Untitled envelope art, by Mary Kane

Mary Kane’s envelope art is focused on the act of giving. She is interested in how mailed envelopes go from hand to hand, making everyone who touches or sees them—including postal workers and mail carriers—a recipient of the gift. Her art is a kind of contemplative practice: she puts something out into the world that is designed to bless others. The painted envelopes may include rough copies of masterworks or images of women reading. “I like the idea of little pieces of art traveling through many different hands,” she writes. She invites those who’d like to receive an envelope from her to send their mailing address to marykane118@gmail.com. “Who knows, I might write you a poem as well.”