This outdoor exhibition at the Griffin Museum of Photography is placed on two large banners outside on the museum’s building. One is on the Winchester Rotary Terrace wall and one is outside on the back wall of the museum overlooking Judkin’s Pond. The museum’s back wall can be seen from across the pond on opposing shores. This exhibition is drawn from over 1300 postcards – from women and girls ranging in age from 6 to 99 years old, all received by the artist, Joan Lobis Brown who conceived and executed this project.

As Joan Lobis Brown states, “These women have drawn, collaged and written heartfelt, inspiring, humorous and poignant responses.

Originally this project was created to celebrate 2020 the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote. The goal was to give as many women as possible a voice, with the hope that a collective wisdom would inspire other women.

Due to the pandemic, many celebrations including exhibitions of this project were indefinitely postponed or cancelled in their entirety.

However, our Vice President elect, Kamala Harris’s words during the vice-presidential debate, “I’m Speaking” give the project a new, meaningful, far-reaching and momentous focus. In fact, “I’m Speaking” is the new sub-title of this project.

We are aiming for 1,500 plus postcards, but there is no limit! To date, we have over 1300 postcards from girls and women in 49 states. As the pandemic dissipates, we will again reach out to women and girls from all over the United States.

There are 12 variations of the postcard, so each postcard is important for the construction of the presentation.

There are 6 different shades of pink – and 12 different postcards (with the position of the image either on the left or right).

The mosaic formed by the different colors, image placement, different handwriting, drawing and ink color, represent the diversity and individuality of each woman. The entire wall when seen from a distance represents the strength, wisdom and beauty of women in general.

Women and girls are invited to participate – to write, draw or collage – on the pink blank part of the postcard – something they would tell their younger selves. Something she wished she had known as a younger woman.

The postcards are anonymous.  Each woman is asked to sign only with her initials and age. Some women choose to write their full names. An analysis of the answers by age group is ongoing.” – JLB

This exhibition is presented to the public by the Winchester Cultural District and the Griffin Museum of Photography.

See more on Joan Lobis Brown’s web page.

The Women’s Project on Joan Lobis Brown’s website