Q&A with Melissa West
Tell us about your postcard designs.
There is a long history of political printmaking, and I'm proud to try to follow in the footsteps of great artists like Elizabeth Catlett, Kathe Kollwitz, and the Taller de Gráfica Popular. I'm also greatly influenced by the Romanesque sculptures I've seen during my travels in Spain, which use deceptively simple designs to tell complex stories. It's a great challenge to try to provide enough information, graphically, to tell if not the whole story at least a certain fullness - and at the same time leave enough room for the viewer to step in and add their own interpretation.
Do you think postcards are an effective canvas for activism?
Yes, I do. So often one is frustrated trying to reach an elected official's office by phone or fax, calling again and again only to be put on hold or find that the answering machine is full. It might take longer for a postcard to reach its recipient, but it's guaranteed to be delivered. And it's hard for anyone to ignore the sheer volume of mail when activists send thousands of postcards. My wife and I host a monthly gathering of postcarders at a local gallery and it's invigorating to get together with like-minded friends. We feel less alone and more effective. We send out hundreds of postcards every month, and hope that we're helping move the dial just a
little bit forward.
To see more of Melissa's work, visit: mswest.com
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