The Annual Postcard Project is back and this year we celebrate 35 years of the Alternator!

Once again the Alternator is celebrating our diverse creative community through our Annual Postcard Project. To commemorate our 35th year in the Kelowna arts community we invited our members to fill the walls of the gallery salon-style with original artworks and postcards.

The Annual Postcard Project is an opportunity for local artists to exhibit their work in the Alternator’s professional gallery space, creating a grand mosaic that showcases both the people involved with the gallery and the work they produce. This annual members’ exhibition doubles as an exhibition and sale where visitors could take home (or gift!) a part of the Okanagan’s rich arts community. Artists will take home 75% of sales while the remaining 25% supports the Alternator’s programming.

Everything in the gallery is up for sale, from artworks on the wall ranging from paintings, prints, and ceramics to our series of original, handmade postcards made by our member artists. To reflect on 35 years of the Alternator, we also invited artists spanning the last 3 decades to contribute their own unique postcards. Check out our online gallery of these special Alternator Artist Postcards here:

All artworks in the exhibition are unique originals and available for sale with prices ranging as low as $15.00 and up. People are encouraged to visit early, however, as works in the exhibition are sold, they will be removed from the wall and taken home with their new owners.

The Annual Postcard Project is back and this year we celebrate 35 years of the Alternator!

Since 1989, the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art has supported a wide variety of Canadian artists through exhibitions, community programming, and collaboration. We foster the arts in our community by supporting and developing the talents of local and national artists. To commemorate our 35th year we once again would like to invite our membership to celebrate with us!

Member artists can create an edition of unique handmade postcards, submit artworks to be sold for the studio sale, or both. You are not required to submit to both aspects but are highly encouraged to. This year, postcard editions are 5 postcards, and participants have an option to sign up for 2 sets for a total of 10.

To encourage the creative flow,  the Alternator will be hosting two postcard-making events leading up to the exhibition. These Members-only events on June 6th and 20th will be casual evenings of community building and postcard making. On June 6th, join us at Kettle River Brewing over delicious food and drink from 6-8pm. Then, on June 20th, join us for our second postcard-making party at the gallery. Basic supplies will be provided, but guests are still encouraged to bring their own art materials. Please RSVP on Eventbrite for the June 6th event!

Our Annual Postcard Project exhibition will open on July 12, with an opening reception taking place that evening from 6 - 8pm - mark your calendars to join us as we celebrate the exhibition, and our milestone 35th Birthday, as a community!

The Postcard Project invites 35 Alternator member artists (one for each year of our existence!) to create 5 or 10 original postcards. The works may be watercolour, collage, photographs or any other 2D media that will fit on the 4x6” postcard substrate (postcard blanks will be provided by the Alternator). In the spirit of the Alternator mandate, we welcome experimental interpretations of this project. A piece of creative writing? A painting made by your pet? Dance instructions? We want to see it! This will be a limited run of 350 unique postcards so don’t delay in registering as spots are limited, first come, first served! 

The numbered, limited edition postcards will be exhibited in-gallery and offered for sale to our visitors for $15 each with 75% of proceeds going directly to the artist, and the remaining 25% to the gallery to support the Alternator’s programming. The public will be encouraged to send their purchased postcard out to friends or family or keep it for themselves.

The Studio Sale is an open call for submissions for Members to submit up to two guaranteed artworks and one juried artwork (any medium / theme) for inclusion in an exhibition taking place in the Main and Project Gallery. The maximum artwork size is 36”x36”. Artworks may be offered for sale at any price with 75% of proceeds going directly to the artist, and the remaining 25% to the gallery to support the Alternator’s programming. Works will be removed from the wall as they are sold so buyers can walk away with their newly purchased art.

How​ ​to​ ​Participate:

Step​ ​1:​ ​Membership

Sign​ ​up​ ​for​ ​or​ ​renew​ ​your​ ​Alternator​ ​membership.​ ​You​ ​can​ ​sign-up​ ​online​ ​​or​ ​in​ ​person​ ​at​ ​the​ ​gallery.​ ​

Not​ ​sure​ if your Alternator membership is still active? ​ ​Contact​ ​us​ ​at​ ​250 868 2298​ ​or​ ​at​ ​info@alternatorcentre.com and we can help you out!

Step​ ​2:​ ​Register​ ​to​ ​Exhibit​ by June 23, 11:59 p.m.

Complete and submit the registration form either through the Alternator website or by completing a printed form that can​ ​then​ ​be​ ​submitted​ ​in​ ​person or​ ​emailed to​ ​info@alternatorcentre.com. Artists can sign up for either the Postcard Project, Studio Sale, or both.

Postcard Project & Studio Sale Registration Form (Online)
Postcard Project & Studio Sale Registration Form (PDF)

Step​ ​3:​ ​Label​ ​and​ ​drop​ ​off​ ​your​ ​artwork

POSTCARD PROJECT
Pick up your blank postcards (if applicable)

Artists participating in the Postcard Project will be provided with 5 or 10 4x6” blank postcards. Cards may be picked up at the Alternator between May 7 - June 22. Any medium is welcome as long as the piece remains 2D and limited to 4x6”. 

Unsure if your medium will work on the provided postcard paper? Not to worry! Folks are welcome to use their own paper as long as they are mounted with archival glue to the provided postcard upon delivery. For example, many photo-based artists have printed their photos and attached them to the postcards. This way, no matter your medium there is a way to participate!

Completed postcards should be returned to the Alternator between June 25 - 29 during gallery hours. If you are unable to drop off your completed postcards during these times, please email info@alternatorcentre.com to make alternate arrangements. Please identify your work by completing the following inventory form and return when dropping off artworks.

Postcard Project Inventory

STUDIO SALE

The public will take home purchased Studio Sale artwork with them immediately. As such, we ask that artwork is dropped off in good condition and ready to hang or install. For instance, artwork that is on warped frames or that does not have required hardware (i.e. wire) for hanging will not be accepted. 

Label​ ​and​ ​identify​ ​your​ ​artwork​ by filling out and attaching labels below.

Studio Sale Label Form (PDF)

Labelled artwork can be dropped off at the Alternator between June 25 - 29 during regular gallery hours. If you are unable to drop off your work during these times, please email info@alternatorcentre.com to make alternate arrangements.

All​ ​artwork​ ​identification​ ​must​ ​be​ ​included and​ ​securely​ ​attached​ ​to​ ​your​ ​art​ ​at​ ​the​ ​time​ ​of​ ​drop-off. Please be sure to note which of your submitted pieces are your 2 guaranteed works, and which is an additional work submitted for jurying.

Step​ ​4:​ ​Sales

75% of any sales go directly to the artists after the end of the exhibition. Cheques are typically delivered in September. Please note, new this year, total payable earnings under $20 will be automatically credited towards future membership payments.

Additionally, participants will have the option to donate their earnings to the gallery.

Important Dates

Exhibition Dates: July 12 - August 10 

Opening Reception / 35th Birthday Party: July 12, 6-8pm

Submissions open: May 6 

Submissions close: June 23

Blank Postcard Pickup: May 7 - June 22

Postcard Making Members Event: June 6 & 20 (more details to be announced!)

Artwork dropoff: June 25 - 29

Artwork Pickup: August 13 - 17

Cheques sent out: September TBD

Still need convincing? Take a look at exhibition photos from previous years!