Asemic Visual Poetry Collab by Rosaire Appel & Cheryl Penn

Readymade Asemic Poem by Nancy Bell Scott

Asemics by Nancy Bell Scott (South Portland, Maine, USA)

 

 

Yesterday I documented readymade asemic poetry by Richard Canard. Today I have a piece in the same genre by asemic artist Nancy Bell Scott (NBS). I patiently awaited the right opportunity to unveil this work sent to me as mail art, and that perfect occasion has arisen. With readymade or as I prefer to call them "found asemics" context goes a long way to lessen the seeming absurdity of the "shock of the new." Here is the reverse side:

 

 

 

 

 

An astute observer might respond, "I think that's a piece of old torn linoleum. You're all crazy." (We might also say the Mona Lisa is a bunch of paint on an old canvas with boards.)

 

Since we also know Nancy Bell Scott is an asemic writer,  this is an asemic writing blog and mail art is often conceptual art, we might also notice - if we use our imaginations - the piece of linoleum has the shape of a poem on a page and has lines that suggest lines of written verse. (That's basically the definition of asemic writing.)

 

Is the shape of a poem and its signs and structures part of the experience of the poem? The context of "art" and an "art space" asks us to take the artist's vision seriously and apply time and thought to consider what the artist is sharing. "Entertainment" is less demanding (and consequently offers less), although this NBS piece has an entertaining quality as well that can carry it entirely.

 

The work has textures and tones (some of which can be experienced on a tactile level) the way a poem has tones and changing emotional nuances. The piece also offers some insight into "the materiality of language," a subject which consumes visual poets.

 

You can reject this asemic poem as a lot of b---it. You might even become a little angry and annoyed that someone is suggesting this is a poem and wasting your time. Maybe it's a hoax. In a way - coming from the avant garde tradition as it does - this "poem" by Nancy Bell Scott wants you to reject it, to dislike it, to think about why this is not a poem and what constitutes a "bad poem." So for me, this piece works well as a "found asemic poem." Nancy included a kind message in her distinctive calligraphy:

 

 

 

 

Closer in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nancy Bell Scott entered the Eternal Network nearly a decade ago. She was influenced by Diane Keys, whom I believe gave NBS her appreciation for found materials. NBS participated in Cheryl Penn's collaborative book projects, and I believe that is where - like many of us - she became interested in asemic writing.

 

Since then, NBS has become an applauded asemic writer-artist, well-known in the asemic and visual poetry communities. Her contributions to Asemic Front always generate interest and excitement. I am very grateful for her participation.

 

Currently, Nancy Bell Scott's claim to a place in vispo history comes from her "eco-asemics," which is another kind of "found asemics" involving locating language-suggestive materials in nature and as devoid of human manipulation as is possible. A book forthcoming from the University of Minnesota Press discusses her eco-asemics (more info on this in the future). But she has also produced an extraordinary body of work using calligraphy, painting and collage. No doubt this aspect of her production will receive more and more attention as well.

 

- DVS

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Readymade Asemic Poems by Richard Canard

Readymade asemic poetry by Richard Canard

(aka Richard C) (Carbondale, Illinois, USA)

 

 

 

Richard Canard, a former member of Ray Johnson's New York Correspondence School, is generally considered one of the most influential mail artists working today and is certainly one of the most recognized. He has successfully navigated mail art's sometimes uneasy shotgun marriage to the digital realm without compromising his literary and artistic roots.

 

Asemic Front readers and participants know Richard C has taken a special interest in asemic writing (which - like visual poetry - is popular in the Eternal Network). His "asemic readymades" appear from time to time, and he is a previous contributor to the Asemic Front project.

 

Now that introductions have been made, I will revert to a chrono-linear documentation of Richard Canard's asemic readymades:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So here (below) is a full view of Richard C's asemic poems. They suggest to me tablets and a book. I have received Eco-Asemics and Trashpo asemics (Trashemics) among other marvels of the human imagination. This is the first time - as far as I can recall - that I have received Edible Asemics. (Although, kids, you know my unwavering advice: DO NOT EAT ANY MAIL ART YOU RECEIVE!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Specifically, Richard's asemic poems are Matzos-emic. I can safely conclude the Matzos-emic has never been considered before in the global asemic writing community.

 

 

 

 

 

Take a moment for reading and contemplation. (Perhaps we should call it Contemplative Art rather than Conceptual):