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EXHIBITION

Father’s Day

About the exhibition

On Father’s Day, I always give my dad a holiday card, but some of the courageous secrets shared in this exhibition express my complex relationship with my dad much better than Hallmark ever could.

Gallery of secrets

Hand picked postcards all around Father’s Day

I'm scared to death that my father will die before he gets to walk me down the aisle

Father's Day

I always wonder if my dad motices how carefully I choose his Father's Day cards to avoid lying.
For most of my life, may father has been telling me that I wouldn't find love - unless I lost 50 pounds. Dad - You Lied!
I'm gay, suck it up dad.
I am 8. They make me go to my dads. I do not want to go.
Dad, I can do anything... as long as your working by me.
I'm embarrassed by my Dad's septum piercing
If I died tomorrow I would spend my last day with my dad.
I want to elope because I don't want my father to walk me down the aisle.
To Dads everywhere your daughters need you more than they know, trust me, I know.
I sent my boyfriend naked pictures of myself. My dad found them.
I'll never tell you I love my step-dad more than you.
I quit art since you passed away. I'm starting up again with this postsecret... Happy Fathers Day I love you pop
You are husband 4 not my father.
My dad scares the Hell out of me! I'd starve before asking him for money.
It was 1967, the Summer of Love. 3 of us had sex with your mom on my bed, resulting in your conception. I hope you are well and happy.
My dad convinced me as a kid I had the power to blow on red lights and turn them green. I still do this today - I'm 35!
When your father dies he takes with him your library of childhood memories
I miss my first car more than I miss my father.
I regret not going on his drives with him. If I had gone his pictures would represent shared memories. I miss you Dad.
What made you utterly brilliant at your job made you completely ineffective as a Father.
Dad, I know you're gay.
It has been so long since I have lived with my sons, when I think how much I miss my boys, I realize it is more appropriate to say "I miss my men." Number 1 son, answer your phone, Number 2, talk a little longer, please. I will love you always and forever. Nothing you do can change that.
I'm scared to death that my father will die before he gets to walk me down the aisle
I think my father is gay. I keep the secret so my mother doesn't think her life was a lie.
For drug money my dad sold my car
When I was a little girl, my Dad was my Hero. I'm 26 now. He still is.
I wish I had really gotten to know my father
My dad doesn't know that I overheard him say to his new wife that he couldn't stand to be in the same room as me because I look just like my mom. Now I can't stand to be in the same room as him.
I've always had a feeling that my dad doesn't love me as much as he says he does. Maybe it's because I chose ballet over baseball, or I want to be an artist instead of an engineer, But I think it's because I took away his freedom, I made him settle down.
I like to remember my Dad as a boy, so I won't remember him suffering.
If my dad would have talked to me about sex, would I have still.
In one week I will travel down to the ocean where I will spread my father's ashes. I am terrified that when forced to accept his death and say goodbye, I won't be able to do it and will never feel whole again.
I still feel in some way that I did something wrong to cause my Dad to leave when I was 9. Intellectually, I know it wasn't me but every once in a while that sneaking suspicion still comes up when I am around him. I still try to make it up to him. It seems so ridiculous and embarrassing to admit it. I hope that I can just let this go finally. I never thought this would continue to bother me for so long I'm 38.
To the father I have never known: I forgive you, even if my mother hasn't. Happy Fathers Day wherever you are. Find me
I wish it was MY baby. Your child deserves a better father than him.
He left 16 years ago, & I still search for what my father has robbed me of. But how can I find it if I can't even name it?
I know my father is a self-righteous conservative left wing religous freak! good luck with yours
I never thought I would be the one telling you not to use drugs, Dad
My Dad has a new family now, and pays even less attention to his first kids.
Dear dad, I wish you would stop thinking of ways to get revenge on my mom and focus on creating a relationship with me.
I envy anyone who can say "I love you, dad" without hesitation.
Dad... Even after every relapse, you never gave up on me, your baby girl. Thank you for believing I could do it. Your. love helped me get clean. You are EVERYTHING to me
23andMe revealed that my biological father is my dad's best friend. I can never tell him, I just couldn't break his heart like that. Happy Father's Day
I just found out that my DAD reads PostSecret, too... Where do I send my secrets now?!?
I miss you Dad. Fall back in love with mom, please. I miss having you around here. Come back.
I leave on old westerns so my ghost dad can still watch his TV.
Melinda + Doug This is your biological son, Seth born 7/25/1993. I am looking for you. I want to meet you please find me
I've come to realize that the only two people in my life who have always been loyal to me are my Dad and my Dog. (I'm 60 years old)
I finally met a guy that doesn't remind me of my dad... I've never been happier
SomeTimes I DayDream About Driving To My Birth Father's Home Town And Introducing Myself As SomeONe Else Just Ro See If He Recognizes Me As His Own Flesh And Blood
So... I'm starting to forget how my dad laugher. I'm 26. He died when I was 12. I can't imagine anything worse than this...
Dad, THIS is my happy place. Not DISNEY, just when you still loved me. I love you!
I am in my 30s and still Largely supported by my wealthy father who gives me thousands of dollars at a time... it is unspoken guilt money for all the affairs he had on my mother when I was growing up. I knew about all of them but never confronted him.
Dad - the day you left, was the best day of my life. You tried to destroy MOM, but you will NEVER destroy me. Thank YOU for making me stronger.
I have kept every single letter my dad has sent me since I was 5. But nobody knows that the only reason I keep them is because that is all that I have from him.
My dad was in Prison for six years and I never sent him a letter. He sent me 214.
The time has come, the walrus said, to speak of many things. of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings, of why the sea is boiling hot, and whether pigs have wings. Dad, you're still as cool as you were in college.
I love my dad. But wish he would get a DUI just once.
I can't believe it's been 18 years since you died. I still talk to you everyday. I miss you dad! PS: can you send me some fish to catch. I'm not doing too well without you.
I'd rather you be dead. It would be easier to explain why you are gone.
If I was ever granted just one wish... it would be for you to have your father back.
He has never really felt like my son...
Mom, You should have known Dad was gay. It was kind of obvious!
I'm getting married, Daddy. Know what that means? I'm over you.
When mum told me you had killed yourself. I was so relieved I would never have to tell you I'm gay.
I'll never tell my step-daddy that he means the world to me, but I really hope he knows.
My father is dead and I still am afraid of him.
I helped my dying father commit suicide.
The only time I ever have and ever will see you are in photos. I wish I could have met you.
I'm afraid I'll never find a church with a pastor as good as my Dad.
Dad thank you for ruining your life to save mine. You are my hero.
After my Dad died, I wanted to blow my brains out. My friends and family made me realize my brains are right where they need to be.
It's sad that the only way my brother & I see our Dad is by going to his website.
My dad promised me 8 years ago that after the doctors made him better he'd teach me to play tennis. I'm still waiting to learn...
Dad I've been hiding my tattoos from you since I was 21
He chose my step-mother over me.
I tell people that my dad died of a stroke... when he really overdosed on a speedball.
People think I dealt with the death of my father very well, when in reality, I just pretend he never existed. (Photograph of two young kids with a silhouette of someone cut out)
You'll be leaving in one month... You'll be a FATHER in seven more. (Image of the seal of the US Marine Corps)
My dad's goal was to win the lotto... He passed away last year... & I can't stop buying them!!!
My dad did not "lose his battle" to cancer. He lost his life - he won the battle" There IS a difference. HE is my inspiration
Dear Cancer, Please don't kill my dad before he has a chance to see me grow up
I hate girls who's fathers love them.
I emailed my dad's gay lover when my dad was dying... My mom + sister didn't know he was gay
My dad thinks I'm a lesbian because I'm a feminist.
When I met someone new I just asume they have no Father
Dad, Why did everything have to change?
I just wanted to let you know that I had a good time. But I often wonder why you disappeared.
I think my Dad is secretly Gay
I've waited 48 years for my dad to come home
After I check PostSecret.com on Sundays, I call my mom and dad to THANK them for the wonderful life they gave to me.
It will be 4 years since you passed away this Father's Day. June 17th. Because you didn't get the chance, I will make it my personal goal to live my life with arms wide open for you dad. Happy Father's Day - I Love You!
My mum doesn't know, I know, this is her real father. Happy Mother's day. - Image of a gentleman with two young girls on each side
I wonder if Dad knows what he missed by leaving us?
Yesterday I talked to my birth father for the first time since I was 4. And I don't know how I feel about it.
I never forgave my father for telling someone within earshot that I was not "very astute" over 55 years ago, when I was a young teen.
If I had known 32 years ago what I know now... I could have been a better husband and father.
I have a terrible time picking out Father's Day cards because my dad never: grilled, golfed, watched sports, fixed things, did yeardwork, loved me.
Dad sent me this. Typical Dad humor. I giggle every time I look at it. Poor Mr. Head. I wonder if somewhere he can see me giggling. I'm sorry
My Dad doesn't live in Palm Beach, he lives here. (Image of a man in prison looking at a mirror from behind bars)
I told my mom and I told my little brother. But why can't I tell my dad that I'm gay?
My dad has been dead for more than a year but I still worry he's going to find a way to come after me...
I don't know if I need to forgive him, or ask for forgiveness, or if it's too late for either
How do I tell my dad I believe in God?
Picture of Captain Pccard from Star Trek, with the text: "Growing up, I looked to this man for the wisdom, warmth, and selflessness that my father lacked - Happy Father's Day, Jean-Luc"
I used to think I'd throw a party if my dad died. Now he's sick & I feel like a monster.
I wish I had memories fishing with my Dad. Instead of memories of new fishing gear.
Even though I'm curious... I won't ask about my biological father... for fear of insulting my DAD.
For a father who means so much: By forgiving you... I stopped cutting
My father had trouble saying the words "I love you." He named his boat after me. "I love you too, Dad."
Dear Dad, when you called after 11 years you forgot to say, "I'm sorry". But then I figured, "oh wait, he's not"
I never said it, even though he might have suspected it, but our youngest son doesn't belong to him
Enough Already - I think it might be time to forgive my dad
I was never on the pill... Happy fathers Day!
Dear America, Not everyone celebrates Fathers' Day. It's the ones you'd least expect, like myself. Please be respectful on social media.
An image of a "NO OUTLET" traffic sign and next to it the words "My dad told me that this sign meant there was no outlet malls at the end of the street. I believed him until I was 12"
I think my dad loves me less because I'm getting fatter
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