The guild tradition of Master and Apprentice printers and book binders is still present in a contemporary context through higher education in the role of teacher and student.  Another layer to this succession involves this particular group of artists, the students, becoming teachers and carrying on the traditions, techniques, and processes that have been passed on to them. The exhibition will bring together this lineage into one setting allowing a dialogue to develop between the generations. This will allow the viewer a unique opportunity to witness how this tradition impacts contemporary printing and book arts.

 
Katherine Rhodes Fields, Visiting Assistant Professor of Art in Printmaking at the University of Mississippi is the curator of and participant in the exhibition. The participating artists include: Dolph Smith, Martiza Davila, Sheri Fleck Rieth, Katherine Rhodes Fields, and Joshua Monroe.

Dolph Smith received his B.F.A. from Memphis College of Art. He returned as full time faculty member in 1965 and taught drawing and painting for 30 years.  Beginning in late 70's he developed a curriculum for Hand Papermaking and later began an Artist's Book program. Named The Flying Vat, it is now one of most prominent centers in America for that type of art education. Smith retired in 1995 and was elected Professor Emeritus. Since that time he has had his studio, named Tennarkippi Field, on Hurricane Hill near Ripley where he devotes his time to sculptural works, one-of-a-kind artist's books and painting.  Smith has over 1200 works in collections both nationally and internationally and continues to travel nationally as a visiting artist and lecturer. 

Maritza Dávila, graduated from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn in 1977 with an MFA, majoring in painting and minoring in printmaking.  She has been on the faculty of Memphis College of Art since 1982 primarily teaching printmaking and drawing, and where she worked alongside Dolph Smith and has been manager of the printmaking workshop for 25 years and was named full professor in 2003.

Sheri Fleck Rieth holds a MFA in Studio Arts from Memphis College of Art where she studied with both Maritza Dávila and Dolph Smith .  She is an associate professor of art at The University of Mississippi, where she teaches printmaking and drawing, coordinates the foundations program, is chair of the gallery program and serves as a Student Art Association Advisor.

Katherine Rhodes Fields received her MFA in printmaking from The University of Mississippi in Oxford in 2005 under the instruction of Professor Sheri Fleck Rieth.  Katherine then resided in Saint Louis, Missouri until the summer of 2008 where she was an Instructor of Printmaking at Webster University, Maryville University, St. Charles Community College, Lewis and Clark Community College, and at East Central College.  Katherine is now the Visiting Assistant Professor of Art in Printmaking at the University of Mississippi and resides in Oxford, Mississippi.

Joshua Monroe will graduate from Webster University with a BFA in Printmaking this May.  During his studies he has been mentored by Katherine Rhodes Fields.   Following graduation he plans to take a year off before pursuing a MFA in printmaking.