Caroline Lovell and her Traveling Postcards

The Watson Family on their land in the Guaymi Reserve, Costa Rica

From Left to Right: Evelia,Danila and her mother, Gabrila and Elena

Photo credits: Caroline Lovell 2009

The November 2009 blog entry features artist Caroline Lovell and her project, Traveling Postcards. Caroline is enrolled in John F. Kennedy University’s MATA (Masters in Transformative Arts) program in Berkeley, California.

Caroline’s intention for her project is to connect women of the world through cards they make and write. To date women in the U.S. and several African and Latin American countries have received and created a traveling postcard. Groups of people meet, create cards and share nuggets of wisdom by writing a note on the back of a card they have created. Often, while people are creating the cards, they remember a woman who has deeply affected their life in a positive way. The postcards are then hand delivered to a woman or a group of women.

Having experienced the creation of the cards first hand on a few occasions, I am always amazed at how enthusiastic people become when they realize they have something relevant to say and share. Participants take great care to collage, draw, paint and write thoughtful words for someone they have never met. It is a wonder to witness the enthusiasm that pervades the workspace and the joy which overcomes people as they share a treasure which cannot be bought, a gift which is a part of them. Healing does occur in the midst of artmaking and the sharing of stories. Please enjoy and share Caroline’s work with your community. Here she is in her own words…

Sharing Hearts and Art in Costa Rica

By Caroline Lovell

This past August I returned from an amazing adventure. I wonder now how best to describe the loving connection I experienced with the men and women of Punta Banco and how best to honor their willingness to share their hearts. I am grateful for the opportunity to express my thanks to this inspiring community.

A highlight of the trip was the high travel into the jungle to visit an indigenous Guaymi family. When we arrived soaked and tired from both rain and a dangerous seven mile hike, Ramon, Elena and their four daughters greeted us. I settled in under their thatched roof, grateful for a cup of sweet coffee. I do not speak Spanish, so in an effort to communicate, I slowly brought out pastels and paper for coloring with the children. The girls thought my drawings were hilarious, and so I eventually moved to making and giving Traveling Postcards.

Traveling Postcards is a project that creates a simple way for women all over the world to connect through creativity, and to ensure our voices are heard. Groups of women come together, write postcards and create works of art that include personal story. Postcards are created to give away in hopes that every woman who receives a card understands that she is cared for, and with the knowledge that each woman who makes a card has been seen and heard. I had brought some picture books from which to cut and use as decorations for the cards. These books were quickly used as an opportunity for learning through reading, and I saw they would be of far more value not to be cut up! The women had never seen art materials such as glue sticks and oil pastels. Elena hesitated to begin and encouraged her daughters to go first. Evelia quickly agreed and looked very carefully through the papers I provided to find a beautiful print to use on her card. I noticed that I had an abundance of materials with me and every piece seemed special to these women. I so often think that I don’t have enough to give, and felt surprised at how little these women needed to express themselves. One or two pieces of paper and a couple of stickers proved enough. This awareness that we are enough, have enough and that we can do much with less influenced the rest of my trip.

The Guaymi are known for their beautiful Panamanian hats and small bags handmade from plant fibers. The women make beautiful dresses worn perfectly clean and ironed! Most of their income comes from selling their wares to tourists like me, and I realized while sitting at their family table that there are many paths to creative expression and many paths to understanding our deep connections with each other. The entire family eventually made a Traveling Postcard. I could tell Ramon felt pride that his family participated with students from America.

After we co-created Traveling Postcards, I photographed the entire family, printing pictures on the spot and giving them their portraits to keep. I left all the art making supplies I had with the two youngest girls and was grateful that I could make a small difference. Each girl owned a small backpack that hung on a wooden pole of their hut. I saw that after receiving and looking at their own Traveling Postcard, they quickly put their card into their private bag. I felt sure in that moment, these girls, who lived high in the jungle in a remote part of Costa Rica, knew they were a part of a larger community who cares about the health and well being of all women. I was again reminded of how much we take for granted in our culture of excess, and how important it is to discover simple ways of living and giving, like sharing a meal with new friends and sharing a pair of scissors!

My experience in the town of Punta Banco centered on tolerance, mindfulness, and simple happiness. I learned to live without hot water or clean clothes. I learned that peace and fulfillment come from within and are available to us all at all times. I learned that the greatest love can come from an unexpected connection in a small town where I had never been before, but now holds a piece of my heart forever.

The women of Punta Banco care for each other deeply; their sons, daughters, and partners honor their lives and I believe that by sharing the knowledge that rests in our hearts we can help ease suffering worldwide.

Please look to www.travelingpostcards.org to see all the beautiful cards that were made in Costa Rica.

Don’t forget that anyone can hold a Traveling Postcards event in their own communities. I am always looking for new opportunities for Traveling Postcards and new ways to spread the word.

If you would like to participate, please email me at: cslov@comcast.net

Source: www.travelingpostcards.org

Traveling Postcards: Women Connecting to Women through Art and Story

Traveling Postcards uses creativity as a healing tool for growth and change.