Alpha Phase

The time has come to alpha test my new project. When was the last time you got something really cool in the mail, something mysterious and magical and unexpected? In the age of digital communication, writing letters has fallen by the wayside. Over the last few months, I've been been mailing letters that are art (or art that is a letter), including what I've posted here, to a few people. I want to introduce high levels of unexpected information to people's lives. This stuff is psychic machinery, created in a magical state, serving as gates to those states. I want to make the most interesting people I know even more interesting. I want to spread the language-virus that is magic as wide and as deeply as possible. Those that read this are among the most receptive people I know, able to accommodate the highest volume of the most unexpected information. Those of us already infected incubate magic and mutate as it mutates; when it infects someone new, it starts with a weak hold and takes time to grow. I want to create a global petri dish of magicians, artists of all stripes, thinkers, tinkerers, creators and innovators; those who are already deeply infected. I want to encourage cross-contamination of new and unpredictable variations. Obviously, the internet has enabled this to a degree far beyond anything I could ever accomplish. However, what the internet offers in terms of connectivity and speed, it lacks in physicality. I want the people that I find most interesting to have a physical connection, a talismanic flow of information and artifacts beyond what the internet can offer. I am driven to spread my weirdness as far and wide as possible, and this blog helps, certainly; but imagine a magician in the UK, a musician on the east coast of the US, a painter in Denmark, and countless other individuals all linked in a tangible web of mystery and wonder. Such a network could lead to a rather amazing egregore, I believe. And what's more, any contribution I can make to bring back the exchange of hand-written letters is something I surely would like to do.

Thus, the alpha testing phase of this project. This is merely the first step, to test the water and see how viable my full ideas are. So: how would you like to receive some free, personalized art, along the lines of what has been posted here, in the mail? I will not be posting pictures of anything that I mail, in order to increase the mystery of the whole thing. Every piece will be unique. On the one hand, there is sure to be some reticence to giving your address to someone over the internet; I can only hope that some of you will be interested enough to trust me. Consider it like a contest, where you instantly win free, one-of-a-kind art simply by entering. There is of course also the magical aspect of it as well; it is not just a cool-looking thing (though I do think they look pretty cool), but should you wish to engage with them in a magical fashion, you will not be disappointed. Plus, knowing that you each piece is linked to each other piece is pretty cool; simply by receiving one you are connected to any number of other incredibly interesting individuals. Part of my intent is to create an expanding web of inspiration that any recipient can tap into via the letters. But even if you have no desire for the mumbo-jumbo, you still end up with some unique stuff.

I will also admit to some selfishness - I myself desire to be connected more tangibly to the people I've met recently (nearly entirely through Twitter, which continues to amaze me with the quality of ideas I am exposed to).

So: I can only hope that this idea is interesting enough to some of you that it comes to fruition. You've got nothing to lose and potentially some pretty cool things to gain. DM me on Twitter (@louddetective) or email me: louddetective at gmail dot com if you are interested or have questions. Let's make the world even weirder and more interesting than it already is.