Diversity of Support: Limited Box Edition

Wade Guyton (’95) Limited Box Edition with print by Cheryl Douegan (AIR, ’95)

Wade Guyton, Meredyth Sparks, and Josh Smith, distinguished School of Art alumni, launched an innovative project called Limited Box Edition to support a new Artist-in-Residence Endowment Campaign.

Limited Box Edition is an individualized box of prints containing original art from alumni and former Artists-in-Residences (AIR). Guyton, Sparks, and Smith contributed their own print and designed custom boxes for the collections. Each digital print is signed and one of an edition of 100.

Pamela Jordan

“Guyton, Sparks, and Smith have very successful careers in the arts,” says David Wilson, director of the School of Art. “All three regularly stage exhibitions in prestigious national and international museums and galleries. This exciting project is a great opportunity for people who invest in the School of Art to add unique pieces of art to their collection.”

Founded in 1982, the AIR program supports two semester-long residencies each academic year. Invited artists teach undergraduate and graduate courses in painting and drawing. Since its inception, over 80 artists have taught more than 3,000 students in the School of Art.

The program is one of the oldest of its kind in the country and connects art students with professionals in the field engaged in contemporary artistic dialogue. It also enriches the students’ experience by connecting them with artists outside the university who are active in galleries and museums across the country.

Alisha Kerlin

“The resident artists’ interaction with the students is truly exciting to see,” says Jered Sprecher, professor of art. “Each provides a dynamic model of what a life in the arts can look like, which is absolutely vital for our students as they imagine what their life as an artist might look like and how they will help shape our culture in the future.”

Ezra Tessler, the current artist-in-residence, sees the program as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“Getting the chance to teach such a diverse group of students, each with their own unique and distinct perspective, has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me,” Tessler says. “It’s forced me to rethink my artistic habits, introduced me to new methods, and challenged me to explore new ideas inside and outside the classroom.”

According to Sprecher, the list of artists in each box is a “who’s who” of artists working and making a difference in the larger world and all have a tie to UT.

Judith Eisler

“The Limited Box Edition is a wonderful way to see the quality and longevity of the AIR program, which is unrivaled in the United States, and has made an unparalleled impact on the whole school,” says Sprecher.

The School of Art provides the foundation for a thriving art scene both on and off campus.

“Art constantly provides the engaged viewer the chance to interact with an object or experience that is unfamiliar and surprising,” Sprecher says. “It allows us to engage the world with an inquisitive mind. Without a thriving art scene, life would just not be as interesting.”

To invest in your own unique Limited Box Edition, visit art.utk.edu.