POSTCARDS FOR NURSING HOMES

My friend, Christine Adams, a wonderful artist, is sponsoring a great project. Essentially, it involves making postcards of any kind and sending them to her. She will distribute them at thenursing home where she is artist in residence. It is a worthwhile, altruistic endeavor, and you'll have fun getting out your rubber stamps and other goodies and making a few cards. Here are the particulars:

I am proposing a postcard project as part of my third semester in an
MFA program. I'm hoping that you will all join me in my effort.
Enclosed is my proposal. Please let me know what you think. Cheers!
Christine Adams

Postcard Project

I am the Artist in Residence in a four-building campus for the elderly.
I am also working on a Masters program at Goddard College. I've
proposed a postcard project as part of my third semester work and I'm
asking for your help.

The seniors I work with span gender, race, and economic circumstances.
The common denominator of many is the lack of outside contact and the
fact that they are older citizens. I've noticed that cards and pictures
are generally posted in resident's rooms for all to see. The message
is, "See, someone somewhere cares for me!"

I am asking that you make an original postcard, sent to me and labeled
"To a friend." I will distribute these among the residents of the
nursing home. The campus I serve has four buildings and nearly one
thousand residents.

Postcards can:

. Establish a link to the world outside of the complex.
. Make the resident receiving the card feel important.
. Provide a small special piece of art for someone who otherwise might
not be able to incorporate an original artwork into his or her home.
. Perform a meaningful act of kindness.

Because of the patient privacy act, I must distribute the cards myself.
However, if you wish, you can encourage a reciprocal card from the
senior. A return reply is unlikely in most cases for a variety of
reasons. However the person who receives your card may choose to
respond.

My role is to solicit the cards and to receive, sort, track, and
distribute them. I plan to exhibit the cards on a display wall before
they are delivered to the residents. Imagine a display of postcards
more than eighty feet wide by forty inches high! What an impressive
outreaching of humanity to be a part of! You may never know the effect
your card had but be assured it will be treasured. Working with this
population for five years I have seen that any act of kindness means a
great deal and is not lightly received.

I would also like to establish a site on the web where I can display
pictures of the wall of received cards so that you can have a way of
seeing the impact of your work. Without violating privacy I would also
like to tell a few stories of the recipients so that you may realize a
measure of satisfaction from participating in the project.

The success of the project will never be fully known, but like a pebble
in a pond the ripples will multiply. Most of this population will keep
your cards. Other visitors may see your card and decide to contribute
also. You may even feel moved to get involved in a nursing home close
to where you live.

To sum up the project:

. I am asking you to create and send a handmade postcard approximately
4" X 6" to me labeled "To a friend" to be distributed to a nursing home
resident. Please send the card on or before April 31, 2004.
. The card may be painted, collaged, in fabric, digitally manipulated,
whatever you decide. When making your card remember that older eyes
appreciate clear and large lettering.
. Please include your name, address, and email address with your card.
I will track the project and provide a report at a later date.
. Because you'll be sending the above enclosure with your card it is
probably wise to use an envelope.
. If you have friends, family, or fellow artists that would like to
create a card please encourage them. This is an opportunity to be
included in a very special exhibit.
. Before distributing the cards I will exhibit them as a group. The
exhibit will be a part of the report.
. The address to use is: To a Friend, c/o Christine Adams, 796 Nelson
Street, Rockville, MD 20850. My email is . If you write to me with a
question please use "Postcard Project" as your subject.

Thank you to all who chose to participate. With your help I know we
can enrich the lives of the recipients.