Have You Ever Heard of Naked Mail?

Posted by Jenn Greenleaf Apr 14, 2008

The first time I was introduced to naked mail was in 2003, when I was an active mail artist. I participated in a thriving mail art community and, there, I learned a lot of new mail art techniques and methods . . . one of which was naked mail.

What is naked mail?

This is an unsual item or piece of art that is sent through the mail as is, with postage and a mailing label (or permanent marker text) directly on the item. Some mail artists will alter the item slightly first, but this is optional.

Why do people send naked mail?

From what I could see when participating in this mail art community, it was mostly for fun and experimentation. Mail artists would note what they sent and if the recipient received it or not. They would also note how the post office responded to what they were sending.

I have not tried this form or mail art, nor have I received any. I have, however, enjoyed watching the experiences of others who have partaken in this experiment. If you have experienced this form of mail art, feel free to share what happened in the discussion area.

NOTE: A formal entry is available about naked mail on wikipedia.com for those seeking more information.