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Junk Mail As Art

Ray Schultz January 23rd, 2009

The headline caught my eye right away: “Woman Turns Junk Mail Into Art.”

It sounded intriguing. Did it mean that direct mail had been used as part of some great conceptual art piece?

It depends on how you define art.

Annette Lawrence saved a year’s worth of direct mail. Then, applying all the artistry at her command, she cut it into two-inch wide strips and put it into stacks. These are now hanging on the wall of a place in East Austin, TX called Flatbed Press.

The name of this masterwork? “Free Paper.” Her rationale? “I was a bit bothered by the amount of paper that came into my home.”

Ah, yes—the same thing that motivated Michelangelo. Visitors to the exhibit can sign up to “reduce the amount of junk mail” they receive.

I always thought direct mail was art—the Bill Jayme kind, anyway. But this isn’t art—it’s a stunt. Lawrence didn’t even sculpt it into much of anything.

I sure hope the National Endowment for the Arts isn’t funding it. And get this: Lawrence is offering to sell the stacks for $10,000 apiece.

Lawrence should read some of her direct mail. And if there’s a piece there for the Famous Artist’s School, she should respond at once.

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4 Comments to “Junk Mail As Art”

Grant Johnson Says:

January 23rd, 2009 at 9:14 pm

I’ve always said that great direct mail is a beautiful thing!
Neil Schwartzman Says:

January 24th, 2009 at 5:39 pm

Ray, you sound jealous. Just because she made more money with the junk mail than the marketers did, don’t be a hater!
Lois Feller Says:

January 26th, 2009 at 10:07 am

Mail is only junk, when it isn’t targeted properly. Customers, all over the world, look forward to hearing from their favorite mail order companies (ergo, not junk) So, yes, mail can be art, and you can hang it on your wall. Or as millions of Americans do… it can be responded to…and stimulate the economy, and support companies, and people, and governments (including all the people at the post offices)…and then it is true art!
Frank Ezprint Says:

January 26th, 2009 at 4:38 pm

That’s a very interesting thing to do with junkmail, but I’m wondering what it is :)
I’d like to see a statue or some form of mini-scale architecture used like that, if anyone know sof such a thing please post it. thanks

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