Go into any gift shop in Tacoma and your selection of postcards is going to be pretty sparse. If you’re lucky, you’ll see a bunch of Mt. Rainier shots, maybe a shot of the Museum of Glass Hot Shop cone, and some generic nods to Tacoma produced by a company in another state. Even more concerning … you may find a few postcards celebrating Seattle. Well, give thanks and praise for Lynn Di Nino and a handful of local artists, because they’ve got a solution. A good one. In true Tacoma spirit, we’re making our own damn postcards.

“The direct inspiration is that we’re supposed to be an art town, yet the tourists have no postcards to buy,” says Di Nino. “If you go into places that are selling postcards, there aren’t really any to speak of. Some of them even say Seattle on them, which I find kind of insulting. You might find a card that says Deception Pass or Snoqualmie or Hood Canal — sort of generic Washington state post cards. But there are only a couple Tacoma cards.”

Di Nino has some experience in the post card game. If you’re very lucky, you’ll get to see some of her past post card work depicting Lynn and friend roller skating with walkers, or in full nun regalia. Going through the process of creating post cards taught Di Nino a few things. First, collaborating is fun. Second, creating post cards isn’t all that labor intensive for most people, especially in the age of Photoshop. Third, it’s cheap. Side benefit — because making postcards is a simple process, the ideas flow freely, concepts keep coming, and new postcards can be continually turned out. Since Di Nino’s first foray into making cards, the price has come down even more. With all the stars aligned, a project was born — Picture Tacoma: The Artists’ Postcard Project.

So far, local artists have produced 21 cards with a variety of themes. Contributors include Morgan Alexander, George Boucier, John Carlton, Becky Frehse, Di Morgan Graves, Tom Holt, Duncan James Livingston, Doug and Lynn Mackey, Ann Meersman, Steve Naccarato, Rick Semple, Peter Serko, Sharon Styer, Theresa Tavernero, Elayne Vogel and Beautiful Angle. Cards will be sold in venues throughout Tacoma. So far, Tacoma Art Museum, Washington State History Museum, Embellish Multispace Salon, NW Shop, Art Stop, BKB & Company, Tacoma Art Supply and a few others have agreed to sell the little gems. The Grand Impromptu Gallery will host a coming-out party for Picture Tacoma Sunday afternoon. Fulcrum Gallery will feature cards in an upcoming gallery showing, too. So far, feedback has been good, says Di Nino. The cards are selling, she says.

“People get really inspired when they see something arty or sarcastic,” says Di Nino.
The cards aren’t all arty or sarcastic, but some of the best ones definitely carry an edge. One card, created by Rick Semple, depicts Tacoma’s collection of stairs to nowhere — remnant stone steps that once led to houses — ironically paired with “The City of Destiny.” Another shows glass balls resting in pools by the Museum of Glass, and reads “Come to Tacoma. We’ve got balls.” The rest are sufficiently awesome to make the kickoff party Sunday at the Grand Impromptu Gallery worthy of attendance. Individual, framed, signed cards will be available, along with some fine foods and plenty of people inspiration. One warning, though.

“I’ve been told by some of the venues — ‘No more Mount Rainier pictures,’” says Di Nino.

[Grand Impromptu Gallery, Picture Tacoma: the Artists’ Postcard Project  coming-out party, Sunday, June 28, 4-8 p.m., admission free,  postcards $1 each, 608 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.9232]