Art on a postcard: Iowa State's annual postcard exchange shares worldwide talent
Art doesn’t have to be big to make an impact.
The current Iowa State University Memorial Union Art Gallery exhibit exemplifies that notion perfectly.
More than 140 postcards line the walls of the first-floor gallery, which features prints from 19 states as well as other countries such as Korea, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
Iowa State University's 23rd annual Postcard Exchange will be in place through Feb. 4.
An exchange of goods
The Univeristy Print Society started working on the project in December of 2022. Printmakers worldwide were invited to send 13 original, identical 4-by-6-inch prints to the local student organization, with a postmark deadline of Oct. 1, 2023.
The project is an exchange because each artist received a dozen prints from other artists in return for their contributions.
“Prints were to be stamped and mailed separately as postcards, so they would bear the markings of travel and the postal service,” according to a news release.
The University Print Society kept one print from each artist for its collection, which are displayed in the Memorial Union. Postcards from past exchanges are also in the exhibit, which opened Monday.
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Breaking the mold
The postcard artists were asked to consider what happens when anarchy rules the land, using that as motivation for their piece. The prompt was part of the exhibit's overall theme "Anarchy, Rules We Should Break & Mutual Destruction."
The postcards were created using various printmaking techniques, including woodcuts, lithograph, intaglio, digital, relief, photography and silkscreen.
“Are there rules we should break and how can we eschew mutual destruction? Our students chose this prompt as an opportunity to voice their growing concern for the world," the University Print Society, which organizes the project, said in a news release. "We were happy to see so many of our participants connect with this theme to make a positive impact and reflect upon our society.
Many postcards were vibrant and colorful, while others were subdued and eye-opening. Each postcard offers a unique take on anarchy and what it means to break the rules.
ISU's exhibit is free to the public and will culminate in a silent auction of each postcard.
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An auction for a cause
Auction proceeds will help fund student club activities, such as visiting artist lectures and print projects, as well as supplies for on-campus printmaking workshops. The artwork can be bid on via a simple process.
Bidding ends at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, at the close of the exhibit. Winners will be notified by email.
The Memorial Union Art Gallery is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
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Ronna Faaborg covers business and the arts for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at rlawless@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Unique artwork on display during ISU's 23rd Postcard Exchange
