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About Time, homemade greetings from Lewis Koch: New Years cards over the years
Lewis Koch

About Time, homemade greetings from Lewis Koch: New Years cards over the years

For nearly five decades, Lewis Koch has been creating New Years cards to the delight and occasional bewilderment of his friends. Koch’s annual tradition of card-making uses collage, photography, drawing, xerox and wordplay in contemplation of the transient nature of time-- mourning the passing of another year while celebrating the next. All photographs and design, typography and text are by Lewis Koch (unless otherwise noted), and handmade in unnumbered editions of 50 up to 250. Beginning with the 1996 card, "Another Prisoner-of-Time Production" became the imprint name for the ongoing series. The annual cards (1980-2005) were first exhibited with their ephemeral sources in a 2005 show "About Time: 25 Years of Lewis Koch's New Years Cards", at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Kohler Art Library. Installation views can be seen at the conclusion of this project gallery. In 2022, a complete set of the cards (1980-2021) was included in the Smithsonian Institution's Archives of American Art, DC.

Photos
132
Status
Public
Created
Oct 01, 2018
Updated
Dec 15, 2025
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Tags
#Postcards #Mail Art #Image And Text #Photo Poetics #Poetry #Greetings #Photo Collage

Photos (132)

2025, front, commercially printed color postcard.
File: DSCF2985-REV3-RGB.jpg
2025, back, commercially printed color postcard.
File: back-FLAT, REV 3, SFMoMA wkshp.jpg
2024, front,commercially printed color postcard.
File: LK82870-Koln REV1-BACK FINAL.jpg
2024, back, commercially printed color postcard.
File: front, w-C Wright REV7-FINAL FLAT.tiff
2023, front, commercially printed color postcard.
File: LK-2008, 23-24 card FRONT, low-res.jpg
2023, back, commercially printed color postcard,
File: LK, 23-24 card BACK, low-res.jpg
2022, front, commercially printed color postcard.
File: LK236902-FINAL3-RGB, 100 dpi.jpg
2022, back.
File: 22-23 BACK-FINAL5, 100 dpi.jpg
2021, front, commercially printed color postcard, with vertical belly-band, and poem, "Procedure," 2021.
File: LK 2021, front w-band, low-res.jpg
2021, front, commercially printed color postcard (after vertical belly-band has been removed).
File: LK 2021, front, low-res.jpg
2021, back, greeting (with rubber stamp letter kit).
File: LK 2021, back w-greeting, low-res.jpg
2020, front, archival pigment print (color photograph, with added text).
File: LK 2020, front, low-res.jpg
2020, inside text, greeting.
File: LK 2020, inside, low-res.jpg
2020, back, text.
File: LK 2020, back, low-res.jpg
2019, front, archival pigment print (color photograph, with added text).
File: LK 2019, front, low-res.jpg
2019, inside text, greeting.
File: LK 2019, inside-R, low-res.jpg
2019, back, archival pigment print (ghosted color photograph, with added text).
File: LK 2019, back, low-res.jpg
2018, front, archival pigment print (color photograph, with added text).
File: LK 2018, front, low-res.jpg
2018, inside greeting, with Emily Dickinson poem (690), ghosted.
File: LK 2018, inside, low-res.jpg
2019, back, text.
File: LK 2018, back, low-res.jpg
2017, front, archival pigment print (color photograph, with added text).
File: LK 2017, front, low-res.jpg
2017, inside text, greeting.
File: LK 2017, inside, low-res.jpg
2017, back, text, with excerpted poem, "Joy" by Max Garland.
File: LK 2017, back, low-res.jpg
2016, front, archival pigment print (color photograph).
File: LK 2016, front, low-res.jpg
2016, inside-top text, with Leonard Cohen song/poem "Anthem."
File: LK 2016, inside-top, low-res.jpg
2015, inside text- bottom, greeting, excerpt from Leonard Cohen, "Anthem."
File: LK 2016, inside-bottom, low-res.jpg
2016, back, text, with excerpt of song lyric, "A Delicate Balance," Tom Dundee.
File: LK 2016, back, low-res.jpg
2015, front, archival pigment print (color photograph).
File: LK 2015, front, low-res.jpg
2015, inside text, poem- left, "What are years," by Marianne Moore; and greeting- right.
File: LK 2015, inside, low-res.jpg
2015, back, archival pigment print (color photograph).
File: LK 2015, back, low-res.jpg
2014, front, archival pigment print (color photograph, with added text).
File: LK 2014, front, low-res.jpg
2014, inside text ("Dreams of Possibility"-ghosted, 21st birthday song for Lars, 2009), and greeting.
File: LK 2014, inside, low-res.jpg
2014, back, archival pigment print (color photograph, with text).
File: LK 2014, back, low-res.jpg
Cover
2013, front, archival pigment print (color photograph, with added text).
File: LK 2013, front, low-res.jpg
2012, inside greeting, and 'Time Line."
File: LK 2013, inside, low-res.jpg
2103, back, text.
File: LK 2013, back, low-res.jpg
2012, front, archival pigment print (color photograph, with added text).
File: LK 2012, front, low-res.jpg
2012, inside-top, text.
File: LK 2012, inside-top, low-res.jpg
2012, inside-bottom, greeting.
File: LK 2012, inside-bottom, low-res.jpg
2012, back, text.
File: LK 2012, back, low-res.jpg
2011, front, archival pigment print (color photograph, with added text).
File: LK 2011, front, low-res.jpg
2011, inside text, greeting.
File: LK 2011, inside, low-res.jpg
2011, back, text, with excerpt from "The Dry Salvages," by T.S. Eliot.
File: LK 2011, back, low-res.jpg
2010, front, archival pigment print (montaged color photograph with Photoshopped text).
File: LK 2010, front, low-res.jpg
2010, inside, greeting text.
File: LK 2010, inside, low-res.jpg
2010, back text.
File: LK 2010, back, low-res.jpg
2009, front, archival pigment print (color photograph), with added drawing.
File: LK 2009, front, low-res.jpg
2009, inside, text and greeting.
File: LK 2009, inside, low-res.jpg
2009, back, poem (continued).
File: LK 2009, back, low-res.jpg
2008, front, archival pigment print (color photograph).
File: LK 2008, front, low-res.jpg
2008, inside-top, greeting text.
File: LK 2008, inside-top, low-res.jpg
2008, inside-bottom, greeting text.
File: LK 2008, inside-bottom, low-res.jpg
2008, back text, W.S. Merwin poem, "Just Now."
File: LK 2008, back, low-res.jpg
2007, front, archival pigment print (color photograph).
File: LK 2007, front, low-res.jpg
2007, inside, greeting text.
File: LK 2007, inside, low-res.jpg
2007, back, text.
File: LK 2007, back, low-res.jpg
2006, front, halftone offset lithography, from photograph, with added belly-band.
File: LK 2006, front, low-res.jpg
2006, back greeting (with rubber stamp letter kit).
File: LK 2006, back, low-res.jpg
2006, marginalia, photocopied text, excerpt from poem 'Great Cathedrals,' by George Bilgere.
File: LK 2006, ps, low-res.jpg
2005, color xerography, from photograph.
File: LK 2005, front, low-res.jpg
2005, inside, left- poem; and right- greeting (with rubber stamp kit).
File: LK 2005, inside, low-res.jpg
2005, back, text- exhibit announcement.
File: LK 2005, back, low-res.jpg
2004, front, archival pigment print, from photograph, with added text (date).
File: LK 2004, front, low-res.jpg
2004, inside greeting (with rubber stamp letter kit).
File: LK 2004, inside, low-res.jpg
2004, back, text- an old joke, as retold by LK, along with listed definitions of time, new version (see also 1998, 1st version "Time is").
File: LK 2004, back, low-res.jpg
2003, front, color photo, C-print, with added text.
File: LK 2003, front, low-res.jpg
2003, inside greeting (with rubber stamp letter kit).
File: LK 2003, inside, low-res.jpg
2003, back, photocopy.
File: LK 2003, back, low-res.jpg
2002, front-panel 1, of 6-panel accordion-fold folio, greeting (with rubber stamp letter kit).
File: LK 2002, front, low-res.jpg
2002, inside -panel 2, reverse photocopy.
File: LK 2002, inside-1, low-res.jpg
2002, inside-panel 3, reverse photocopy.
File: LK 2002, inside-2, low-res.jpg
2002, inside-panel 4, greeting (with rubber stamp letter kit).
File: LK 2002, inside-3, low-res.jpg
2002, inside-panel 5, photocopy.
File: LK 2002, inside-4, low-res.jpg
2002, back of folio-panel 6, reverse photocopy.
File: LK 2002, back-trochoid, low-res.jpg
2001, hand-punched and -stamped photocopy.
File: LK 2001, front, low-res.jpg
2001, inside greeting (with rubber stamp letter kit).
File: LK 2001, inside, low-res.jpg
2001, back, text and rubber stamp.
File: LK 2001, back, low-res.jpg
2000, front, photocopy, from collage.
File: LK 2000, low-res.jpg
2000, inside greeting (with rubber stamp letter kit).
File: LK 2000, inside, low-res.jpg
1999, front, photocopy, from collage.
File: LK 1999-front, low-res.jpg
1999, inside greeting (with rubber stamp letter kit).
File: LK 1999, inside, low-res.jpg
1999, back, photocopy, from collage.
File: LK 1999-back, low-res.jpg
1998, front, photocopy, with hand-drawn rubber stamp.
File: LK 1998-front, low-res.jpg
1998, inside greeting (with rubber letter stamp kit).
File: LK 1998, inside, low-res.jpg
1997, front, photocopy, from photograph.
File: LK 1997-front, low-res.jpg
1997, inside greeting (with rubber stamp letter kit).
File: LK 1997, inside, low-res.jpg
1997, back, text.
File: LK 1997-back, low-res.jpg
1996, front, color xerography (edition of 250), from color C-print.
File: LK 1996-front, low-res.jpg
1996, inside-top, text.
File: LK 1996-inside-top, low-res.jpg
1996, inside-bottom, photograph.
File: LK 1996, inside-bottom, low-res.jpg
1996, back, photograph, and greeting.
File: LK 1996-back, low-res.jpg
1995, front, halftone offset lithography, from photograph.
File: LK 1995-front, low-res.jpg
1995, inside greeting (with rubber stamp letter kit).
File: LK 1995, inside, low-res.jpg
1995, back.
File: LK 1995-back, low-res.jpg
1994, front, hand-colored color photograph, tipped-in drugstore print.
File: LK 1994, low-res.jpg
1994, inside greeting (with rubber stamp letter kit).
File: LK 1994, inside, low-res.jpg
1993, front photocopy of collage with duct tape on binder cover.
File: LK 1993-front, low-res.jpg
1993, inside greeting (with rubber stamp letter kit).
File: LK 1993-inside, low-res.jpg
1993, back, collage, photocopied.
File: LK 1993-back, low-res.jpg
1992, front, hand-drawn collage on book page.
File: LK 1992 front, low-res.jpg
1992, inside greeting (with rubber stamp letter kit).
File: LK 1992, inside, low-res.jpg
1992, back text, by Wendell Berry, from his poem “Letter [3.]” in "The Wheel" (1982: North Point Press, San Francisco).
File: LK 1992 back, low-res.jpg
1991, front, photocopy, from photograph.
File: LK 1991-front, low-res.jpg
1991, inside greeting.
File: LK 1991, inside, low-res.jpg
1991, back, text.
File: LK 1991 back, low-res.jpg
1990, front, tipped-in photograph/ drugstore print, with added marker ink.
File: LK 1990, low-res.jpg
1990, inside greeting.
File: LK 1990, inside, low-res.jpg
1989, front, hand-stamped, rubber stamp letter kit greeting.
File: LK 1989, front, low-res.jpg
1989, inside, photocopy, from photograph and collage.
File: LK 1989, inside, low-res.jpg
1988, hand-colored photocopy, from collage.
File: LK 1988, low-res.jpg
1987, inside, photocopy, from photograph, with hand-drawn rubber stamp.
File: LK 1987, inside, low-res.jpg
1986, hand-colored photocopy, from photograph by LK.
File: LK 1986, low-res.jpg
1985, hand-colored photocopy, from collage on book page.
File: LK 1985, low-res.jpg
1984, front, hand-colored photocopy, from photograph. (Inside greeting-not shown: "Merry-go-round".)
File: LK 1984, low-res.jpg
1983, front, hand-colored halftone offset postcard (ed. 500), from photograph.
File: LK 1983, low-res.jpg
1983, back of postcard, with 'garage greetings.'
File: LK 1983, back, low-res.jpg
1982, hand-drawn card with original photograph (tipped-in RC print) by LK. Edition of 150.
File: LK 1982, low-res.jpg
1981, hand-colored photocopy, from collage.
File: LK 1981, low-res.jpg
1980, hand-colored photocopy, from photograph.
File: LK 1980, low-res.jpg
1976, front, tipped-in RC print, first annual card by LK, edition of 50.
File: LK 1976, front, low-res.jpg
1976, inside greeting.
File: LK 1976, inside, low-res.jpg
1949. My first holiday card, courtesy of my parents, Richard F. and Janet P. Koch.
File: LK 1949, front, low-res.jpg
1949. Back
File: LK 1949, back, low-res.jpg
Exhibition announcement, front. "About Time" at UW-Madison Kohler Art Library, 2005. (Also used for the 2005 card, see above.)
File: LK 2005, front, low-res.jpg
Exhibition announcement, back. "About Time" at UW-Madison Kohler Art Library, 2005.
File: LK 2005, back, low-res.jpg
UW-Madison Kohler Art Library, installation view: LK "About Time" cards & their sources exhibit, 2005.
File: LK!, UW-AL exh, full view, 4 cases.jpg
UW-Madison Kohler Art Library, installation view- 1st case: LK "About Time" cards & their sources exhibit, 2005.
File: LK2, UW-AL exh, 1st case, close.jpg
UW-Madison Kohler Art Library, installation view, 2nd case, left side: LK "About Time" cards & their sources exhibit, 2005.
File: LK3, UW-AL exh, 2nd case, left.jpg
UW-Madison Kohler Art Library, installation view, 2nd case, right side: LK "About Time" cards & their sources exhibit, 2005.
File: LK4, UW-AL exh, 2nd case, right.jpg
UW-Madison Kohler Art Library, installation view, 3rd case, left side: LK "About Time" cards & their sources exhibit, 2005.
File: LK5, UW-AL exh, 3rd case, left.jpg
UW-Madison Kohler Art Library, installation view, 3rd case, right side: LK "About Time" cards & their sources exhibit, 2005.
File: LK6, UW-AL exh, 3rd case, right.jpg
UW-Madison Kohler Art Library, installation view, 4th case: LK "About Time" cards & their sources exhibit, 2005.
File: LK7, UW-AL exh, 4th case, close.jpg