When it comes to art, a postcard can pack a powerful punch. That's the idea behind the International Postcard Art Invitational. The exhibit will feature art postcards from around the world and will run from Saturday, Aug. 10, through Saturday, Aug. 31, at the National Watch and Clock Museum, 514 Poplar St., Columbia.

"This is the fourth year for the postcard exhibit," said Janette Toth-Musser, a board member of Create Columbia, the organization behind the exhibit. "Participants create their own postcards and mail them to us through the postal service. Due to the ephemeral nature of them, we hope they'll mail them to us complete with the stamp and cancellation markings."

Artists are encouraged to size their entries at 6 by 4.25 inches, but there is a little flexibility in size, she noted. "Artists can use any medium they're comfortable with, even mixing mediums: watercolors, paint, pencil, photographs, collage, crayons, whatever they wish," Toth-Musser shared. "It's a great opportunity to experiment, to push their limits."

All postcards must feature original art created by the artist making the submission. "Your submission can be in the style of fine art or simply conceptual," she said. "No matter the style or approach, participants should have fun with it." Because the postcards will be exhibited at the Watch and Clock Museum, artists are encouraged to include a visual element that references the theme "Time Flies."

Each artist is invited to submit two postcards, and artists are asked to include their name on each of their works as well as their city and country. "In past years, we've received entries from countries like France, Japan, England, Germany, Spain, Belarus, Canada, Poland, Russia, China and, of course, the USA," Toth-Musser noted.

There is no entry fee for the show, and no awards are presented. It's just a fun way to display creativity from around the world, she said.

"The thing that's special about this exhibit is that any visitor who finds that they love a few of the entries has a chance to own it," she explained. "On the final day of the exhibit - Saturday, Aug. 31, beginning at 2 p.m. and ending promptly at 4 p.m. - visitors can submit a bid to own one or more cards." All remaining entries may be sold during future fundraising events for Create Columbia, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the history and culture of Columbia.

Entries are still being accepted for the show and must be received by Wednesday, Aug. 7. For submission details, visit the Create Columbia Facebook page.

The exhibit will run during museum hours, which are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays.

For more information on Create Columbia, visit http://www.createcolumbia.org.