Asemic writing & art by Kerri Pullo (Arizona, USA)
Kerri Pullo has released previously unseen pieces composed in 2017-18 that I think will be of interest to Asemic Front 2 visitors. She needs no introduction in the visual poetry, asemic writing and mail art communities. Kerri Pullo has a faithful following on AF2 where she generously shares her work. I offer special thanks to her for granting permission to post these works. I have named them the "Anger Asemics," which deserves an explanation.
These works were composed in a notebook and are either unfinished or more minimal and transparent than the complex pieces we usually associate with Kerri Pullo. Some of them have the quality of being studies. In recent AF2 posts I have discussed the structures she is making (as opposed to her elegant calligraphy) and their importance to the development of asemic forms. These pieces offer unusual insight into her process for building layered structures. It is as if we can gaze inside the forms, which are usually masked by the overlays.
Specifically why the "Anger Asemics"? In a March 31, 2020 post on Facebook where these pieces were first shared, Pullo writes, "I typically wouldn't post most of these because they make me angry..." Then in the same post she responds to a question about the anger from Kristine Snodgrass. "I was probably in a prolonged, unnecessary bad mood at the time," writes Pullo. "I can see I was frustrated with myself. I don't know really. I usually go back and add layer after layer until I like it but I gave up on these." In one sense, we are fortunate she did.
Thus on behalf of AF2 I apologize to Kerri Pullo for having to endure negative memories yet again. But I believe the contribution to cultural studies and exploration of asemics will be a benefit to many. Furthermore, in the "Anger Asemics" we see a direct relation between the emotional experience of the writer and the production of the asemics as explained by Kerri Pullo herself. This adds to our understanding of how to "read" asemic writing. And even more, I think they are great pieces.
- De Villo Sloan
Specifically why the "Anger Asemics"? In a March 31, 2020 post on Facebook where these pieces were first shared, Pullo writes, "I typically wouldn't post most of these because they make me angry..." Then in the same post she responds to a question about the anger from Kristine Snodgrass. "I was probably in a prolonged, unnecessary bad mood at the time," writes Pullo. "I can see I was frustrated with myself. I don't know really. I usually go back and add layer after layer until I like it but I gave up on these." In one sense, we are fortunate she did.
Thus on behalf of AF2 I apologize to Kerri Pullo for having to endure negative memories yet again. But I believe the contribution to cultural studies and exploration of asemics will be a benefit to many. Furthermore, in the "Anger Asemics" we see a direct relation between the emotional experience of the writer and the production of the asemics as explained by Kerri Pullo herself. This adds to our understanding of how to "read" asemic writing. And even more, I think they are great pieces.
- De Villo Sloan
By Kerri Pullo
And then among the "Anger Asemics" is a piece that I believe is among Kerri Pullo's finest:
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