Wish You Were Here: Postcards from the Past

This digital exhibit showcases the collected art, poetry, and postcards of Wish You Were Here: Postcards from the Past, a 2023 project led by Calliope Poetry for Community. It follows the approach of Wish You Were Here's original, in-person exhibit at Falmouth Museums on the Green, with community works displayed alongside the postcard images that inspired them.

Curator's Statement from Calliope Poetry for Community:

In 2023 Calliope Poetry for Community extended an invitation to the public to immerse themselves in the images and messages carefully preserved within the Falmouth Public Library's collection of postcards. These postcards, dating back to the early 1900s, offer us glimpses into the town's history, portraying the various villages of Falmouth in bygone eras.

They serve as our very own time machines, transporting us to the past and allowing us to reconnect with the individuals who penned those messages long ago. With each card comes a unique story, a reflection of a moment frozen in time, complete with the personalities, quirks, and humor of the people who once called Falmouth home.

The heart of this project, Wish You Were Here: Postcards from the Past, lies in the ability of our literary and visual artists to draw inspiration from these postcards, breathing new life into their stories. They have taken on the incredible task of not only reflecting on but also reimagining the images and messages contained within these postcards. In doing so, they have created a bridge between the past and present, enabling us to witness the fascinating contrast between the Falmouth of yesteryears and the Falmouth we know today. 

Calliope Poetry expresses its appreciation to each contributor to its project, Wish You Were Here: Postcards from the Past.

Through their creativity, we are reminded of the enduring character that defines our cherished town.

Kathy Andrews • Julie Bogosian • Mary Boylan• Kathleen Casey • Mark Chester • Nancy Cherico • Meg Costello • Lisa Willow Dunn • Sally Fine • Diane Hanna • Ilene Karnow • Micheal Klehm • Alice Kociemba • Leslie Lichtenstein • Jim McIlvain • Miriam O’Neal • Marie Palmer • Scott Peterson • Laura Puopolo • Hilton Railey • Claudine Reilly • Paul Rifkin • Marilyn Rowland • Lisa Jo Rudy • Robin Smith-Johnson • Milt Williamson • Rich Youmans • Catherine Miron Youngstrom • Ron Zweig

Calliope Poetry wishes to thank the Falmouth Public Library (Phoebe Acheson, Kim DeWall, Anna Lee); Falmouth Historical Society (Meg Costello, Rachel Lovett); Falmouth Senior Center (Jill Bishop, Marie Palmer); West Falmouth Library (Suzy Bergmann); photographers, Kathleen Casey and Mark Chester, Kelley Souza (New Wave Printing), and poet, Rich Youmans for their support of this project.

Wish You Were Here: Postcards from the Past was made possible through a generous grant from the Falmouth Cultural Council, which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, the Town of Falmouth and the Falmouth ArtMarket.