postsecret comes to uconn

Frank Warren (PostSecret)
March 3-4, 2008
7 p.m.

Called “the most trusted stranger in America,” Frank Warren is the sole founder and curator of the PostSecret Project: A collection of nearly 200,000 highly personal and artfully decorated postcards mailed anonymously from around the world, displaying the soulful secrets we never voice, and the creator of the phenomenally successful, New York Times best-selling PostSecret books: PostSecret, The Secret Lives of Men and Women, My Secret, and now, A Lifetime of Secrets.

The deeply devoted and ever-increasing following of the PostSecret books and Web site has made Warren one of the most sought after public speakers. He travels across the country, speaking at universities, museums, conferences, and art galleries about the PostSecret Project. He gives a moving presentation about how he became an “accidental artist” and the power of secrets. His award-winning program is a multimedia presentation in which he shares many of the secrets that were kept out of the books.

In 2007, Warren’s PostSecret Web site (which receives more than 1,000,000 visitors every week) was awarded three weblog awards including “Blog of the Year,” and “Best Community Blog.” PostSecret was also awarded the Webby Award for best NetArt. The National Mental Health Association presented PostSecret with an award for Outstanding Contribution in raising public awareness about issues of mental health and suicide. His traveling exhibition of PostSecret cards was called by the Washington Post, “One of the five best art shows in 2005.”

Warren has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, 20/20, CNN, MSNBC, CBC, NPR and Fox News. USA Today called Warren, “An award-winning Blogger, a first-time author, an artist with a traveling exhibit, a possible documentary subject, the inspiration for a music video and the all-around media ‘it’ boy of the moment.”

In 2005 the All American Rejects approached Warren about using images of actual PostSecret images in their, “Dirty Little Secret” music video. They offered Warren $1,000, but Warren instead asked them to donate $2,000 to 1(800)SUICIDE where Warren is a volunteer. The donation was made and the music video became one of the most requested on MTV. The National Mental Health Association presented Warren with an award for his work in raising public awareness of Suicide. The PostSecret project has now raised over $200,000 for 1(800)SUICIDE.

Warren continues to receive between 100 and 200 postcards everyday, and he updates his Web site every Sunday. He continues to call himself an “accidental artist” because he does not have an artistic background or training.