Sonia Landy Sheridan — Portable Postcard Exhibition

Additional view of Portable Postcard Exhibition

Part of portfolio

Portable Postcard Exhibitions

All panels together

Sonia Landy Sheridan (American, 1925–2021)

Portable Postcard Exhibition, 1969

31 numbered artist postcards in a printed folding enclosure designed by Guy Herman

Collection of Bre Pettis

PION.2026.8146

Attribution card📥 7×5 in 6×4 in A5 Letter PDF

Portable Postcard Exhibition was created at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1969. It consists of 31 individually numbered artist postcards housed in a printed folding enclosure designed by participating artist Guy Herman. The format is wonderfully democratic. Painting, photography, drawing, collage and experimental work are all reduced to the same postcard-sized space. The reverse of each card identifies the artist and artwork, so every postcard functions simultaneously as an artwork, reproduction and miniature exhibition label. In retrospect, the roster captures an extraordinary moment at SAIC. It includes artists who would become central to the history of Chicago art, including Roger Brown, Ed Paschke and Ray Yoshida, alongside conceptual photographer Kenneth Josephson, artist and educator George Longfish, Sheridan herself, and many of their students and colleagues. Artists Harold Allen Frank A. Barsotti Olaf Borge John Bradley J. Roger Brown Leif Brush Donald Bulucos Mario E. Castillo Cosmo Edward C. Flood Theodore Halkin Guy Herman Kenneth Josephson Thomas H. Kapsalis Richard Keane George Longfish Raymond Martin Luis Medina Ed Paschke Richard Paulsen Martin Prekop John Schnell Louis J. Schultze Michael Schumacher Robert Schwartz Sonia Landy Sheridan Roxie S. Tremonto Bernard Van Marm Gary Wilding Ray Yoshida James M. Zanzi My copy retains the original Guy Herman enclosure and postcards #1–30. The final postcard, #31 by James M. Zanzi, is missing. Another documented surviving example has exactly the same configuration—cards #1–30 with Zanzi's card absent—although there is not presently enough evidence to suggest that this was an intentionally issued variant. I am looking for postcard #31 by James M. Zanzi. If you have one, or know of a complete copy of the 1969 exhibition, please get in touch.