Amos Kennedy, Jr. is an amazing letterpress printer based in Alabama. I was introduced to his work while living in Chicago, show-card posters a la Hatch Show Prints, but often with a political edge, and biting racial commentary. Amos has a great piece about Rosa Parks in the Paper Politics show. He just got a big write-up in the Tuscaloosa News, and it’s well worth a read.
i met amos while on tour with the mobilivre-bookmobile project in auburn, alabama. we were guests of the rural studio and he came to our event with eye-catching, beautiful letterpressed posters for an upcoming event: bbq, bicycles, and bueys. he invited us to visit his print shop in york, alabama on our way to our next stop, which happened to be on easter. we pulled into tiny york and opened up the bookmobile for an audience of about half a dozen people. he gave us a tour of his printshop and many gifts: engravings, ‘nappygram’ postcards, posters, and hand-made blank books! then we sat down to an amazing potluck easter dinner in the gallery/studio space next door. he invited us to come back and visit to do a print project and it is one of my major regrets that i never did this before he moved away from york. thanks for the post about this guy—RIGHT ON!
Amos – Please send me an email ASAP. I would like you to come up to APSU to help me with a project in Feb. if you are available. Hope all is well. Cindy
Cynthia Marsh
Professor Art + Design
Director Goldsmith Press & Rare Type Collection
@ Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN