Last night was the opening for an exhibition/installation at the Salem Art Association’s Focus Gallery, a long time in the making…16 years to be exact. It is some of the 5000+ postcards I’ve received from my friend Ellen Crockett in Vermont…one a day every day for 16 years. For her it became a meditation, a “journal” she could let go of daily when the card slipped into the mail slot. She got very interested in collecting the cards…a now disappearing commodity. She began writing as a response to this blog of mine. In rural Vermont there is no cable, very little connectivity, but there are post offices. And we weren’t into this process very far before I could see that sometime I would like to see them up as an installation. And here we are, thanks to Ross Sutherland at the Salem Art Association who could see my vision when others couldn’t, and who painstakingly put all these cards up.
Ellen and I became friends during her time here in Salem. We kept in touch when she left for Wyoming, then Maine, and finally Vermont. I visited her in each place, and she drove west several times annually to visit her son/grandson in Wyoming…often making the trek to Salem. We would have kept in touch anyway…but not like this. if you are in Salem during the month of August I urge you to go to Bush Barn Art Center and take a look. and why not send a postcard to somebody…only three sentences needed! Keep in touch.
Ross and I spent 5 hours just putting up the picture side of the cards, and then it took him two days to put up the rest, here are some images of the process:
The Willamette University Alumni magazine did a nice article on the Snailblog https://magazine.willamette.edu/magazine/summer-2025/i-think-of-you-every-day/
On The Way 
I’m so glad these postcards became a public exhibit. I hope lots of people enjoy them. I wish I lived near enough to visit and look closely at the cards and messages. This is just so wonderful. (I began collecting postcards when I was about 6 or 7. They were so inexpensive then and could often be purchased 6 for a quarter. I think it was my parent’s cheap way to keep me happy when we travelled. I have been less “industrious” about collecting postcards these days but any that come my way — art exhibits notices, advertising postcards, freebies from various places, and sometimes ones I buy — I save. Maybe I should start using them!)
You should totally use some of them and no need to match messages to image…Ellen doesn’t!
oh what a show–what a show–what a vision of time and friendship spinning out from it! hurrah to everyone–love too
you’re up next, cutie boots ❤️❤️❤️
I’m looking forward to seeing this!
I think you’ll like it
Bonnie, it is a wonderful thing. I have long admired your friend’s commitment to keeping this communication flowing. I look forward to seeing the exhibit.
To friendship…
Hi BJ…more important than ever to keep in touch as we get old and loved ones begin to “fall off the raft” as Julia Child famously said.
8/28/25 Dear Bonnie, Saw your installation yesterday. It was wonderful. I’m amazed at the volume of correspondence between you and Ellen! I also enjoyed the exhibit on the second floor. The masks were haunting. Thank you for the postcard show and thanks for the notification.
Craig