Now through early August is the time when the various aspects of Birds in Art preparation converge. The catalogue is in the final stages of fact checking before printing. Curator of exhibitions Andy McGivern can barely keep up opening the crates of artworks arriving almost daily. The posters are printed. The invitations for the opening weekend festivities are being readied. My favorite aspect is the arrival of artists’ small-scale (4 x 6 inches) paintings, drawings, and three-dimensional creations for Project Postcard.
What is Project Postcard? Birds in Art artists are asked to consider donating postcard-sized artworks which then are sold to members and guests during the Friday evening exhibition preview to raise funds for Woodson Art Museum acquisitions.
Last year 156 postcards were available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Anonymity is part of the fun; purchasers must make their selections quickly – you have one minute to make a choice – without knowing who created the artworks, and artists are asked to help keep the secret.
The event is joyful and fun. Everyone is eager to discover who created the jewel they purchased and whether the artist is in attendance. Project Postcard has become a much-anticipated aspect of the Friday evening Birds in Art preview, with lines forming early and eager buyers returning to the end of the line to make additional purchases.
Several postcards that have arrived are beautiful beyond words. I’ve shared a few here to pique your interest.
Since the 2010 introduction of Project Postcard the incredible generosity of artists and postcard purchasers have made it possible for the Woodson Art Museum to acquire twenty-eight artworks for the collection. Here are a few examples.
If you’d like more information about Project Postcard or Birds in Art opening events, call the Museum at 715-845-7010 or email museum@lywam.org.
