ATCs at the RAG: Talking Art with Kathy Tycholis

Kathy Tycholis admires artists' works at the Richmond Art Gallery.

Kathy Tycholis graduated from the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design. She is Education and Public Program Coordinator at the Richmond Art Gallery (RAG), and organized the RAG’s 5th Annual Artist Trading Card Exhibition. Katharine Fletcher visited the RAG and interviewed Tycholis for AQ last November.

KF: This year’s exhibit was the RAG’s 5th annual. Has participation grown?

KT: The first year, perhaps 80 artists exhibited; more than 400 artists participated in 2010/11.

Art In Hand New Jersey ATC Exhibit reception

The Burlington County Annex Art Gallery website now has images of the opening reception (vernissage) held on April 7, 2009.

ATCers will be fascinated by the way in which the ATC Cards were hung. Wooden frames were used to frame like cards -- and in order to hang the 2.5 x 3.5 miniatures, wire was strung taughtly inside the frames, then the cards were removed from their plastic sleeves, then attached to the wire by miniature bulldog clips. -- Fascinating idea and, as the website notes, visitors were glad to see the cards without their plastic protective covers (sleeves).

Art In Hand New Jersey ATC Exhibit and award winners

Burlington County Annex Art Gallery in New Jersey launched its website showcasing samples of 1,300 ATCs created by 143 international artists from 9 countries. One card per artist is shown.

Now progress to the adjoining site where the Gallery depicts 10 cards which are winners in various categories (best painting, best collage, best mixed media, etc).

ATC Trade Saturday March 28

I'm heading to Shawville, Quebec's Café 349 at 10:00 a.m. this Saturday March 28, to meet and trade with my group of up to 16 or so ATCers.

Anyone is welcome to drop by and check out what ATCs are, join the group, or trade ATCs you already have. Usually there are at least half a dozen of us regulars who chat, enjoy Ruth's most excellent coffee, scones and fruit -- and, of course, trade ATCs.

Katharine’s ATCs to be exhibited in New Jersey

Eighteen of my ATCs will be exhibited as part of the Art in Hand: The World of Artist Trading Cards show at the historic Smithville Mansion Annex Art Gallery in Eastampton, New Jersey, USA April 4-29, 2009. It's my first international exhibit!

This Artist Trading Card (ATC), Japanese dreams, will be part of the show. I made it from textured acrylic paint swirled onto ordinary acrylic painted thickly on paper. After it dried (2 days) I peeled the paint off the paper, sticking onto fibrous “paper”. The two “chopsticks” are acrylic squiggles painted onto paper, then simply cut and woven into the fibrous backing. I brushed Mod Podge onto ATCs edges to stabilize them.

A prize of $100 per category will be awarded to “best mixed media”, “best abstract” etc. What fun! May the best cards win!

What is an ATC?

Artist Trading Cards are miniature 2.5 x 3.5 inch original works of art which ATC creators swap at trading sessions, by mail, by exhibiting our work at art galleries and trading with fellow exhibitors — or however we can!

ATCs were started in 1997 by a Swiss artist who, while visiting Calgary, was intrigued when he saw Canadian children trading baseball cards. He mused, “Why don't artists create and trade their works, for free?” The international movement was born where creators make, meet and trade ATCs.

I started making ATCs in 2003 after some of my artist pals started an ATC group in Shawville, Quebec. I was hooked. Ever-searching for new opportunities to meet and trade with ATCers, in 2008 I discovered a Calgary, Alberta exhibit of ATCs at The New Gallery... and arranged for Shawville members to exhibit there.

As a travel writer, I try to arrange my trips so I can visit other cities where ATCers are meeting, making and trading cards. In 2008 I visited a Victoria, BC group of traders who have introduced me to many different techniques and mediums.

Want to know more? Editor Ronna Mogelon designs/publishes the ATC Quarterly, a magazine all about ATCs published four times/year. I subscribe because there are inspiring stories, a quarterly challenge (where we can make cards on a theme and submit them for publication), and step-by-step techniques.

Want to trade? Use my profile to contact me!