Regift Cards - 2024 10 31

 

The concept behind Regift Cards is that original artworks make a more significant, impactful impression than reproductions (prints). Original artworks are intended to be kept and re-gifted over time. Printed cards are intended to be disposable. 

If the concept goes according to plan, these original art cards will build up a history of exchanges over time. These exchanges will be recorded in the leaves of the card, like a guest book, but instead of recording sentiments from one event, the leaves in these cards record sentiments over many exchanges. 

I haven't actually seen anything like this before, so I am making it up as I go along. On the one hand, a card has one area inside to convey the sentiments of the sender to the receiver. On the other hand, a guest book has many pages to capture comments from attendees at a memorable event.

A regift card has original art on the front and extra page leaves inside to record multiple giving. It is like a thin guest book with original art on the cover. The regift card is meant to be displayed throughout its life.

The regift card needs to carry two parts of information. First, it carries an explanation of the Regift Card Project. The intentions of the project itself and how any one of us ends up a recipient of a regift card. Second, it carries the description of the artwork - materials, size, year, serial number.

There is a third piece of information - it needs to carry my email address, so that I can encourage every recipient of a regift card to send me a photo of the card and the sentiment of the current exchange. I will be able to put this history of exchange up on the interwebs showing the kinds of encouragement we give each other to build strength in our families, friendships, and communities.

What I have come up with so far is a card cover that is strong enough to hold the art work and be freestanding on a shelf or table. The original artwork is permanently attached to the front of the card. It is not covered, it is unprotected except for the care we take in protecting it from damage. There are four page leaves stitched into the inside of the card. Room for any number of exchanges. When those pages are filled, there will be room to add more leaves as needed. We just want to remember that each sentiment is dated when it is written.

On the back of the card I have attached the artist statement explaining the concept for the card. This statement will include an email address for sending in photos when the card is received. On the inside cover of the card I will attach a label with the information about the original artwork.

I still have to figure out what I am going to do about signing the work. Some of the work can be signed on the back, some of the work is translucent and any signature would show through.

I'll figure that out next.