NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) announces the return of renowned printmaker, Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. to North Adams for events taking place from Oct. 22 to Oct. 24.  

 

Kennedy's visit begins with a meet and greet print session on Oct. 22 at the PRESS Room in Bowman Hall Room 301/303 from 2 to 5 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.  

 

On Wednesday, Oct. 23, Kennedy will participate in MCLA's annual Day of Dialogue with a talk about his work and its relation to this year's theme, "Reclaiming Lost Narratives," which is centered around cultural erasure, stated a press release.

 

"I put ink on paper for the glory of my peoples. The words of my people have largely been excluded from fine print. I defy this condition and force my peoples' presence into this part of this civilization's culture," said Kennedy.  

 

A variety of Kennedy's letterpress work is currently on display at the Bowman Atrium Gallery on MCLA's campus. Visitors to the exhibit and participants in MCLA's Day of Dialogue will be invited to contribute to the exhibit by visually describing feelings of

erasure and writing to their past self on a piece of paper that will be folded up, crumpled and added to the exhibit.  

 

Kennedy's visit to North Adams will culminate with an event for his newly released book,"Citizen Printer" at MASS MoCA's Research and Development Store on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 5 p.m., where he will be in conversation with MCLA Professor of Art, Melanie Mowinski, discussing topics such as perfection, failure, and letterpress printing. This event is free for members of the museum and $5 for non-members.  

 

Amos Kennedy Jr. is a printmaker born in Lafayette, Los Angeles, currently based in Detroit who owns and operates the print studio Kennedy Prints. Kennedy had a full career in the corporate world until he discovered letterpress printing in his forties, prompting him to leave his job at AT&T and receive an MFA in graphic design at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

 

All these events are a part of Print Isn't Dead, a project initiated by MCLA Professor Mowinski; and funded in part by a Hardman Initiative Grant and the Cultural Council of Northern Berkshire, a division of the Mass Cultural Council.