Amanda-Mail


Delayed gratification may be coming back in style. Graphic design grad Amanda Camodeo, ’12, is putting an artistic emphasis on writing cards and letters — those that get delivered to your mailbox rather than your inbox.

Amanda Camodeo with her book of mail

“I’m a big fan of mail,” said Camodeo, whose writing booth at the Media Design Club exhibit at Center548 on Thursday was equipped with 60 handmade, Victorian-style, ready-stamped postcards and a make-shift drop-off box.  “When you get something in the mail that isn’t a bill,  promotion or coupon, you just smile,” she said.

Suzanne Anoushian, Communication Design Chair, checking out the mail book

“With the advancement of technology people forget how beautiful mail is,” said Camodeo. The postcards seduced many hardened instant-message writers.   An hour and a half into the exhibit  so many postcards had been, well, dashed off, that Camodeo’s supply was running low.  “I wanted to promote with the help of my drop off box sending mail and give people a chance to do so.”

Liat Alon and Natalie Eichengreen marvel at hand-written mail

Many more lingered over Camodeo’s hand-fashioned book containing old letters and quotes about mail.

A favorite of Camodeo’s is by an unknown author:

“Sending a handwritten letter is like sending a small part of yourself.”

Mark Twain was less gushy: “Great letters are something everyone wants to get but hardly anyone wants to write, at least not at just this moment.”

Suzanne Anoushian, Chair of Communication lingered over the book’s contents and design.  “Her research is very thoughtful. She’s created an art form out of what was the previous form of communication. Here we are at a show that’s about ‘process’ — how you get to where you get,” said Anoushian. “This is the precursor to communication as we know it now.”

This is not dropbox.com, but the real thing.

Camodeo sent out the postcards after photographing them to complete the project. The cash-strapped post office should be glad. Perhaps they will mail Camodeo a marketing contract.

To see more of Amanda Camodeo’s work go to: AmandaCamodeo.com

Photos by: Rachel Ellner


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