Ray Johnson Mail Art collage to Artist Sari Dienes (insert & envelope)

Description: Original unmailed Mail Art collage with original envelope by the artist Ray Johnson (1927-1995). From the Estate of Producer and Screenwriter Gerald Ayres. The collage consists of a yellow/red/black patterned fabric design on paper with partial address written in cursive on the verso, measuring 3 1/2 x 6 5/16". The envelopes original return address (Purchases & Sales Tabulating Division of Wall Street) has been altered with purple ink by Ray Johnson who has then manually typed his own return address " Ray Johnson 176 Suffolk St. New York City 2". Dating the correspondence to late 1950 to early 1960's (predates the more often seen later address Locust Valley address Mail Art pieces). Measures 3 1/2" x 6 1/2". The addressee is "Sari Dienes Willow Grove Road Stony Point, New York". The Mail Art collage element of the design on paper is in very good condition with cleanly cut edges and has an intriguing pattern of tiny black and red dots overlaying a golden yellow background with two more saturated red bands, one going top to side diagonally across the top left and then the second going diagonally top right corner to bottom. On the verso there is a yellow stain center bottom that does not bleed thru to the face. Also on the verso (as referred above is Ray Johnson's partial address written in cursive. Please review the photos closely. The hand typed envelope also shows natural aging with a slight look of handling. Overall the envelope displays quite well. I doubt the envelope was originally pristine given Ray Johnson was not adverse to making such elements part of his Mail Art collages. All in all this artwork is in remarkable condition given the age, due to it's years of being packed away by Gerald Ayres. All the more remarkable that this Mail Art is even in existence given that much of Ray Johnson's Mail Art collages/envelopes have been lost in time. Please look at the photos and contact me if you have any questions. The Artist Sari Dienes was part of the creative circle of friends that Ray Johnson belonged to that made up the remarkable avant-garde movement of the time. Sari Dienes an artist with a wide range of creative talents which encompassed paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, textile designs, set and costumes for theatre dance, sound art installations, mixed media environments, music, and performance art. She like Ray Johnson were immersed in discovering new forms of creative Abstract Expressionism that were emerging at the time that would evolve into and influence Pop Art. Provenance: This Mail Art collage is from the collection/estate of the Producer and Screenwriter Gerald Ayres who was a friend and collector of Ray Johnsons artworks/collages. Ray and Gerald became friends in New York during the late 1950's and remained so throughout Ray's life. I came upon a number of these Mail Art collage artworks many of which have been stored away for decades. These Mail Art (with envelopes) include the names of pioneering avant-garde artists, writers, poets, theater notables, musicians/composers, designers, and such of the late 1950's and early 1960's. Additionally I will be listing some Mail Art collages from Ray Johnson's "Lucky" series which have an exhibition history as well as other Mail Art collages that lack envelopes all by Ray Johnson. Simple as some of these Mail Art collages are understand that this is an uncommon opportunity to acquire a work of art that is also a piece of history from one of the most pivotal creative movements of the 20th century. Feel free to visit my other listings.

Price: 1200 USD

Location: La Fargeville, New York

End Time: 2024-08-14T17:59:49.000Z

Shipping Cost: 10.4 USD