Amos Kennedy

From Bhamwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr (born 1950 in Lafayette, Louisiana) is a letterpress printer and former computer programmer.

Kennedy, the one of five children born to academics, grew up in Grambling, Louisiana. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne and worked as a programmer and systems analyst for AT&T in Chicago.

During a 1989 visit with his sons to William Parks' press and book bindery in Colonial Williamsburg, he became fascinated with the idea of letterpress printing. He took classes in printing and set up a small press in his basement. He enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and studied under book designer Walter Hamady, earning his Master of Fine Arts in 1997. After graduating he taught graphic design at Indiana University before deciding to open his own print shop to bring his art to the masses.

Kennedy set up a "York Show Print" shop in York, and later moved to Akron in association with Auburn University's Rural Studio. In January 2008 he was recruited by Glenn House and Kathy Fetters to join a growing community of artists in Gordo.

Kennedy produces showcard posters for local and regional events as well as his own catalog of inspirational and commemorative designs, usually featuring boldly-lettered quotations. He is a regular exhibitor at the Kentuck Festival and his work is sold at galleries and museum shops across the South.

Kennedy was profiled in a 2008 documentary, "Proceed and Be Bold!, directed by Laura Zinger.

In 2012 Kennedy began raising money to open a teaching letterpress studio in Detroit, Michigan.

References

  • Sudnik, Janet (October 4, 2008) "Amos Kennedy: The Printer." Tuscaloosa News
  • Fields, Monique (December 2011/January 2012) "Words to Live By" American Craft magazine.

External links