In Care Of: Postcard-Sized Portrayals of Caregiving in Wisconsin
Caring for loved ones can be difficult and beautiful. This exhibition amplifies caregiver voices, offering a glimpse into the emotional landscape of family caregiving — and reminding caregivers they are not alone.
We invited individuals to anonymously share postcards reflecting the joys, challenges and gratitude that caregiving brings. Some caregivers chose to submit their reflections online. In these cases, the postcards show typed rather than handwritten text. Their messages trace a kind of hero’s journey, from emotional struggle to resilience and growth.
In Care Of: Postcard-Sized Portrayals of Caregiving in Wisconsin aims to validate these heartfelt reflections and experiences while sparking conversation around caregiving — an essential yet often invisible role. The exhibition highlights how complex emotions are deeply woven into caregiving, shaping people in transformative ways.
Special thank you to our community partners:
- Ashley Berghoff
- Wisconsin Family and Caregiver Support Alliance
- UW–Madison Division of Extension
- Anonymous Fund
- Ira and Ineva Reilly Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment
The exhibition is a collaboration between caregiving expert Kristin Litzelman, family caregiver Kristin Voss and the Nancy M. Bruce Center for Design and Material Culture at the UW–Madison School of Human Ecology. Litzelman, an associate professor in the Human Development & Family Studies department at the School of Human Ecology, conducts research focused on the relationships between caregivers and care recipients, caregiver access to both formal and informal support, and caregivers’ experiences more generally. Voss is the founder of the Center for Caregiver Serenity, a Madison-area nonprofit inspired by Voss’ own experiences that seeks to support family caregivers and educate society about family caregiving.