Mini Mail Art Symposium

Nice day with Roger Stevens, Jilly Stevens and Joe Decie who stayed overnight with us before we all went off to Manchester the next day to see John Held and his partner Mary who had been in Budapest and now in UK for a few days to give a talk at MMU on mail art. Also a rubber stamp workshop at Special Collections as part of the Curious Things exhibition. Stephen Fowler the renowned rubber stamp carver and graphic designer came all the way from Bristol which was nice. He brought a big box of his latest stamps with him. Nice to meet up at last sincebeing friends on FB for a while. Peter Arkle the cartoonist was their briefly too. Hazel talked to him but I was otherwise engaged. Printed to the jumbo rubber stamp which was fun and Stephen and few other folk had a go too. Nice lunch in the Eighth Day Wholefood Cafe which was very crowded but we managed to find two tables to push together. It all went on until 7pm and then we rushed off to get grab a sandwich and get out train home. Roger and family went off to visit relatives in Manchester. John and Mary had a curry to sample and then back to LOndon and their flight to SF tomorrow. Phew! The rain held off thankfully so wasn't too wet.

Curious Things

Some fuzzy views of the new "interactive area" in the foyer of the Curious Things exhibition in Special Collections, MMU, Manchester. There's a rubber stamping table to add to your free stamp card/ exhibition guide etc. A bowler hat post box in memory of W. Reginald Bray and a section to stick your artworks. Here some students from fine art history department are having fun with the stamps. Thanks to Sophie for the photos.#mmucuriousthings

CURIOUS THINGS Open Evening

Nice but somewhat stressful evening at PV at Special Collections in Manchester. Went on train and met up with Rick Cox and Allison, Tony and Pene Eve, Mark Pawson in the Benzie cafe for a chat and quick look round the dissapointing MA show. Then over to library and SC for a mingle with gathered throng. Staff there had pulled out all the stops and provided lots of drink and hospitality. I had to read Roger Stevens poem out as it was National Poetry Day which was slightly embarrassing but managed it and even got a round of applause. Hazel read her speech as did the head of Special Collections - Anneka? Mark P. gave us a potted history of the mail art movement from Fluxus to the 90's. Great to see Russ Columbo turn up from Fife in Scotland who I hadnt seen for over 50 years! Also amazed to see Jennifer Williams from London on a day excursion just to see the exhibition! Also there were Charlie Holt, some assorted staff and ex-staff of MMU nd even a few students. Chatted to several poeple who I didn't know but seemed intrigued by it all which was nice. A friend of Keith Bates. A man from the Victorian Envelope Club? One man who said his friend makes painted postcards and would be sure to tell him so he could send me one. Quite an evening and very tiring - trudged back through wet Manchester streets to the train station and home