Meet Lindsay Jaeger | Graphic Designer and Owner/Operator of Art Card Dispatch

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lindsay Jaeger and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lindsay, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
Growing up in Utah, pre-internet, I collected art postcards and papered my walls with them. It was a window into something that wasn’t part of my immediate experience and promised a larger creative world out there — kind of like having an unspoken conversation with someone across space and time. Seeking out accessible art in my early years inspired me to pursue creative work throughout my life.

I went on to study film at the University of Colorado at Boulder during the years when the filmmaker Stan Brakhage was a key figure in the department. The curriculum leaned heavily towards an experimental approach and I learned to consider the artist’s intent in all aspects of the process. I realized that the viewer is an active participant in the life of any creative work, as they consider the meaning and their personal perception of the formal elements.

From there, I went on to work with many of my heroes in the film industry, based in New York City, for over a decade. I saw up-close how every choice (and every collaborator) impacts the end result of a piece. After a whirlwind of non-stop movie production work, I was getting ready to figure out a more sustainable lifestyle, back home in the West. I moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where I met my husband, and worked in non-profit development, on a capital campaign in support of expanding the New Mexico Museum of Art to a second location focused on contemporary art. My experience in the affluent fundraising world, in support of a public museum, solidified my belief that art belongs to everyone. It is not reserved for the elite or the wealthy and should be available to all.

Meanwhile, I was developing personal film projects on the side and realizing that many of the labs and competitions that are meant to advance a filmmaker’s career required large fees and rarely had a significant impact on the project. Tiring of the investment required for moviemaking, I shifted gears to graphic design. Studying history and theory again, alongside the actual practice, rekindled my love of imagistic storytelling.

My husband and I moved to the Grand Valley in Colorado at the end of 2020 and I embarked on a new direction as a freelance graphic designer. I was blown away by the talented artists living and working here. It occurred to me that artists outside of major cities or markets may struggle to have their work seen or considered as much as those in, say, New York or Santa Fe, based on my personal references. So, this is where the idea for Art Card Dispatch originated. Every month, subscribers receive Art Cards in the mail featuring the work of three artists, with the goal of introducing their work to larger audiences. I felt strongly that the artists shouldn’t have to pay for exposure and should directly benefit, so there is an equal profit share. The idea is still growing, but the more supporters we have, the more the artists will directly benefit. For subscribers, it’s a small expense every month to support awesome artists at all stages of their careers and you get to keep mini-prints of their work! It makes the art accessible to everyone, in a physical print at an affordable price, no matter where you live, and creates interest around the original work, encouraging people to reach out to artists directly (via their websites, instagram or gallery representation) to discuss sales or learn more. While the majority of featured artists have been from Colorado, artists from all over have participated and are invited to submit their work. We’ve had subscribers from various states, including New York, California, Kentucky, Minnesota, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado. We’d love to make Art Cards available more widely in shops or galleries, too!

It is so important to me to be around art to continue that unspoken conversation. I truly believe that it gives us a glimpse into another person’s perspective — and we learn something about life and ourselves in the process. Art restores our humanity.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
; ) Please see previous response.

I will say that, without the influence of other artists, my creative practice stalls out. There’s a constant flow of appreciation, inspiration, and manner of approach that exists when we experience each other’s work — even if it leads us to do the exact opposite. This is another way that the Art Cards provide community for me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Fruita, Colorado and I love this location so much. When we have friends and family in town, we always visit the Colorado National Monument and float on the Colorado River. There is, of course, world-class mountain biking on the Kokopelli Trails or in the North Fruita Desert. Some of my favorite places in town are Orbit ArtSpace, Lithic Bookstore and Gallery, Cavalcade performing arts venue, and F.A.R.M. (Fruita Arts Recreation Marketplace), which includes artist studios and a great gallery, Canvas 35. I love to eat at Hot Tomato Pizza, Karma Kitchen, Base Camp Provisions, Bestslope Coffee, and a great food truck if they’re in the area: Pronto Bronto.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This would not be possible without every artist who has participated and every subscriber of Art Card Dispatch! Visit our website to see all of the featured artists. They are (as of December 2024): Trevor Adams, Emily Adamson, Brandon Allebach, Michael Bachman, Beedallo, Freddie Bell, Lio-Bravo Bumbakini, Saro Calewarts, Anthony Calypso, Caitlin Carcerano, Cha, Julia March Crocetto, Pablo Cruz-Ayala, Garrett Day, Jasmine Dillavou, Kate Dougherty, Andrea Downs, Leslie Fitzsimmons, Leah Gonzales, Ajay Gustafson, Kelly Hayes, Jason Lord, Bryan Martin, Megan Morgan, Natan Moss, Joel Nakamura, Mercedes Ng, Sharon Norwood, Marguerite Ogden, Leviathan O’Neil, Diana Reiter, Meghan Reker, Justin G. Russell Jr., AJ Schlechten, Katie Sheader, Gyan Shrosbree, TJ Smith, Justin Squier, Tonya Solley Thornton, Jake Trujillo, Devin “Speaks” Urioste, Andrew Patrick Watson, Lara Whitley, Marilyn Anderson Wilcox, Chloe Wilwerding.
Also, every month, YellowDog in Denver does a beautiful job on the printing and has been a pleasure to work with.

Website: https://artcarddispatch.com

Instagram: @artcard_dispatch

Image Credits
Main photo includes artwork by participating artists in Art Card Dispatch. Other pictured artwork is in the public domain. Graphic design by Lindsay Jaeger / Jaeger Design.