Birds of the Rockies by Laura Levine, along with an orange "Live with Art" sticker [they come in 4 different colors + 1 special graphically-inclined edition: collect them all!], certificate of authenticity signed by the artist, and an ungregarious though incredibly protective DO NOT BEND sticker that instills fear and extreme caution to every United States Postal Service Collection Worker and Mail Carrier. Photo by Karen Horton.

Getting ready an edition to go live is an athletic event. Though not dissimilar to a pleasant game of cricket, I would much rather describe the process as full-on contact, no-holds-barred, tackle-even-your-six-year-old-little-sister renegade thug football, complete with rain and mud and more mud. Although we do not sport impressive lean, sinewy calves or massive biceps, we make up for it in our sheer shipping fervor and ardent correspondence with our artists:

"How are you today, Michael?"
"GOOD!!"

With the sound of the war horn, the preparatory work begins with the organizing of the required items, then mailing and printing, and then more emailing and signing, and then mailing and emailing. I think I have a handle on the algorithm by now, though the doubt creeps insidiously in, and I fear something will slip. I have nightmares that art prints will arrive bent to their owners, delivered by a clumsy, heavy-footed, ruthless green-dress wearing ogre. Then there are nights where I have visions that a werewolf will burst into the warehouse and devour all of my shipping supplies: tape, envelopes, plastic sleeves - and crush my cardboard tubes with its claws.

I carry no severe physical injuries of massive bloodstained gashes or brain trauma, or even more subtler signs of distress such as heavy sweating or weight loss. It seems I gravitate towards the complete emergency-room cardiac arrest.

So it's always relieving when you receive word that the art has been delivered in one piece, and even better, someone is satisfied with and appreciates the labor of love. Thank you Karen Horton, most kind, astute, and talented Graphic Designer. Lots of Turkey for you this weekend!! Be sure to also take a look at her Flickr stream. Here is the entry from her Design:Related account, where she lists 20x200 as her design inspiration:

20 x 200 : Snail Mail is Fun Again

Back in October I came across the Jen Bekman project, 20x200. On a whim I purchased a print I liked by Laura Levine for $20 bucks. I forgot about this...until the “Do Not Bend� envelope arrived a week later.

I didn’t have high expectations...I was expecting just a poster for $20.

But my envelope was filled with little surprises: a sticker, an artist statement, and a print number certificate.

I was also told about the paper used for my print:
“You’ve received an archival pigment ink print on Crane Museo Portfolio Rag Paper.�

It was a very positive experience and being able to afford beautiful art was rewarding.

Green Truck by Laura Levine, from an ongoing personal series of paintings depicting personal objects atop green stamp collage.

Untitled, by Mike Monteiro
Photo by Existentialism