Creating artwork posted through 10,000 doors in Blackburn, artist Amy Pennington explores the manufacturing journey of an unassuming everyday object – the envelope.

Setting herself at the heart of communities, Pennington makes people the core part of her practice. Often using such mediums as performance, drawing, film, events and conversations, Pennington works with accessible materials to bridge high and low art. Partnered with Heritage Envelopes in Blackburn, Pennington took inspiration from the manufacturer who produces 2.2 billion envelopes a year, to explore themes of work with the community of Blackburn.

Asking the general public to look out for the makers initials printed on the envelopes Pennington encouraged a dialogue between strangers, from the ‘return’er to the sender’. Usually a one sided conversation, questions posed to the factory workers explored the theme of ‘work’ and revealed the perspectives of the machinists. Return to Sender is a sensitive look at how to subvert a mass produced object to create an intimate exchange.

Pennington works collaboratively with people as participants or co-creators, often in non-art spaces including hairdressers, care homes, parks, and a working men’s club.