Amos Kennedy Visit to Dartmouth

Sponsored by the Office of Institutional Diversity and Equality, Dartmouth College Library and the Friends of the Library.

Amos Kennedy is a letterpress printer using a distinctive voice to create posters, artists’ books, and publications. Through his strong graphics and bold typography, Kennedy pushes issues of race, freedom, and equality, often incorporating proverbs and tales of the Kuba and Yoruba people of Africa, as well as the work of African-American poets such as Paul Laurence Dunbar. Amos quit his corporate job at the age of forty to become, as he calls himself, “a humble negro printer”. He received his MFA from the University of Wisconsin, has taught workshops in over seven countries and is currently spearheading the Detroit Printing Plant.

The Rare Book & Manuscript Library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign holds a large collection of Amos’s work containing artists' books, postcards, and posters. His work can also be found in many other collections such as Northwestern University and the libraries of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, but Amos will sell you an original letterpress print for just fifteen dollars. “My posters are for everybody,” says Kennedy. He is also the subject of a documentary by Laura Zinger called "Proceed and be Bold.”

Exhibit: Baker Berry Library
Letterpress broadsides by Amos Kennedy reflecting on life, race and injustices. During the month of Janurary there will be an exhibit of Amos Kennedy's posters on display in Berry Main Street.

Event Schedule:
Events will take place in the Book Arts Workshop located in Baker Library, rooms 21-23 (West entrance, lower level, around the corner from the Orozco murals). All events are free and open to the public.

Monday, January 28th
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Printing demonstration in the Book Arts Workshop hall with the Washington iron hand press.
1:30 PM - 5:00 PM Amos Kennedy will be printing his colorful and unique posters using the Vandercook press. Come by to print your own poster and see what can be done with type. This is a drop in workshop, participants are encouraged to come for an extended time period.

Tuesday, January 29th
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Amos Kennedy will be printing his colorful and unique posters using the Vandercook press. Come by to print your own poster and see what can be done with type. This is a drop in workshop, participants are encouraged to come for an extended time period.

Wednesday, January 30th
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Amos Kennedy will be printing his colorful and unique posters using the Vandercook press. Come by to print your own poster and see what can be done with type. This is a drop in workshop, participants are encouraged to come for an extended time period.
7:30 PM Proceed and be Bold: A Film by Laura Zinger. A few years ago independent film maker Laura Zinger made a documentary about Amos. The film covers Amos Kennedy’s background but more than that it addresses issues of race, finding your voice in the modern world, and discovering your passion. Come and see the film and hear a lecture by the man himself. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Location: Hood Auditorium.