2025 Print Exchange Author: Tennessee Williams
Outstanding Authors
Print Exchange
Artists are invited to submit letterpress prints emphasizing any aspect of Tennessee Williams’ work consistent with the themes of his literature and life. Williams’ work throws human nature into focus, something as critically important now as in his own time.
Exhibition Theme: “Conscience and Kindness”
The Mission: To heighten awareness of the work of Tennessee Williams and his wise words on love, hate, friendship, the fragility of egos, the requirements of conscience, the importance of kindness, the limits of forgiveness.
This annual print exchange is designed to focus attention on authors, artists, and all creatives who show the way through messages of hope and personal activism. The artist exchange also provides an opportunity to exhibit the power of print in bringing home messages of hope and learning.
Registration Deadline: June 20, 2025 - extended deadline. Register for this year’s Print Exchange
Submission Deadline: July 20, 2025. This deadline will enable the submissions to be displayed in conjunction with the 10th Annual Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis, August 7 to 17, 2025.
Details: Exchange is limited to 40 participants. Participants should submit 50 prints for the exchange and exhibitions. Each participant will receive a full set of all prints. Prints may be any dimension, not to exceed 11” x 14”. Prints must be letterpress printed. In addition to their display related to the Festival, the prints will be displayed at the Saint Louis Mercantile Library. Past print exchanges have also been acquired by the Newberry Library of Chicago. There will be a $40 application fee to cover the expense of documenting, shipping bundles, and exhibition materials. Prints must be shipped at participants’ expense to Central Print, 2624 North 14th Street, St. Louis, MO 63108. Informational flyer PDF
Examples of the observations of Tennessee Williams:
“What is straight? A line can be straight, or a street, but the human heart, oh, no, it's curved like a road through mountains.” ― Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire
“I don't want realism. I want magic! Yes, yes, magic! I try to give that to people. I misrepresent things to them. I don't tell the truth, I tell what ought to be the truth. And if that's sinful, then let me be damned for it!” ― Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire
“Some things are not forgivable. Deliberate cruelty is not forgivable. It is the most unforgivable thing ... ” ― Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire
“I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” ― Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire
“In memory, everything seems to happen to music.” ― Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie
“Yes, I have tricks in my pocket, I have things up my sleeve. But I am the opposite of a stage magician. He gives you illusion that has the appearance of truth. I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion.” ― Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie
“How beautiful it is and how easily it can be broken.” ― Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie
“Make voyages. Attempt them. There's nothing else.”― Tennesse Williams, Camino Real
“When so many are lonely as seem to be lonely, it would be inexcusably selfish to be lonely alone.” ― Tennessee Williams, Camino Real
“I think that hate is a feeling that can only exist where there is no understanding.” ― Tennessee Williams, Sweet Bird of Youth
“I've got the guts to die. What I want to know is, have you got the guts to live?” ― Tennessee Williams, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
“We all live in a house on fire, no fire department to call; no way out, just the upstairs window to look out of while the fire burns the house down with us trapped, locked in it.” ― Tennessee Williams, The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore
“We're all sentenced to solitary confinement inside our own skins, for life.” ― Tennessee Williams
“If I got rid of my demons, I’d lose my angels.” ― Tennessee Williams, Conversations With Tennessee Williams
“Time doesn't take away from friendship, nor does separation.” ― Tennessee Williams, Memoirs
“Why did I write? Because I found life unsatisfactory.” ― Tennessee Williams
“I suppose I have found it easier to identify with the characters who verge upon hysteria, who were frightened of life, who were desperate to reach out to another person. But these seemingly fragile people are the strong people really.”
― Tennessee Williams
“All cruel people describe themselves as paragons of frankness.” ― Tennessee Williams
2024 Print Exchange
Tina Turner
“Leaving a Mark”
The Mission: To heighten awareness of the life and work of Tina Turner, with a focus on the lyrics that she wrote or sang. Her lyrics point to the ability of ordinary people to leave their mark on the world, despite extraordinary obstacles put in their way.
Tina Turner’s legacy: Tina Turner was a singer, songwriter, and actress who was celebrated as the “Queen of Rock ‘N Roll” in her time. She spent her youth in St. Louis, graduated from Sumner High School, and began singing in local night clubs. She met Ike Turner there, and began singing with his Kings of Rhythm band. She became known as Tina Turner, as she wrote, sang, and performed nationally and internationally. Three of her recordings, including “River Deep – Mountain High” are in the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2021, Turner was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. She died at age 83 at her home in Switzerland in 2023. pdf Exhibition Flyer 2024
2023 Print Exchange
Martha Gellhorn
The subject of our first print exchange was Martha Gellhorn.
“Bravery in War and Peace.”
The Mission: To heighten awareness of the work of Martha Gellhorn and her wise words on the scourge of war, the fragility of peace, the horrors of genocide, the requirements of conscience, the importance of citizenship, the uncertain future of the human race.
Gellhorn’s legacy: Martha Ellis Gellhorn (November 8, 1908 -15 February 15, 1998) was an American novelist, journalist, travel writer considered as one of the great war correspondents of the 20th century. Gellhorn reported on virtually every major world conflict that took place during her 60-year career. She was a trailblazer for women in journalism and the media, and championed human rights and individual responsibility.
View pdf Exhibition Flyer with images of the 2023 submissions.