More postcards from the heart

SOME try to find enlightenment through religion while others turn to drugs, but hundreds of locals have learnt life's lessons by reading anonymous postcards.

BACK IN TIME: ‘Posting’ a postcard to her 16-year-old self, Federal artist Jill Keogh, is watched by Christine Minkov, curator of the exhibition. Picture: Cathy Adams

SOME people try to find enlightenment through religion while others turn to drugs, but hundreds of Northern Rivers locals have learnt life's lessons by reading anonymous postcards.

Earlier this year, Lismore City Council social planner Christine Minkov got 200 people who were over 50 years of age to write wise words on postcards and address them to their 16-year-old selves.

The well-visited cards were displayed for five days at Street Pop Up Gallery in Magellan St.

"The cards represent more than 10,000 years of wisdom," Ms Minkov said.

Due to the exhibition's popularity, it will run again from Monday, July 30 until Friday, August 3.

"I got a lot of calls from people saying they didn't get the chance to see it and others wanted to go again," she said.

"It really is back by popular demand."

During next week's exhibition, a room will be set up in the gallery where people can make new postcards and add them to the display.

As authors of the cards remain anonymous, Ms Minkov said it enables them to write freely about sensitive issues.

"The experience was really therapeutic for them," she said.

A lot of older women described a time when they were 16, when there were not as many education and employment opportunities.

"Many said things like, 'Get a job you like; don't just be a typist', and others wrote, 'Don't have kids'."

Ms Minkov said people who viewed the cards during the March exhibition were enlightened.

"Younger people learnt a lot from it because it wasn't their parents telling them not to smoke or do certain things," she said.

"A lot of the messages were about not caring what other people think.

"There were some regrets but mainly validation and saying it is okay to be who you are."

An audio tour will be provided at the exhibition for people with vision impairment or difficulty with reading.

POSTCARDS

What: Postcards from the Heart exhibition

Where: Street Pop Up Gallery, 56 Magellan St, Lismore.

When: Monday, July 30, to Friday, August 5.

Originally published as More postcards from the heart