Postcard by Will Schar

By Mary Abbe

Pretty much everything goes on ice during the annual Art Shanty Project on Medicine Lake in suburban Minneapolis: saunas, dances, art classes, bicycle races and now mail service. Officials from the Minneapolis Post Office will even help unveil a customized postage stamp on the frozen lake during the project's opening ceremonies at 12:30 on Jan. 16. Collectors welcome.

Artist Will Schar designed the postage stamp to accompany his official ArtPost Shanty card. Postmaster Cynthia M. Larson and postal public relations coordinator Michael LePree will unveil the new stamp and will hand-cancel postcards and letters at the ArtPost Shanty following the opening day ceremonies. Other ArtPost participants Janet Groenert, Jackie Lannin, Deb Miller, Tina Nemetz, Kathleen Reitan, Jamie Winter-Dawson and Jill Waterhouse will offer free postcard making sessions. The group is also hosting a Mail Art exhibition.

For directions to the site and info about how to participate in the Mail Art show, go to www.ArtShantyProjects.org Hours of operation: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Feb. 7.