petaluma postcard project

04May16

Several of my photos were recently on display at the Petaluma Mail Depot as part of the Petaluma Postcard Project, an art project that attempts to, according to the press release, encourage Petalumans “to become pocket-sized art collectors with a series of limited-edition postcards featuring the work of local artists.” While I haven’t actually lived in Petaluma for ages now, I still make my way back to that old hometown whenever I can, and my mailing address in the United States still bears a Petaluma postcode.

I was contacted by the head of FMRL (Future Media Research Lab), author and cultural impresario Daedalus Howell, who asked if he could make some postcards featuring the photograph above. While it might seem counterintuitive to include a photograph of Hiroshima’s famous streetcar line in an exhibit that celebrates a Sonoma County town that’s famous for its chickens, dairy products, beer, and wine, the 707 on the front of the streetcar that appears in the photograph is the key to it all. “707” is the Sonoma County area code and a new train line — the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit, or SMART train — is soon to be barreling along the 707 corridor.

The show also features offerings from several Petaluma artists, including work by co-curator Karen Hess, who has produced a series of photographs of dyepots that use naturally sourced dyes, the ever-brilliant Michael Garlington, and Shannon Ferguson, of Longwave and Falcon fame, who has produced a limited edition lathe-cut vinyl single featuring the song “Graviton.”

You can read a fantastic write up of the show here. And even though the exhibit itself is now over, you might just be able to get yourself a postcard or two here.

Filed under: art, culture, personal, photography, sweet story of Trout Monroe   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: 707, Daedalus Howell, Karen Hess, Michael Garlington, Petaluma, Petaluma Postcard Project, postcards, Shannon Ferguson, SMART train