The format of this document is purely to get the concept out and to receive feedback. The main idea is to take a funny satirical and sarcastic look at rural America through the prolific and strange ritual of mailbox smashing, of which I have no idea behind the motivations. I assume it has something to do with bored young men and alcohol. While smashing property is never funny, what is funny is the silly and often amateur methods people use to protect their mailboxes.
My hope is to make a picture book or coffee table book. All feed back and comments are welcome.
For purposes of this presentation the photos are cropped and reduced in quality to fit into this document. All the photos were shot with a professional digital SLR camera and are captured in the highest resolution possible. I have many more mailbox photos available. All photos are copyrighted.
Thank you,
Don Ashcraft
don@donashcraft.com
The Rural Mail Box
A study of art and defense.
Various methods and stages of repair; note the excellent use of bailing wire and scrap metal.
Almost out of service.
Having the cows keep watch does not work.
Being too cute almost assures getting whacked.
The artistic approach to defense.
The defensive philosophy here seems to be if it is very cool it won’t get whacked.
A defensive and strange use of an old drill press, the old pressure tank on top is a nice touch.
Pure Rural Defensive Craftsmanship
Great use of rebar and t-posts, the painted rebar is a nice touch.
Caged is in.
Iron pipes have many rural uses.
Well done cage with a covered wagon look.
Simple and crude but it works.
Nobody messes with Leroy.
An original defense with threaded iron gas line pipe. The high speed blue paint adds a lot.
Rock solid.
The old reliable bird cage look.
Landscape timbers have many uses.
Scrap metal pipe, a solid and respected defense.
Galvanized drainage culvert is good because it will not rust …much.
Just beautiful.
Great workmanship! All stainless steal with beautiful welds, sleek and practical.
Shot, beat and left to rust this mailbox has long since resigned from service.
Thanks for looking, I hope you all found the humor in this!
Don