything goes. Dirty them up, leave them in the rain, leave them at friends houses for months and see what grows! Time and attention and next thing u know ur materials have combined and settled and POOF, u've got urself some images, I don't know, maybe?!. Scan and photoshop 'em everywhich way u can...The possibilities are endless and the journey is mucho excite'n! Swear~ I also adore and collect skulls of all shapes n sizes. It to is a cope'n mechanism, of which I welcome and defend often. Skulls(the multitude of wittle bones! De nerves(am I get'n on urs?) are mind blow'n, I can't help myself. I am not garbage'n or doing Pat at this time. I read sumthing about the very definition of insanity being doing something over and over and over Expect'N different results. So we are on HOLD @ present, wait'n on a what now, remains to be seen (or not). So, Pat production is @ a halt, but I'd open the door if'n and when she knocks next, know that! 4ever P@!~ So, with that attemted to be said, Here I share. (under PICs, to date) Thanks u kindly for take'n de time to stop by wade thru my manic magic mess. Chime in anytime. I'm a big ol' shy thang, but have intentions of a reciprocated chime back, do. Grazie~ alexd