There’s something magical about postcards, especially in this day and age when many young people don’t even understand their important role in historic communications and storytelling. Occasionally postcards are still sent by someone who appreciates the nature of a hand-written note. But for the most part, the “sending of a postcard” is a lost art/pastime.
If you ask Scott “Tofu” St. John about his relationship with the postcard medium, he has an entirely different slant on the subject. That’s because he is in the midst of publishing a book that features postcards that his great grandmother, Helen Thrun, collected in Buffalo 100 years ago (1907 to 1918). The collection tells a story in itself, and has inspired Scott in a number of ways. Not only does he appreciate the historic cards for what they are, he has also managed to look at the cards via an artistic eye.
The cards tell a story of a women at work and at play. It’s a tale of family, romance and travel, told through classic imagery and dated (though still relevant) jottings.
“I always am on the look out for old postcards,” Scott tells me. “Usually I cut them up and repurpose them in new works of art. I have used all sorts of material for what I call collage fodder – everything from maps, discarded books, to old photos to beer packaging. Postcards hold a special place for me though, because they are commonplace and ordinary yet they also become personalized when an individual writes their own message on the back. When I use those fragments of messages from decades ago, it is probably the closet I will ever get to time travel. “Helen’s Postcards” is based on the contents of a cherished family heirloom, so reproducing them in a book seems the natural way to share them with a wider audience. Of course, those postcards will not be cut up.”
In order to get this book published, Scott has initiated a Kickstarter campaign, in order to raise the necessary funds. At this juncture, he is looking for your support, especially if you like the idea of your sponsorship being rewarded with your own copy of the book. “With the demise of small presses and independent bookstores, using a crowd funding campaign to raise funds to print and distribute the book seems the way to go,” says Scott. “This will probably be a one-time printing, so I would love to let anyone who would be interested have the opportunity to get a copy.”
If you are a fan of old Buffalo postcards, and postcards that were sent and received by a local gal at the turn of the century, then consider supporting Scott and his project. Click here to learn more about the book, and the Kickstarter campaign. It’s not often that we are inspired by a great grandparent the way that Scott has been, and continues to be. It’s a heartwarming story that unfolds in the most unusual way. Phones and computers have made it so easy to communicate, that a form of art was lost along the way. At least we still have the memories thanks to works of this nature.