Connection and Hope

The subjects of connection and hope popped up across many postcard submissions. Even during these extraordinary and difficult times, self-reflection allowed people to refocus on what truly matters to them and renewed an appreciation for the small, everyday interactions we often take for granted. The pandemic also pushed us to explore new means to connect with family and friends–virtually via Zoom and other similar video conferencing platforms.

In this postcard, a grandmother writes to her future grandchild, expressing her excitement for their coming time together. The front of the postcard includes a black and white ultrasound photo, colorfully drawn over to create an underwater landscape with a variety of sea creatures, like a turtle, dolphin, octopus, and fish.  The unborn child represents new hope in a dark and questionable world.

The beautiful painting on this postcard shows an impressionistic landscape. The sun is rising, its bright pinks and oranges peeking out against a gray and cloudy sky. Below the painting is typed "a new day." On the backside of the postcard is a quote attributed to romance author Lilly Atlas, “Through darkness comes light, through fear comes love, and through pain comes triumph.”

Playing with the new forms of virtual connection we were all forced to move to, the creator of this postcard has placed an image of a Zoom screen showing seven different screens of engagement in various activities and life. A figure stretches in what appears to be a bathroom, underneath which the Zoom caption states “Small Spaces.” An image of a deer staring directly at the camera against a lush green forest surrounding says, “Nature Thrives.” A small child engages in ballet lessons at home with the caption, “Carrying On.” An individual outdoors photographs a yellow flower with the caption “Taking Perspective.” A glass of wine, a stack of books, and a clock sit on a table with the caption “Been too long.” For many, the pandemic was a time to start new hobbies, revisit old ones, get outside and take advantage of the freedom provided by nature, and to keep connected with friends and family in new virtual modalities.