EDITION JANUS, Eberhard Janke, Germany

JANUS' Mail Art workplace

"Artwork is a big task and to that end we divided our workplace in different sections. In order to find respect for and stimulation by our great ancestors we dedicated a wall with portraits of Guillermo Deisler and others as our "Hall of Fame". The Input section is an empty shoe box, waiting for networkers' mail of interest, inspirational spirit and transferred energy. It is guarded by The Bear Family to watch Xeroxism, chain letters and other "loveless" stuff. In case of our own Mail Art projects selected works are photographed or scanned in the Documentation section for further catalogue production. The Working section is the area of networkers' common tools, still dominated by handwork material, but also with digital equipment at hand. What we try is a balance of both, preserving the "human factor" in communication. Hidden in the back is the resources area with piles of raw material for collage etc. as well as a huge library of art books with a special collection of titles dealing with Mail Art. Received mail is stored in the Archives section, where shoe boxes again prove their recycling value. After the items are responded they are transferred to a long-term storage site in our countryside branch. in the Output section the works are made ready for mailing with hopefully nice stamps etc. Finally the works (shown a "box letter") are handed to our Expedition section to be carried to the post office. Reading that you may ask how many staff is involved in these complex production process stages. We would like to keep this as our "business secret!", but if you send us your mail, always bear in mind The Bear Family! Thank you."

-EDITION JANUS