In Postcard Exhibit, the Medium Inspires Artful Messages

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (August 20, 2004) — Work of the past decade frequently took Benjamin Busch far from four influential artists in his life, and he bridged the distance with an unconventional use of picture postcards. "I worked with the interplay between the image on the front and the stamp on the back, the work of one artist with that of another, and the relationship between all of these disparate images," explains Busch, a graduate of Vassar College's studio art program. High-resolution scans of the front of each postcard will be jointly displayed with the original back side of the cards.

"Benjamin Busch: Postcards 1994-2004″ will be shown August 20 through September 18 at the Palmer Gallery, with an artist's reception scheduled for Tuesday, September 7, from 5:00- 7:00 p.m.

Busch calls his postcards "minor works of tribute and admiration." Because the exhibit focuses on correspondence to the artists Catherine Murphy, Robert Mangold, Sylvia Plimack Mangold, and Harry Roseman, a Vassar studio art professor, Busch points out that, "The show is also a form of retrospective on their work." Scaled-down reproductions of all of these artists' work are included in the show as influences or direct references for Busch's illustrations.

It was while Catherine Murphy had Busch model for a painting, and her husband Harry Roseman came back from the mailbox each day complaining about the lack of "good mail," that Busch began sending illustrated postcards. Cards postmarked from Okinawa, Iraq, New York City, and Los Angeles will be among the 100 selected pieces exhibited.

Since graduating from Vassar in 1992, Busch has served extensively in the U.S. Marine Corps, most recently as commanding officer of a combat unit in Iraq. He is also an accomplished actor, currently playing detective Anthony Colicchio in the HBO series, The Wire, with credits that also include the TV series The West Wing and Homicide, Life On The Street. In addition, an exhibition of his photographs from Iraq, The Art In War, is touring the country and will be featured next year in the art and literature journal Five Points.

For hours and other information on the James W. Palmer Gallery in Vassar's College Center, call 845-437-5370. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Cathy Jennings at the same number.

Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential liberal arts college founded in 1861.

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations or information on accessibility should contact Campus Activities Office at (845) 437-5370. Without sufficient notice, appropriate space and/or assistance may not be available.

Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential liberal arts college founded in 1861.

This article was posted on Friday, August 20th, 2004.