Deadline: June 27, 2026 at 11:59pm PDT
Why this Matters
A short drive up Highway 101 from Waldport, the gazebo at Don and Ann Davis Park in Newport fills with handmade postcards every summer. This year the Coastal Arts Guild is gathering mail art around a big question: how do you tell the American story, and where do you think we are headed?
Their 2026 open call, "Past, Present, Future - U.S. at 250," invites anyone to send a postcard-sized piece of art or writing marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is free, open to all, and you do not need to be a trained artist to take part. Cards are hung so both sides show, and the whole collection goes on display in the gazebo over Independence Day weekend.
This is a Coastal Arts Guild event, and ECC is glad to help spread the word among our coast neighbors. If you have ever wanted to make something with your hands and see it shown in public, this is a low-pressure way in.
Steps to Take
Make a postcard up to 5 by 7 inches with your art, your writing, or both, on the theme of the United States past, present, and future. Both sides will be displayed, so you can use the whole card. Folded, accordion, and greeting-card formats are fine as long as they close to 5 by 7. Full size and media guidelines are on the Coastal Arts Guild open call page.
Mail your finished card so it arrives by July 1, 2026, to: Past, Present, Future c/o CAG, PO Box 603, Newport OR 97365. A 5 by 7 card needs at least a First Class or Forever stamp. You can also ask the post office to hand-cancel it, which keeps it out of the sorting machines and adds a nice red stamp.
Come see the show July 3 through 5, 2026, from 10am to 6pm at the Don and Ann Davis Park Gazebo in Newport, with a reception on Saturday, July 4 from 3 to 5pm. To get a feel for the space, browse last year's 2025 mail-art exhibition archive.
Pass the word to a friend or neighbor who likes to draw, paint, or write. Anonymous submissions are welcome, so anyone can take part.