IMAGINAL CARDS
Crossroads Cards Project February-April, 2010
"Daniel Mack, a Warwick artist of considerable talent and fame, is a visiting artist working with all of the WVCSD fifth graders to create a composite mural to greet them at the Middle School Crossroads as they come from all 4 elementary schools to become part of the 6th grade together. Dan has an extraordinary concept of creating individual trading cards to use in a variety of ways to get acquainted, create an art with each individual card being compiled into a whole unit."
Dan did nine workshops between February and late March at the four elementary schools in the District.
Read the Story in the Local Paper
Here's the 4' x 6' panel of all 318 cards by Warwick Valley CSD fifth graders.
The cards were introduced as "ID" cards...Sort of like baseball or football or Pokemon cards..."something about you that says who you are". I conjured the image of a very large inquisitive Meeter-Greeter at the Middle School Doors next September who asked quite firmly for an ID card of image, color, form...
Each child made several such cards. They kept all but the one they left with me for this big assembly. The cards gathered into several recurring themes: their names, sports, favorite colors and shapes, music and arts, popular culture figures, peace, patriotism, animals and nature. Some children added materials to the cards; others cut away parts of the 
cards and used hole punches. Interestingly, each of the four elementary schools created the same range of themes and in about the same proportions. The new sixth graders may be surprised to see how many interests they already share with others they don't yet know.
About Making Cards:
SIZE: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" cards with images or materials on them... really, just small collages on cards that say something about nature and human nature
MATERIALS: mostly natural materials, some recycled paper, markers, charcoal, postage stamps...The materials we choose to work with should somehow be related to the natural world in color, origin, texture, smell, etc... and most importantly, evoke some memories of the natural world. The CARDS can be old playing cards, corners of envelopes, re-sized postcards or blank paper MORE
MORE:
http://community.livejournal.com/artist_cards/
http://www.art-e-zine.co.uk/newstuff.html
http://www.artist-trading-cards.ch/
http://www.europeanpapers.com/ supplies, papers, sleeeves for Cards
http://www.imaginalinstitute.com/imaginalcards.htm
BEYOND CARDS: Try an Accordian Book
