Tips on what I'm looking for in the postcard project:
Begin by doing brief research on the people to find out who they are, Wikipedia is a good start. Then, from that general overview, choose two who are interesting to you even if you didn't know them before. Then you will do some more in-depth research about the people, finding interesting details or information about their lives. You don't have to use their faces or portraits in the postcard, you could represent them with symbols or other objects that could be associated with them. Your viewer may not know who it's about right away, but you want to give them information or clues in a visual form. Use the assignment as a basis for the choice of images you use.
As for the relationship, imagine what it would be like if they met, or if they were penpals, or if they lived during the same time period, or if they were lovers or went on a trip together to outerspace. Think of them as characters that you will create a fiction with. Maybe one person travels from the future to the past, when one of the other people lived.
The photos you take on your own can be anything, but could be used as a background or other element of the vingette you are creating. Perhaps one of the characters goes sailing on Saint Mary's River, or we find Calvert alive again roaming historic Saint Mary's City or driving a car. So you would take a photo of the river, the city, or even a car.
Think also about how this is a postcard and how postcards function: often they represent a place, and are used by tourists for a souvenir or to write home. Take advantage of this form and remember that the 2 postcards are meant to be shown together. So perhaps one will not have full form or meaning without the other.
The scans due on Wed/Thurs will be the raw images you will use for your piece, so for example, I might scan a picture of a Paris because I discovered that one of my people used to live there, or a picture of a swimming pool because I want them to be there. So I will need to visit the library to find a good image of Paris to scan in, because Google is not allowed. And then I will use Photoshop to put their body in that background. Or maybe I scan my sweater because I think it might make a good texture for the sky in a scene I'm creating.. Bringing in your photos will count too.
Of course as with any project, some element of creative brainstorming with pen and pencil, doodles, and word lists is the first step. Do some initial research and I'm sure you'll start getting some ideas for interesting images and elements you could use. The sketches due on Mon/Tues are a start for your to know what elements you want in your final piece.
For more guidance about mail art, you have to look at the work of Ray Johnson, I've given some places for you to start below.
- edible squid postcard
