Chicago Artist Starts His Own Postal Service And Will Deliver And Read Mail To Anyone For Free

Charlie Dean, a Chicago artist, has introduced the Charlie Dean Postal Service, a unique and free postal service that delivers and recites messages to recipients. Residents can submit notes at a wooden post box located at 2741 N. Drake Ave. Dean emphasizes the importance of face-to-face communication, stating that the awkwardness of unexpected encounters is part of the charm of his service. Since launching, he has collected over 20 messages, including humorous anecdotes and heartfelt notes.

Dean graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and incorporates his background in art into the project, exploring themes of privacy and social interaction. The mailbox project emerged from the Terrain Exhibitions art festival, which promotes public art and DIY initiatives. Dean anticipates traveling out of state to deliver messages, viewing it as an opportunity to broaden the service's impact. His work as a freelance carpenter allows him the flexibility to manage deliveries on his own schedule.