typewriter art type bar visual poetry
Corona Galaxie Deluxe, typing paper, transfer paper and waxed paper

Use the Typewriter to create visual images. This is often called concrete poetry or shape poetry. The process arranges type elements on the page. The arrangement may be more important in conveying meaning than their verbal significance. It is sometimes referred to as visual poetry.  Concrete poetry relates more to the visual than to the verbal arts.  Historically, however, concrete poetry has developed from a long tradition of shaped poems in which the words are arranged in such a way as to depict their subject. Read more on Wikipedia

typewriter art type bar visual poetry
Olivetti studio 44 and typing paper

At the Type Bar we’ve been experimenting with shape poetry. We are also using shape design and art, using symbols and punctuation to create images. Though ours are a far cry from typewriter paintings like those of Paul Smith.  We have been typing using carbon copies, contact paper and other uncommon materials to arrive at some interesting results. This is probably just the beginning of a long series of mail art. One unique process, is that most of these experiments are enclosed in letters and mailed to recipients all over the world. This is part of the Type Bar habit. And it is really fun to see everyone’s reactions!

Check out some of the type mail art below. Come on over to Facebook to share your own with us too. We love new ideas. And if you are doing mailart and you want to enter into some specific calls, here is a pretty nice collective doing regular posting. http://mailartprojects.blogspot.com/

Enjoy

typewriter art type bar visual poetry
The type bar set up when working with multiple fonts and colors
typewriter art type bar visual poetry
The Type Bar paper supplies spread out all over

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