The Soldier's Home Postcard Project

Thank you to everyone who participated in this project!
Below are about 773 postcards- about a third of what was sent out!!! Way to go, artists!

Creative Connections Postcard workshop in Ashburnham!

Creative Connections Postcard workshop in Ashburnham!

The Soldier's Home Postcard Project
Here is a little background information on the project:

For some time I had been thinking about how I could use mail art to effect positive change. I have primarily used mail art for sequential storytelling or as a form of deliberate practice, making postcards on 1/4 inch plywood to send to a small group of people. Over time, as I did errands and drove (a time when I cook up ideas) the Soldier's Home in Holyoke kept coming to mind.
I knew how much the unanticipated number of deaths in 2020 at both the Holyoke and Chelsea Soldier's Homes likely affected both staff and residents. Could we use mail art to help people focus on a stronger, healthier future?
Initially, I contacted Holyoke to be sure they would welcome our efforts. They were excited. A week later, the administration at Chelsea contacted me with even more positive energy toward the idea (the two facilities are connected). To that end we printed about 2000 pre-addressed post cards on 140 lb watercolor paper. I then began contacting artists, social workers, teachers, writers, expressive therapists, and others to see if they would be interested in helping out. I also asked these people to consider reaching out to others who might be interested in participating.
Each person chose the number of postcards they thought they could handle and we then sent them out with brief instructions. The time for delivery of the mail art was set for between Thanksgiving and the end of the year 2022. We only asked that the participants cover postage. The cards were not meant to be holiday cards although the mailing time was wrapped around several holidays. We suggested that other types of images would be longer lasting and could even be kept to decorate rooms.
The goal was to have the postcards displayed together in each institution so that staff, residents and visitors could see them all at once.
What is displayed on this page is a portion of what was sent out. Not everyone shared their images with me before mailing, I know that. I also know that with the holidays, people may have set aside this task and not come back to it. I am still waiting to see how this all worked out in the end, and when I know, I will post information here!

Art Postcards below courtesy Alex Gerasev.

Art Postcards courtesy Betty Flournoy Brown.

Art Postcards courtesy Suze Genereaux.

Art Postcards courtesy Suze Genereaux.

Art Postcards below courtesy Liz Reiser.

Art postcards below courtesy Yogi Howse.

Art Postcards courtesy Oakmont High School, Ashburnham.

Art Postcards courtesy Lola Chaisson.

Art Postcards courtesy Lara Roketenetz.

Art Postcards courtesy Lola Chaisson.

134 Art Postcards courtesy students at Hope Academy, Providence, RI.

Art Postcards courtesy Lola Chaisson.

Art Postcards courtesy Lara Roketenetz.

Art postcards below courtesy Jamie Farrell

Art Postcards below courtesy Donna Murphy

Art Postcards below courtesy Tracey Burke and students at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School.

Art Postcards courtesy Erika Frank.

Art Postcards Courtesy Plymouth South High School. Many thanks to teacher, Colleen Quinn!

Art Postcards courtesy Erika Frank.

Art Postcards courtesy Sally Dion and her students!

Art Postcards below courtesy Lucy Mueller

Art Postcards courtesy Ted Southwick.

Art Postcards courtesy Andy Payne.

Art postcards courtesy Brett S. Poza

Art postcards below courtesy anonymous Boston College students via Stephanie Stigliano.

Art postcards courtesy Creative Connections Gallery.

Art Postcards courtesy Jane Lincoln.

Art Postcards courtesy Susan Rock.

Art postcards below courtesy Ted Hinman

Art Postcards below courtesy Armené Margosian.

Art Postcards below courtesy Kelly Knight

Art postcards below courtesy Michele Vitti

Art postcards below courtesy C.A. Stigliano.

Art Postcards below courtesy Sheila Booth.

Art Postcards below courtesy Madge Evers

Art Postcards courtesy Gary Holliday

Art Postcards courtesy Gary Holliday

Art Postcards courtesy Gina Montefusco.

Art Postcards below courtesy Kate Higley

Art postcards courtesy Alexia Johnstone, Sophie Penny and Jackie Penny

Art Postcards below courtesy Linda Bourke

Art Postcards below courtesy Stephanie Stigliano.

Art Postcards below courtesy Kathleen Wright.

Art postcards courtesy Kik Kimball.

Art Postcard courtesy Marti Lew.

Art Postcard courtesy Marti Lew.

Art Postcard courtesy Marti Lew.

Art Postcard courtesy Marti Lew.

Art Postcard courtesy Marti Lew.

Art Postcards below courtesy Sharon Dunn.