Turning Junk Mail into Art

An interview with Artist Rev K
by William Hessian

Just over a year ago, I was turned on to a local artist in Minneapolis who was sending out free drawings of Oprah Winfrey to collectors. This idea, mailing art around the world, was one that parallels some of my own projects (art trading/ sketchbook of doom/creature exchange) and therefore caught my trembling excitement.

The artist is Reverend K. Since I received this awesome hand drawn Oprah card, Rev K and myself have crossed paths in a number of really interesting ways. After viewing his work on myspace, I invited him to feature his larger Oprah paintings in an art show I was having at my gallery. I have run into him at many local music venues, most recently at the U of M's Coffman and the Hexagon. We were even, quite randomly, in a Cloud Cult music video together.

In a few short conversations with the artist, he revealed to me a Junk Mail Art project! Once again, a project that rivals one of my very own, you can watch the video of my junk mail project here. Rev K's junk mail project is quite different, and quite brilliant. I have asked Rev K to answer a few question about his junk mail art project to be answered right here:


Can you briefly explain your junk mail project? 


Rev K: Yeah, sure Billy, and thanks for the interest. Junk Mail Art are drawings I've done on the backs of junk mail envelopes. I number all of them, sign them and write a few positive declarations on the back. I then give them freely over to the fates allowing the finder/receiver the option to keep, give or toss the piece as they see fit. Often I leave them on a table or at the bar, sometimes I give them to someone I think may enjoy or appreciate them.


(here is a sample: left at the Urgent Sound Gallery Feb 23rd, 2008)

When and where did the idea for your junk mail art project come from? 

The Junk mail thing started initally by accident. As I'm sure just about any phone doodler will tell you junk mail is the perfect disposable medium; It's cheap, plentiful and usually onhand. On occasion the end result would impress me so I started keeping some of them.

I found that many of these drawings were a lot freer in form than some of the stuff I'd set out to draw. This got my wheels turning. Why shouldn't I take junk mail, which is essentially garbage and recycle it into art? There's lots to go around, and I can always use practice drawing. Also, who doesn't like getting "art" for free?

My first intentional piece was created back in January. It was more doodle-like--filling in around the margins. I numbered it 1,000,000, thinking it has to have been at least the millionth piece I'd received, and have numbered down since.

How many envelope drawings have you done so far?

I'm currently in the 999,930s.

What are some examples of places, venues and people to which these original works go?

The Hexagon Bar or Turf Club seem to be the venues most frequently used for lift off. But I've left them at venues all over town: The Nomad, Big V's, Statiu's, 331 Club, 400 Bar to name drop but a few. I tend to give the ones I particularly like to individuals. Often a performer I enjoyed or a server I like. This goes slightly against the survival-of-the-fittest concept that I initially had but tough, it's my project I can do what I like.

Where was the most interesting place you have left one of your works, or the most interesting response from a person who you gave one to?

A guy told me he's got two of them on fridge at home. I like that I've been elevated to the hallowed spot of their kids' art.

I have to ask, how did your name, Reverend K come about?

At first it was about anonymity. I didn't want to use my name on my myspace account so I chose Rev K. I had already launched the religion of Oprah-Haus and wanted a buffer between me and the Harpo legal staff. Also, I am an ordained minister. It only cost me 20 bucks in the back of the Enquirer. 

Have you reversed your attitude towards junk mail? Do you now enjoy getting blank canvases in the mail?

I have definitely become more choosy of my canvases. I can afford to be cuz they just keep coming. There are a few letters I get that I have grown to love getting: Fidelity has nice long envelopes, while MPR has cute little ones.

What medium do you use to create the entertaining, often hilarious, and always clever subject matter?

Black Sharpies and, of course, junk mail envelopes. 



(the fly (one of my personal favorites). left at the kitty kat club may 24th, 2008)

You have numbered these works starting from one million counting backwards, did you ever consider actually carrying it out all the way to #1? 

Christ no. I may ride that train til my end, but a million? And in the future all junk mail will be automatically downloaded to the chip in our heads.

I do boast to owning one of your junk mail artworks in this project, during our chance meeting at the Cloud Cult music video filming at Como Zoo. Do you think anyone may at some point try to go back and find and collect these works? Maybe collectors will seek out your stomping grounds to meet people you know in order to interview the crowd for possible art holders?

Frankly, I'm just touched you still have yours. Hard to know what anyone will put value in. My hope is that someone will look at them, enjoy them and maybe keep them. On top of that I do a little moralizing on the back about loving each other and taking care of each other. I hope that part sticks too.

(heres the junk mail art I own. Received during the making of the Cloud Cult music video)

If you enjoyed this article make sure to visit Reverend K's myspace to browse his art and all of his junk mail collection. Meanwhile, I do hope to continue to run into him in the near future, and I plan to survey his myspace to follow the ongoing excitement that is attached to your junk mail art project. I wish rev K the best of luck continuing this excellent series of work.

Let's all hope to turning Junk Mail into Art and spread peace wherever we go!

Thanks Rev K

Bearded Bunnies on Art Fire

A few days ago, I was updating this blog and I noticed an advertiser on my sidebar (on your right) was promoting art fire dot com. Art fire boasts being able to let you sell your crafts or art online for free! FREE!

If you have been snooping around my blog much, you know that I sell most of my artwork on Etsy.com, which is a great site that is essentially an self representing artists' ebay. Upon checking out art fire, I had to sign up and check it out. You can find my first product, the
bearded bunny listed on Art Fire.

Just based on browsing around the website, I think it looks pretty good. I am curious to try selling work from here and adding friends. I have been a big fan of Etsy, and as of right now I have no complaints with Etsy at all. I do want to check to see what else is out there, and it doesn't hurt to have my work listed on multiple sites at the same time.

If you are an artist selling work online, or wanted to try selling your work online I strongly suggest using Etsy which costs 20 cents per item you list, or giving Art Fire a chance and listing your work for free. If you subscribe or bookmark my blog, in a few weeks I will give you an update on my review of Art Fire. It looks like they have a large community of people, and forums available for much research.

If you already sell artwork on Art Fire, or if you buy artwork on Art Fire, please leave me a comment telling me what you think of the website.

Miniature Robots

One of my newest series, depicts these very small robots drawn with metallic pens, and color pencil on black composite board. An acrylic gloss medium is painted over top to give them a high gloss finish. Keep in mind these artworks are literally 1.5 inches square. Not much bigger than a US quarter.



I had originally planned this set of nine drawings to be awarded as "Wildo" prizes in a "Where's William Project". Basically, if you found me at certain locations (like my work or art events) and said "Wildo" to me, you would receive one of these original robot drawings. I have decided against this project, for the time being. Although I may resurrect the concept in the near future. Especially if anyone responds to the idea with any exuberance.

Instead, I have decided to make these nine robots be a part of another project, to be announced in the future. Since I scanned them in, I figured I would post them exclusively on my blog to give you a sneak peek at new art. I am working on a number of really cool projects and blog posts for the next few weeks and am excited to show them to you. If you enjoy my blog make sure to 'subscribe' (see the top right corner of the page).

For those that are finding me from craigslist advertisements, mnartists.org, or other sources; I welcome you to browse my blog and learn more about me and my artwork. You can see my official website at www.williamhessian.com and if you happen to be a collector, I would love for you to check out my art for sale on etsy.

My work at Downtown Pizza Luce

If you have been following my blog lately you have seen me start a few new jobs (working at the walker art center and teaching legos), small drawing comissions, working on new bearded bunnies and creating art that predicts the future. You can read about all these things in my last few blog posts.

During this time Caleb Majerus sent me an e-mail about putting some work up at the Downtown Minneapolis Pizza Luce location. Caleb is also an artist, and student, who currently does the curating for Pizza Luce restaurants in Minneapolis. I saw his plaster human deer head sculpture, and it was quite amazing. Along with some very impressive paintings he had done.

I was quick to accept the offer to display work, since have lots of work piled up in my cousins house, my parents house and my own apartment just waiting for a wall to hang on. I grabbed my Politics of Plants triptych, a few of my ICON paintings, three abstract faces and a variety of other works.

We hung the show in 45 minutes, in a rush, before the place opened. I then sat down with Kelsey for some pizza, only to forget about feeding the meter and getting a nice 48 dollar parking ticket. The Minneapolis parking police are seriously on top of things, which sucks.

Meanwhile, here is the pictures from the installation of my works. All of which are for sale. Please stop by the Pizza Luce location to see the works in person if you get a chance. If you are interested in buying any of these paintings, let me know.

the politics of plants

warrios and abstract faces

Icons

You can a lot more of my work on my art website www.williamhessian.com