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Mail art no. 100


Yellow envelope covered with rubber stamp ink and an address handwritten in red ink.
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Back of a yellow enveloped rubber stamped with a frog and with a fly.
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A black-and-white surreal collage shows a person holding a cigarette, their head replaced by a textured brain filled with layered words (“Happenings,” “Fishkeeping,” “Crystal Flight,” “Nest”). Surrounding imagery includes a lizard, geometric diagram, palm tree, anatomical figure, cityscape, eyeglasses, and a crossword grid, with the phrase “light into your dark unconscious” at the bottom.
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A black-and-white surreal collage depicts a seated figure in a suit with their head replaced by a large human eye. Butterfly wings extend from either side of the eye, while small feet and abstract biological forms appear below. Surrounding elements include a maze diagram, footprints, cellular or microscopic shapes, coins or medallions, and handwritten text reading “the point of bursting forth from my bag.” The artist’s name, Nicol A. Kostic, appears at the bottom.
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A black-and-white collage flyer features a large butterfly with yellow-tinted wings overlaid with words and phrases. The wings contain layered text fragments such as “tactile,” “collage,” “zines,” “poetry,” “print,” and “cerebral art.” Surrounding text advertises an art show, including “Nicol A. Kostic mail art show,” the date “August 25, 1991,” and details for the Collingwood Arts Center in Toledo, Ohio. Additional text notes admission pricing and a coupon offer. The composition blends illustration, typography, and print textures in a handmade, zine-like style.
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A typed mail art letter from Nicol A. Kostic, dated June 20, 1991, describing plans and anxieties about organizing a mail art show in Toledo, Ohio, with several phrases highlighted.
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LIB-PC001-100f.txt
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A typed continuation of a mail art letter describing an unexpected discovery of mail art materials, requesting permission to exhibit them, signed by Nicol Kostic, with highlighted words and a small illustrated figure near the bottom.
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LIB-PC001-100g.txt
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A black-and-white collage artwork combines archaeological imagery, text, and surreal elements. At the center is an aerial photograph of a circular stone structure resembling an ancient shrine or ruin. Around it are cut-out images of maggots or flesh worms, raised human arms, and a robed figure seen from behind with arms lifted. Text fragments read “ROOT JUJU CURE,” “spirit, magic, music and dance,” “ANCIENT SHRINE OF THE FLESH WORMS,” “EVENTUALLY CONSUMING THE ENTIRE HEAD,” and “ACTUAL CASES.” A small scientific illustration labeled “A Regular Flesh Worm Greatly Magnified” appears near the bottom. The artist’s name, Nicol A. Kostic, and Toledo, Ohio address are stamped at the top, giving the piece a dark, ritualistic, zine-like aesthetic.
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Title

Mail art no. 100

Subject

Mail art

Description

Two-sided envelope with yellow mailing envelope decorated with rubber stamp ink created by Nicol A. Kostic. U.S. postage stamps affixed. Six sheets of mail art are inserted. A black-and-white surreal collage shows a person holding a cigarette, their head replaced by a textured brain filled with layered words (“Happenings,” “Fishkeeping,” “Crystal Flight,” “Nest”). Surrounding imagery includes a lizard, geometric diagram, palm tree, anatomical figure, cityscape, eyeglasses, and a crossword grid, with the phrase “light into your dark unconscious” at the bottom. Mail art recipient: John M. Bennett.

Creator

Kostic, Nicol A.

Source

State University of New York at Buffalo. Poetry Collection

Publisher

State University of New York at Buffalo. University Libraries

Date

1990-1999?

Contributor

Basinski, Michael
Bennett, John M.

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). Contact the Poetry Collection for more information.

Format

image/jpeg

Language

eng

Type

Image
Text

Identifier

Mail Art John M. Bennett Box #1
MA0100
LIB-PC001

Date Created

2006-02-24

Date Modified

2006-05-25

Is Part Of

Mail art. LIB-PC001

Extent

15 x 23 cm.

Medium

Envelopes
Paper (Fiber product)

Collection

Mail Art

Citation

Kostic, Nicol A., “Mail art no. 100,” Digital Collections - University at Buffalo Libraries, accessed March 15, 2026, https://digital.lib.buffalo.edu/items/show/461.