Thursday, October 22, 2009

Postcard Friendship Friday

I found this postcard in my mailbox today. It is from Jude in China . The painting depicted is named Steam Dumplings by Zhang Meiling. I did a little internet research and found this short bio about the artist. She was born in 1957 and began painting in 1980. Her work has been exhibited in Shanghai as well as in the United States and Belgium.

Here is what the site Chinese Peasant Paintings has to say about her style of art.

Jinshan Peasant Paintings are created by Chinese peasants working in Jinshan County near Shanghai, China. During the late 1970s, the Chinese painter Wu Tongzhang began teaching painting techniques to the farmers in Jinshan. Most of these first painters were older women skilled in various folk arts that had been passed down through generations. These traditional folk arts, such as embroidery, paper cutting, paper folding, and weaving, heavily influenced the style of painting that developed.

Style
Jinshan Peasant Paintings are both natural and unnatural. They are natural, for they show a love of ordinary life--love of children, love of festivals, love of animals, and love of work and chores. But they are also unnatural, in that these ordinary life-events are shown according to the painters’ imaginations. The painters use a wide range of bright colors--colors that are often unnatural--and spread them throughout the paintings. Spatial reality and perspective are unimportant in these paintings. Figures and objects are usually drawn in a way that looks child-like. Taken together, these elements give the paintings a charming, primitive style. The paintings that result are not traditional Chinese and not Western, but are universal celebrations of life.

beautiful stamp on the back of the card

As an added bonus to today's PFF, I'm tossing this photo of a wacky set of mailboxes I found while driving the backroads around my home last weekend.

I don't have a clue why there is a cutout of a cat on top of the box...but there it is ....4 mailboxes and a cat. It looks like it might blow over in a strong wind doesn't it?

Happy PFF. As always, to see more participants go to Cpaphil Vintage Postcards.
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22 comments:

  1. ZuzanaOctober 23, 2009 at 2:57 AM

    Ah, what a lovely card, so much colours! I always love to see the stamps as well, I used to collect them as a teenager.;)
    The mailboxes are hilarious, the cat is a cool detail.;) Yes, they would not survive the Danish wind.;)
    Happy Friday Stevie.)
    xoxo

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  2. Lisa at GreenbowOctober 23, 2009 at 4:57 AM

    That cat is probably there to protect the mailboxes. Don't sneeze or they might fall down.

    Could you send me your snail mail address? I have a postcard to send to you.

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  3. BlogaireOctober 23, 2009 at 4:57 AM

    It's a wonderful card, just love the Chinese art, it's so different. Even the stamp is a work of art.
    The mailboxes are quirky - what a great find, well spotted.
    Happy PFF, have a great weekend.

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  4. Marie ReedOctober 23, 2009 at 5:34 AM

    Well spotted is right! That's a hoot of a box!I seriously missed my calling as a mailman or woman or person!

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  5. Betsy BrockOctober 23, 2009 at 7:25 AM

    Steamed dumplings...yum!

    And the mailboxes have such character!

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  6. ArtPropelledOctober 23, 2009 at 7:50 AM

    Love the mailbox and the postcard!Thanks for the background on Chinese Peasant Painting.

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  7. maryt/theteachOctober 23, 2009 at 9:21 AM

    steviewren, Thanks for sharing your beautiful postcard with us! And of course the great mailboxes! :)

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  8. Beth NiquetteOctober 23, 2009 at 10:03 AM

    I adore the postcard, and laughed heartily over that flimsy mailbox! Thanks for sharing and happy PFF!

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  9. DarylOctober 23, 2009 at 10:11 AM

    So cool ... maybe the cat is supposed to scare off the birds?

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  10. MrCachetOctober 23, 2009 at 10:26 AM

    I'm just really into Oriental art and advertising, and this is no exception. The added treat of a black cat on mailboxes kind of kicks it up another notch. I wonder if they put a jack-o-lantern next to the cat.

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  11. ChristineOctober 23, 2009 at 10:44 AM

    Great card...and the mailboxes are terrific.

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  12. RNSANEOctober 23, 2009 at 11:36 AM

    What a bright, cheeful, lovely postcard. As for steamed dumplings, a favorite of mine and, living here in San Francisco, readily available. In fact, just down the street is a little place I haven't been to in awhile where they are very reasonable. I think I am going to go RIGHT NOW! Dim sum can be quite pricey.

    The mailboxes seem to be on their last leg, don't they. Somehow, with a sense of humor, probably added kitty for the postman on what seems to be a rural route!

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  13. SnapOctober 23, 2009 at 11:38 AM

    Great post. Love the card from China. There was an exhibition here a year or so ago call Red Hot -- all Chinese artists -- the colors were amazing.I loved the mailboxes and cat .. too funny!

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  14. Jill from Killeny GlenOctober 23, 2009 at 11:39 AM

    Ahhh...saw the tiny photo of the postcard on my sidebar and KNEW it was a Chinese postcard! So colorful!

    My two Chinese American kids have taught us ALL to adore authentic Chinese food...and especially steamed dumplings which we call "JOW-ZA!" Could eat some right now!

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  15. Sheila @ A Postcard a DayOctober 23, 2009 at 3:32 PM

    At first sight I would never have guessed it was Chinese, but then when you look more closely, it is of course. All the same, it's very different from any of the cards I've seen from China. Lovely! As are the postboxes, in their own way. :)

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  16. CharOctober 23, 2009 at 5:10 PM

    beautiful card and what a great find in the mailboxes. very creative, aren't they?

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  17. MargoOctober 23, 2009 at 7:33 PM

    I can't decide which I like better - the card with the artwork or the mailboxes with the feline. Fun things to share - thanks!

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  18. PostcardyOctober 23, 2009 at 7:35 PM

    I love folk art and that style of chinese Peasant Painting.

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  19. Reading Tea LeavesOctober 24, 2009 at 3:49 AM

    Such a fun card - I love the bright colours and the detailing and the info on the artist is very interesting. I've never seen Chinese Peasant art before, it has a folksy naive quality which is very charming. Great stamp too and I love the mailboxes - but can postie find it I wonder - looks very rural!

    Jeanne

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  20. Pat @ Mille Fiori FavoritiOctober 26, 2009 at 11:51 AM

    I like to collect unusual stamps. Really interesting card!

    Have you seen this fun web site?

    http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

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  21. RachelOctober 26, 2009 at 8:06 PM

    Those are cray mailboxes.

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  22. MescrapOctober 28, 2009 at 8:23 PM

    Love the bright & colourful postcard

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I'm glad you stopped by and I look forward to your comments. As Dr. Fraser Crane would say, "Hello, I'm listening."

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