General Information

We suggest bringing at least 20-25 cards to trade, and it helps to have them in a binder or small album that can be easily viewed and passed around during trading. Please come prepared to trade with everyone, regardless of skill level.

Try to make at least one card in the monthly theme to participate in the Potluck Draw (in which everyone throws their theme card into a box during introductions and then we all randomly draw someone else's card in trade).

Please make sure your name is legible on the back so that those receiving your cards will know who created them. (Many artists include their e-mail addresses and website or other contact information on the back of their cards.) For further information about making cards, see links below.

What is an ATC?

Artist Trading Cards or ATCs are small works of art measuring 2.5 x 3.5 inches that are made to be traded between artists. They can be made in any media on any subject. Here is a good introduction to the format.

The idea for the ATC format was developed in 1996 by Swiss artist m. vanci stirnemann as a way for artists to exchange art without worrying about the constraints of galleries and pricing. The first trading session was in Zurich in 1997. Trading on-line has become very popular, especially for artists who cannot attend live trades locally. You can read more about the history of ATCs here. One friendly site to start trading on-line is ATCs for All.

Mark your calendar!

Saturday, August 21, 2010 from 1-3 p.m.
at Art'N'Oddities
5833 W. Lincoln AV, Milwaukee WI
Theme: Asian Inspiration

Saturday, September 25, 2010
Day of Art & ATCs at Greendale Public Library
5647 Broad ST, Greendale WI
(Enter through the Health Department entrance
on Parking Street at the rear of the library.)
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Metal Manipulation Workshop
(Embossed Metal ATCs)
taught by Kimberly Butts
Registration and $25 fee required (includes all supplies)
To register, stop at the Library or mail a $25 check payable to The Greendale Public Library Foundation to
METAL MANIPULATION WORKSHOP
5647 Broad Street
Greendale, WI 53129

Afternoon events are free and open to the public:
1:00-2:30 p.m.
ATCs on the World Wide Web
Learn about internet resources for making Artist Trading Cards, including tutorials, inspiration, and ATC galleries. Learn where and how to trade on-line with ATC artists around the world.

2:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
ATC Trading Session
(Theme to be decided)

Saturday, October 23, 2010 from 1-3 p.m.
at Woodland Pattern Book Center
720 E. Locust ST, Milwaukee WI
Theme: to be decided

Saturday, November 20, 2010 from 1-3 p.m.
at Artist &Display
9015 W. Burleigh, Milwaukee WI
Theme: to be decided