C.J. Pressma is a graduate of Antioch College and holds an M.F.A. in Photography from Indiana University. He studied as a special graduate student with Minor White at MIT and with Henry Holmes Smith at Indiana University. In 1970 he founded the Center for Photographic Studies – an alternative school of creative photography. The Center provided a full-time learning experience for those seeking to explore photography as creative expression. Its two galleries provided monthly photographic exhibits featuring the works of local, regional, and internationally acclaimed photographic artists including Ansel Adams and Minor White.

In 1978 he was awarded a National Endowment Fellowship in photography. In 1979 Pressma embarked on a career as a multimedia producer and marketing communications specialist. In 1984, his seven part series Witness to the Holocaust, was released in the U.S. and Canada where it remains in distribution today. One of the first productions to use survivor interviews as the exclusive content to tell the story of the Holocaust, Witness to the Holocaust has received numerous national awards.

In December,2001 Pressma was awarded an Al Smith Fellowship by the Kentucky Arts council. Also In 2001 Pressma was selected as one of 84 artists worldwide for the landmark exhibition Digital Printmaking Now at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. Pressma’s career includes numerous solo and group exhibitions in the United States, Canada, and Ireland. His work is included in the collections of the Speed Art Museum, The University of Louisville’s Photographic Archive , and the National Gallery of Canada.

Sheila Fox, known as Godiva Goddess, is a self-taught mixed media artist based in Louisville, KY, with roots in Chicago, IL. Her artistic journey reflects a deep commitment to representing and empowering the Black community. Over two decades of drawing and seven years of painting contribute to Sheila's ability to bring the essence of Black women and men to life through dynamic, multilayered pieces that challenge conventional art norms.

With a background in welding and fabrication, Sheila's unique artistic approach incorporates wire, flowers, metal shavings, wall plaster, fabric, as well as traditional mediums like acrylic paint and oil pastel. Her work boldly addresses themes of history, race, power, and repression, highlighting the beauty and strength of Black individuals.

Beyond the canvas, Sheila seamlessly integrates her passion for styling hair, makeup, and fashion into her artwork, enriching her creative expression. Following a layoff in June 2023, she embraced a full-time career as an artist, balancing this newfound pursuit with her roles as a wife and mother of four.

Featured in galleries and exhibitions across cities like Louisville, Chicago, Nashville, Indianapolis, Ohio, and Atlanta, Sheila's art has found a home in the collections of institutions such as HBC Simmons College and various downtown Louisville restaurants. She was also the featured artist for the 2023 Keepers of the Dream Celebration produced by Kentucky Performing Arts. Sheila Fox's art serves as a powerful means of representation and empowerment for the Black community, sparking conversations and provoking thought.

Louisville native Amanda Thompson is an artist and educator with a passion for learning. An avid hiker and traveler, Amanda brings her love of nature and culture to the classroom. Connecting world knowledge to the experience of creating art has been both a personal and professional goal. Just like trying out new art mediums and techniques, engaging in diverse cultures is an adventure. Fostering such adventures gives us the opportunity to express student voice and choice throughout the creative process.

Amanda has been a Visual Art teacher at Western Middle School for the Arts since 2010. She joined LVA’s Children’s Fine Art Classes the same year. She was recently awarded the Baird Excellence Award Outstanding Teacher for Middle School 2023. She served as a Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence Teacher Fellow in 2022 and Classroom Teachers Enacting Positive Solutions fellow in 2020. In collaboration with LVA and PNC Broadway, her classes have participated in 3 separate art installations at Kentucky Center for the Arts for Blue Man Group, Little Mermaid, and Anastasia, the Musical.

While the world truly is her classroom, she earned a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts at the University of Kentucky in 2001. After serving with AmeriCorps and beyond, she joined the University of Louisville. There she earned both a Master of Science in Human Resources in 2008 as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching in 2010. She is currently hoping to continue her education in the near future.

Jon Cherry is a Pulitzer Prize awarded American photojournalist whose work has spanned a wide range of photographic disciplines. His style has been described as deeply romantic, yet joyful. Born in Fort Liberty, North Carolina, Cherry now proudly calls himself a Kentuckian. Cherry aims to capture the spirit of America while developing his storytelling craft through analysis of the truths that define our time. Cherry can be labeled a generalist, reporting on topics from extremism and government to agriculture and conservation with the intention of blurring the lines between visual reportage and fine art photography.