Carved & Crafted: The Art of Letterpress

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

The exhibition Carved & Crafted: The Art of Letterpress explores the centuries-old printing process through the work of artist Jim Sherraden, artist and musician Jon Langford, and Hatch Show Print, a renowned Nashville-based letterpress atelier. Including a selection of original and historic Hatch poster restrikes, early prints by Sherraden, and current collaborative work by the latter and Langford, viewers will gain an appreciation for the handmade. Letterpress and woodblock printing is rooted in tradition, craftsmanship, and legacy—much of which is slowly disappearing from contemporary printmaking practices as industrial and digital technologies replace apprenticeship, handwork, and practice. Sherraden and Langford, along with Celene Aubry, the longtime manager of Hatch Show Print, and the many shop designers and printers who have trained there, are preserving the legacy of these centuries-old processes and a historic American advertising press.

In 1879, Charles and Herbert, sons of Reverend William T. Hatch, a master printer and shop owner, established C.R. & H. H. Hatch, Printers in Nashville, Tennessee, unknowingly establishing a lasting legacy in American letterpress and advertising. Their first design, a handbill announcing a talk by Minister Henry Ward Beecher, brother to Harriet Ward Beecher, the renowned author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, launched the straightforward style that would define Hatch’s distinct look—bold typography and clear messaging, rendered with hand-carved wooden block and metal type and printed using a mechanical press.

By 1920, Charles’ son William moved the shop near the Ryman Auditorium, receiving tour poster commissions from their many performers, such as Bessie Smith, Hank Williams, and Duke Ellington. However, by the mid-20th century, Hatch struggled as offset printing and digital technologies took over the market. After several ownership changes, Gaylord Entertainment purchased the shop, eventually donating it to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992, sparking Hatch’s rebirth.

Much of this revival is credited to Jim Sherraden, who began working at Hatch in 1984. As an apprentice, Sherraden combined his artistic training with the shop’s historic materials, creating monoprints and modern imagery that complemented Hatch’s design legacy. In 2015, The Country Music Hall of Fame tasked him to collaborate with artist and musician Jon Langford, a founding member of the punk band The Mekons. The men continue to work together on compositions, with Sherraden contributing the complex, hand-cut woodblock designs and coloring and Langford decorating the surface with line drawings. Sherraden retired from the print floor in 2016, passing the legacy to Celene Aubry, who continues to preserve the Hatch Show Print tradition.

Discover the world of letterpress in Carved & Crafted! Along with stunning works by Jim Sherraden, Jon Langford, and Hatch Show Print, you’ll also experience an interactive print area. Explore the artistry behind this centuries-old craft and see many iconic posters up close in this exhibition at the LSU Museum of Art.

The LSU Museum of Art thanks artwork lenders: Hatch Show Print and LeMieux Galleries of New Orleans. Special thanks to LSU College Art + Design Assistant Professor Lauren Cardenás and her printmaking class for creating prints that will also be on view in this exhibition.

on view June 12–September 21, 2025

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