Recently, I was contacted by the Smithsonian. Seems that they, too, have been made aware of our presence by the Washington Post article, and were pretty interested in what their April '98 article had spawned. I believe that a follow up article, or blurb anyway, is in the works. The most amazing thing is that the correspondent I talked with knew of the first Kmartha prank, and was more than a little amused by my remarks about it someday ending up in the Institution's archives of Americana. She passed the joke on to one of the curators at the American Art Museum, who specializes in American Folk Art. She was also charmed, and contacted me, inquiring about the piece!
I had a really interesting discussion with her about folk art, and my take on the whole letterboxing thing. While I'd be tickled to have any of my work as part of the collection, I convinced her that such a piece should be dynamic, interactive, and discreet... a
real letterbox placed within the Smithsonian, that people could find, stamp in, collect the stamp, and be part of it... after a time, it could be put on display or added to the archives for future display.
So there it is. Your chance to be a small part of history and folk art in America, not to mention a highly collectible piece of legerdemaine. It'll be in place until the beginning of April, and then become part of the Smithsonian archives. I'd like to thank Chief Curator, Lynda Roscoe Hartigan, for allowing me, and the community, this once in a lifetime opportunity, and specifically for being receptive to my suggestions regarding how this be put forth.
The letterbox is located in the Smithsonian Castle. Use the handicap entrance on the Washington Monument side of the front entrance. Note the old Smithsonian lamppost letterbox on display directly to the right of the doorway when you enter. The letterbox is a 35mm mini. It is attached to the underside of the water fountain to the left of the doorway with Velcro. It should go without saying that suspicious behaviour in a federal building will likely ruin your day, so be discreet, and take it to a remote spot for stamping up, and return it later.