We intend to write to everyone in the world. The art work consists solely of the discussion between the recipients about what on Earth these letters are, who sent them and why, etc.
Lenka Clayton & Michael Crowe
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later that night, I met my neighbor Mark outside. We were going to go out for food & beers at the Rock Room. He was talking to his other neighbor when I went outside. They’d BOTH GOTTEN MYSTERIOUS MAILINGS THAT DAY! ALSO FROM “Michael & Lenka” WHO THEY ALSO DIDN’T KNOW! When I heard about this, I got more interested! Both of the letters they received had postage due.
All of our mailings had had “Polish Hill” in the address. It was becoming obvious that this was some sort of mass mailing, with every one being different & with everyone being handwritten. We all found it interesting & I enjoyed talking with my neighbors, who I don’t necessarily talk with that much, about it.
Walking to the bar, Mark & I stopped & asked 2 young women that we don’t know whether they’d gotten the letters. They said that they hadn’t but they were excited about it because they’d heard about it from some of the other neighbors. They were disappointed that they hadn’t gotten them – but they thought they might’ve missed them or that they might get them the next day.
We got to the Rock Room & I asked another neighbor if he’d gotten one. He said he didn’t think so but he wasn’t sure. Then ANOTHER neighbor joined Mark & myself & he said he’d gotten TWO & that he’d heard from his neighbor that she’d gotten one. YET ANOTHER NEIGHBOR appeared & she described the one she’d gotten: hers was something like a paperclip with a piece of string attached & a claim ticket (or some such) also attached that had a message like “Can you fix this?” – signed, once more, by
“Michael & Lenka”. This made at least 6 Polish Hill people other than myself who’d gotten these things. None of them had any idea who “Michael & Lenka” are.
Various speculations about motives, etc, were put forth. It seems reasonable to deduce that “Michael & Lenka” may not really be 2 people & that that might not be their ‘real names’. It also seems reasonable that they may’ve looked on the Allegheny
County Real Estate website & just gotten our names & addresses from there. One of my neighbors had gotten his addressed not to his name but to the name of the person who owns the house he lives in. It seems reasonable that they probably just put all the mail in a mailbox instead of going to the Post Office. That would explain the “postage due”. By my standards, this was an an expensive business: just my packages alone had $2.20 in postage. We tentatively concluded that this isn’t some sort of advertising or proselytizing act & that it’s friendly. While some of the messages implied a seemingly personal relationship – such as “We’ll be back Wednesday” (or some such) – implying that the recipient has some sort of closeness, none of the messages seemed actually intrusive to me.
This could be some sort of art project or eccentric social study or experiment. I vote for either/or. I’ve always been a proponent of what I call “Mystery Catalysts.” A “Mystery Catalyst” is something that’s mysterious to whoever interacts with it & that catalyzes some sort of reaction – such as by being thought-provoking. I’ve experimented extensively along these lines. I do want to inform people, though, that I had nothing to do with this & am just as mystified as everyone else.
I do find these “Michael & Lenka” mailings to be a great Mystery Catalyst – even if that isn’t the sender’s intention. The mail was definitely mysterious & it catalyzed me into talking to neighbors that I might not usually talk to much in a friendly & pleasant way.
All in all, a great experience! & I give my whole-hearted thanks to “Michael & Lenka”
– WHOEVER YOU ARE!
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these two clowns clearly have nothing better to do with their time. my letter involved death…get a job you terrorists
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In looking at their letters, both from Cushendall, I have seen nothing that inappropriate or threatening. Most of them seem to generally be encouraging. If you actually got a letter that is frightening or threatening in some way, why not post a picture, or at least reproduce the text? Seems fishy…
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from all of the things I have read and heard about Michael and Lenka I am sure it was never their intention to make you (or anyone) feel threatened or fearful. as a community we have been discussing (including at the phca meeting on tuesday) creating a project to write them letters back or maybe have a showing of all of the letters. this might be a great forum for you to express your fears. i am sure an update with information about this event or project will be shared soon.
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I am glad not to live in your neighbourhood. Just because it is kooky and handwritten doesn’t make it any more welcome than flyers or spam. I am surprised people are allowing the postcards up on the internet with their name and address there for every other lunatic to start sending goofy mail. This stunt is no better than balloon boy. Send heartfelt messages to people who actually care about you – otherwise, take out an ad in the paper.
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you made my day. What a nice writing.
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Oh I so look forward to your note to me (Donna) and the love of my life these past 26 years, Wayne, I want to frame it and display it in our living room for all to see! We had to relocate to Port Arthur, TX this past Spring which caused us both to stress, but our love and devotion to each other has seen us through! Amazing how he STILL "rocks my world" after 26 years together! Keep up this awesome project!
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We love this, especially because letters are so important to us. Sometimes the most important things in world. We can draw you a map to our little house in the northern Catskill mountains.
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你怎麼能經過一片海，而忘記它的藍？.........................
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Where is my letter?
6221 Fortner Street
Dothan, AL 36305
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Really great, so genuine, so ancient mood style...Maybe, for shortening your though task, you could consent to world people, to "tag" at some already sent letter (the text fitting tagged's mood and sensibility...)You'll spare some stamps, and I too could say: "ehi Lenka+Micheal wrote to me too...
Stay absolutely up with this fantastic work..
ciao ciao da Firenze
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Letters here
contact: slowlyberserk@hotmail.com