art-by-mail + China Post = mostly love

Coming up with a supply of art to mail each month is a challenge, but the biggest challenge of the the art-by-mail project, or perhaps the biggest mystery, is what my trip to the post office will be like.

After the first three months of art subscriptions, I’m learning the intricacies of the China Post. The cardinal rule is probably “expect something different each time you go to the post office.” Still, my packing and labeling strategies improve and all of the art has made it safely around the world. (knock on wood)

I’ve picked up some phrases and packing strategies, but there is always an element of chance as I bike toward the post office. Like snowflakes of bureaucracy, no two postal workers are alike. I also usually have a big stack of things to mail. I may need to create a sandwich board to wear that says “I’M GOING TO BE AWHILE” in Chinese to alert the people who queue up behind me, or the folks who stand right next to me looking helplessly through the glass at the clerk who is dutifully carbon copying or taping or making sure I filled out a form in triplicate, and applying various stamps and labels to the packages.

Each time I’ve been able to leave the post office with no packages in hand, knowing that the art was in its way to Minnesota or Colorado or Switzerland.  It delights me every time I get a little note saying, “Hey! My art arrived!”  It’s pretty much awesome.

Thanks to all who’ve subscribed so far! I appreciate your patronage!  Everyone else, read more about art-by-mail here.

Enjoy!

CHINA POST

recent drawing detail