This task appealed to me because I had read about the "Mail Art" communities that existed back in the 1970s, when people would make postcard collages and mail them back and forth between each other as a way of expanding their creative spheres. I decided to work a little larger than postcard size, however, instead opting for a heavy-stock, standard-paper-size folder (technically it was a Pendaflex hanging folder, but I trimmed the metal hanger bars off with scissors).

Getting down to business, first I flipped through some art magazines until I found an image I liked — in this case, a skull cut from an advertisement. Then I then used a fair amount of precious Mars Black acrylic paint to coat the inside of the folder until it was fully covered. Next, I used duct tape to attach numerous feathers in the form of wings, and painted over the duct tape (again with Mars Black) to disguise it. Some quick applications of glue stuck the magazine cut-outs to the background. Finally, I painted in some text and edged the whole piece with silver tape.

I had planned on painting the outside of the folder, too, but I soon realized that the feathers — being fragile organic matter — were barely clinging to the surface as it was, so I decided to skip that step and simply slap a homemade sticker on the exterior, address it, tape it shut, and send it off. My guess is that the feather "wings" won't arrive intact, alas. But the process is what matters most, no?