What do a middle school student from New York, an Austrian businessman and a former corporate executive from Texas have in common? They’ve all pondered the idea of utopia—and they’re among roughly 100 people from across the world who are sharing their vision of what it is at an upcoming exhibit here in Sarasota.

Called Postcards From Utopia, the exhibit—which will take place on Saturday, Jan. 13, at the Phillippi Crest Clubhouse in Sarasota's Historic Maine Colony District— is timely following the start of a new year and the often associated quest for improvement.

When it comes to the idea of utopia, "we often think of greener pastures, and that puts us on the hunt for utopia. But you never find it in its entirety. Through discussions about it, this concept came up," says exhibit co-creator and local artist Anja Palombo, who teaches ceramics to adults in Sarasota. She's spearheading the exhibit with her husband Joel Palombo. Both taught arts abroad in India and Turkey for 20 years. Their natural lean toward a global mindset drove them toward the universal question of what an ideal world would look like. With Postcards from Utopia, they invited everyone to answer via an Instagram post. 

Anyone could respond to their query. The only rule was that the submission had to come in the form of a postcard, with a note on the back and a stamp so it could make the trip to Florida. People in countries ranging from Kazakhstan to Canada replied. 

The Palombos discovered that some people are so stressed that utopia, for them, was simply being in bed with a cat and a cup of tea. Another theme that arose was utopia lost—some respondents, who were missing a lost loved one, said they had experienced utopia but didn't realize it at the time.

Other themes spanned nature, nonviolence and an abundance of resources for all. “Some are a state of mind, others were literal places,” Joel Palombo says. 

“We all have the insights, but it's important to have a vision. Without that, you won’t get to utopia," Joel says. "In a world with despair and problems, it's an opportunity to stop and think about what might make a better one. Maybe it’s more attainable than we think.”

Creatives of all types submitted their work, including professional full-time local artists like Marianne Chapel.

Chapel, the founder of SPAACES, is also working on a personal project called Constructing Utopia. Her submission is derived from a larger 6-foot-by-4-foot canvas. The postcard shows a futuristic city: the tall verticals are buildings and there’s scaffolding and little ocean waves below. "I added elements from flags of countries that have the most poverty and population, many of them had stars. In a utopia, there wouldn't be so much disparity," she says. 

She feels Postcards from Utopia inspired hope, and likes that it wasn't exclusive to art lovers. "People sometimes say they don't get art or don't like it, but you don't have to be fine arts educated to appreciate this. Everyone relates to a postcard or mail," she says. "It's voyeuristic because you see [someone's] secret life and often identify with it. We all have wishful thinking." 

Another professional artist, Italian-born Cinzia D'Alberti, who's based in England, says she was inspired to answer the call when she came across it on Instagram. "I'm constantly inspired by nature, because as soon as you step outside you meet it even in the smallest places," she explains. "We have a climate crisis and I wanted to share a  message from nature. If I can share even a little slice of my inspiration, it makes me happy."

There’s no money involved in the exhibit, and the postcards won’t be returned. Instead, they'll become part of a traveling collection and be shown internationally, with a first stop in Italy planned this September.

Here in Sarasota, the exhibit, which will be held at the historic, century-old Phillippi Crest Clubhouse in the Historic Maine Colony District in south Sarasota, will also feature live “Sounds From Utopia” by Sarasota Jazz musicians, which is comprised of bassist Jack Berry, guitarist Akiem Esdaile and drummer Henley Connor. The exhibit is free, but donations will go toward putting a new roof on the wood frame clubhouse, which is cared for by community members who value its rich local history.

Postcards from Utopia will be on display at the historic Phillippi Crest Clubhouse in the Historic Maine Colony District at 2421 Burlington Lane, Sarasota on Saturday, Jan. 13, from 3 to 6 p.m. For more information, click here.