Oracular Transmissions featured in Hyperallergic

Etel Adnan and Lynn Marie Kirby’s Poetic (and Funny) Email Exchanges

by Elisa Wouk Almino

“We’re all familiar with the rich tradition of mail art, but less explored is the evolving form of email art. Back in 2015, artist Lynn Marie Kirby started an email exchange with her friend, the artist and poet Etel Adnan. Kirby, on a trip to Southern Spain, periodically sent Adnan photos of the historic Alhambra palace and fortress. ‘You can see what kind of response the images evoke,’ Kirby wrote to Adnan over email. For example, Kirby sends an image of an octagonal fountain. Adnan responds, on ‘a hot day you want to put your face in it and stay there and make sure your thoughts are silenced and your whole being is happy.’ Their conversation unravels in poetic and amusing directions, as Adnan inquires ‘what is a selfie pole stick’ and concludes that the Alhambra ‘is one giant lettered book.’”

Read the full article on Hyperallergic here.