“Give Voice” Postcard Project
The “Give Voice” Postcard Project is a grassroots, multi-state, advocacy initiative organized by Eileen Jeng Lynch. Make your voice heard by writing to Congress at their district addresses. Using 38 artist-designed postcards, help advocate for the issues that matter to you: COVID-19 pandemic relief; racial justice; protection of civil liberties; rights of immigrants, women, and LGBTQ community; the arts; healthcare; environment; natural disaster relief; scientific research; and gun control regulation, to name a few. Stamps and federal officials’ district addresses are included with the cards.
Write to Congress in 6 easy steps:
1. Purchase “Give Voice” artist postcards with stamps and addresses from the STORE. Proceeds are donated to the NASAA, NRDC, ACLU or Planned Parenthood.
2. Look up your US Senators and Representatives' district addresses on the included list or HERE.
3. Identify an issue that is important to you. As a reference, some bills and topics are below.
4. Write postcards.
5. Include return address.
6. Mail cards.
The combination of these extraordinary images and participants' personal stories across the nation is incredibly impactful. After all, there is strength in numbers. Having occurred in New York, New Mexico, Illinois, Minnesota, and North Carolina, among other states, this nationwide artist postcard writing project has the potential to make changes in the political landscape.
Artists
Michael Alan, Trudy Benson, Jason Bereswill, Zoë Buckman and Natalie Frank, Amanda Church, Zoe Crosher, Kevin Curran, David Dixon, Amy Feldman, Ben Godward, Justin Brice Guariglia, Jane LaFarge Hamill, Young Sun Han, Rachel Hayes, Jason Lazarus, Shaun Leonardo, Greg Lindquist, Natasha Mayers, Riad Miah, Joe Nanashe, Katherine Newbegin, Clayton Porter, Nathlie Provosty, Armita Raafat, Luisa Rabbia, Erika Ranee, David Reed, Daniel Rich, Alexis Rockman, Rachel Selekman, Rudy Shepherd, Edra Soto, Meg Stein, Dannielle Tegeder, Karen Tompkins, Sebastian Vallejo, Julia von Eichel, Saya Woolfalk
Proceeds
Proceeds from sales of postcards support the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), or Planned Parenthood—a cause of the artist's choice.
Available Postcards
Artist postcards are available online in the STORE. Postcards are sold in packs of 10, along with a blank card, stamps, and district addresses of your state's Federal Senators and Representatives. For assorted packs and signed postcards, please email eileen@neumeraki.com.
The Impetus
This project started when the Trump Administration released its FY18 budget proposal that sought to eliminate funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences, among other programs. The past Administration’s egregious proposed cuts and current policies sought to imperil key programs.
With the Biden-Harris Administration, I hope you continue to let your voice be heard on the issues that are important to you.
Join the conversation:
Instagram: @eileenj8 #GiveVoice #GiveVoicePostcardProject
Facebook: Give Voice Postcard Project page (@givevoicepostcardproject)
MORE DETAILS FOR POSTCARD WRITING
Locate your Federal Senators and Representatives' District Addresses
CLICK HERE
List of Federal Senators and Representatives by State (included with order)
Selected List of Topics and Bills (in formation)
Environment
Gun Control Regulation
H.R. 8 - Bipartisan Background Checks of 2021. Introduced by Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5]
Related article here
H.R. 1808 - Assault Weapons Ban of 2021. Introduced by Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]
Rights of Immigrants and DACA Recipients
H.R.6 - The American Dream and Promise Act of 2021. Introduced by Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40]
S.264 - Dream Act of 2021. Introduced by Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Related article here
Family and Medical Insurance Leave
H.R. 804 - FAMILY Act. Introduced by Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
S. 248 - FAMILY Act. Introduced by Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
More details here
Sample Postcards
If you would like to host a local event (socially distanced or virtually), please email eileen@neumeraki.com.
Nationwide Committee in 2017:
Jackie Maman (Chicago, IL - May 21), Clayton Porter (Santa Fe, NM @ THE Magazine - May 21), Meg Stein (Durham, NC - June 24), Herman Milligan (Minneapolis, MN - December 2)
Multi-State Project: Past Events:
Give Voice Postcard Writing Event
Hosted by EFA Studios
323 West 39th Street
Third Floor Conference Room
New York, NY 10018
Saturday, December 15, 1 - 4 pm
Give Voice Postcard Project
Endless Editions Biennial: OPTIMISM, curated by Lukaza Branfman-Verissimo
Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts - Project Space
323 West 39th Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10018
December 7 - 21, 2018
Performance and Catalogue Launch: December 15, 4 pm
“Give Voice” Postcard Project
Forward Union Fair
Red Bull Arts
220 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
Saturday, September 29, 2018, 12-6 pm
"Give Voice" Postcard Project
The Art of Protest exhibition, curated by Elizabeth Cooper
Areté Venue and Gallery, 67 West Street, #103 (courtyard), Brooklyn, NY 11222
March 16 - April 29, 2018
"Give Voice" Postcard Writing Event
Areté Venue and Gallery, 67 West Street, #103 (courtyard), Brooklyn, NY 11222
Saturday, April 14, 1-4 pm
(See photos below.)
"Give Voice" Postcard Writing Event
Hosted by The Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation
The 8th Floor, 17 West 17th Street, New York, NY
December 16, 2017, 3 - 6 pm
"Give Voice" Postcard Project
Forward Union Fair
An annual social action info fair that brings together social activist organizations and artists
714 Broadway, New York, NY
December 2 - 3, 2017
(See photos below.)
"Give Voice" Postcard Project and Benefit Exhibition
In collaboration with Rachel Selekman
Gowanus Open Studios
Spaceworks Entryway and Studio #14
540 President Street, Lower Level, Brooklyn, NY
October 21-22, 2017
Installation of works
By row (from top left): Riad Miah, Karen Tompkins, Greg Lindquist
Amanda Church, Kevin Curran, Rachel Selekman, Julia von Eichel
Sebastian Vallejo, Katherine Newbegin, Ben Godward
Joe Nanashe ("Give Voice" Postcard Project table in entryway)
"Give Voice" Postcard Project Exhibition
The Franklin
3522 W. Franklin Blvd, Chicago, IL
October 14, 2017 - January 28, 20
"Give Voice" Postcard Writing Event
Hosted by Nick Page, Frits Zernike, and David Dixon
2 Way Brewing Co., 18 West Main Street, Beacon, NY
September 9, 2017, 1:30 - 4:30 pm
"Give Voice" Postcard Writing Event
Hosted by Meg Stein
Durham Farmer's Market, 501 Foster St, Durham, NC
June 24, 2017
(See photos below.)
"Give Voice" Postcard Project and Benefit Exhibition
LMAKbooks+design
298 Grand Street, New York, NY
May 21 - July 28, 2017
Participating Artists
Michael Alan, Janine Antoni, Trudy Benson, Jason Bereswill, Zoë Buckman and Natalie Frank, Amanda Church, Zoe Crosher, Kevin Curran, David Dixon, Amy Feldman, Ben Godward, Justin Brice Guariglia, Jane LaFarge Hamill, Young Sun Han, Rachel Hayes, Jason Lazarus, Shaun Leonardo, Greg Lindquist, Natasha Mayers, Riad Miah, Joe Nanashe, Katherine Newbegin, Clayton Porter, Nathlie Provosty, Armita Raafat, Luisa Rabbia, Erika Ranee, David Reed, Daniel Rich, Alexis Rockman, Rachel Selekman, Rudy Shepherd, Edra Soto, Meg Stein, Dannielle Tegeder, Karen Tompkins, Sebastian Vallejo, Julia von Eichel, and Saya Woolfalk
"Give Voice" Benefit Exhibition
LMAKbooks+design
July 20 - 28, 2017
Selected works available. Proceeds support the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and Planned Parenthood. Contact Eileen Jeng at eileen@neumeraki.com with inquiries.
Clockwise from left: Young Sun Han, Great American Spirit (Supplication), 2017; Rachel Selekman, Titled Flag, 2017; Anonymous Photograph, 20th century, selected by Katherine Newbegin for the "Give Voice" Postcard Project
Clockwise from left: Kevin Curran, Astronauts, 2006; Jane LaFarge Hamill, Untitled, 2017; Karen Tompkins, Supercluster 8, 2015; Greg Lindquist, Smoke and Water, Cadmium, 2016; Julia von Eichel, Dark Roots, 2017; Erika Ranee, The Palace, 2017; Sebastian Vallejo, Evening Flowers, 2017; Elana Herzog, Untitled, 2017; Ben Godward, Coral (prince), 2017; Michael Alan, O My head, 2006; Nicole Awai, Pounce Girl(s)!, 2017
Clockwise from left: Clayton Porter, Untitled (sweat print), 2016; Riad Miah, No 9, 2010; Jason Bereswill, Untitled (lil gutted landscape), 2017; Gelah Penn, Blight, 2017; Amy Feldman, Morning Mourning, 2017; Amanda Church, Orange Raincloud, 2017; Jason Bereswill, Arizona Shootout, 2017; Jason Lazarus, Untitled, 2017; Meg Stein, Untitled (I am a clever girl), 2014; Joe Nanashe, The Art? The Art!, 2017; Justin Brice Guariglia, Untitled, 2017
"Give Voice" Postcard Writing Event
Hosted by Clayton Porter and The Magazine Santa Fe
320 Aztec St, Santa Fe, NM
May 21, 2017
"Give Voice" Postcard Writing Event
Hosted by Jackie Maman
Chicago, IL
May 21, 2017
See more photos on the Give Voice Postcard Project Facebook page.