An Artist Trading Card (ATC) exchange provides an exciting way to own a small piece of artwork from several different artists. As an artist it is a great method of exploration on a small scale - a way to try different techniques and media without spending a huge amount of time or money for materials.

What is an Artist Trading Card? It is a small, collectable piece of art, 2.5" x 3.5". They are not to be sold but to be exchanged between artists. It can be any medium - paint, ceramics, fabric, metal - anything you can imagine. It should be sturdy, some artists protect their's in plastic sleeves made for sport trading cards.

Cards that are one-of-a-kind are called originals, duplicate cards are editions and are numbered and those with a theme are a series.

The artist's name and contact information should be on the back along with the title of the card and number if it is an edition.

For our exchange artists may bring 1-10 cards. There is no theme. Do what ever inspires you.

How will the exchange work? All trading cards (up to 10 per artist) can be delivered to Space 237 from now to August 8th (either in person or by mail). Cards will NOT be accepted after August 8th. They will be on display during our late summer exhibit from August 15 - September 19, 2008.

The day of the exhange: Doors will open at 7:00 pm, Friday, September 19th. There will be refreshments. The actual exchange will begin at 8:00 pm. The names of all the artists who have contributed will be drawn at random. Each artist will get to pick 3 cards to keep, each round. If they have contributed more than 3 cards their name will go into the next round to be drawn again. This will continue untill each artist has selected the number they have actually contributed.

More Information on Artist Trading Cards (ATC's):

Claudia Cooper - holds classes on making ATC's. Call 419-514-0676 for more information

Scrap 4 Art, 1501 Adams St., Toledo, Oh, 43604, 419-720-2978 - This is a perfect example of "one man's trash is another man's treasure." A great place to get great stuff to embellish your ATC. Call for hours.

Web Sites on the Subject:

http://www.cedarseed.com/air/atc.html - great site for basic instructions and several examples of cards

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artist_trading_cards - history & description of ATC's

http://www.artist-trading-cards.ch/ - The original ATC site in Switzerland with archives, exhibits, examples and history of the art form.