Amos Kennedy Came to Town and Left an Impression

Amos Kennedy was on campus from January 28th to February 1st, dovetailing with the Martin Luther King, Jr. activities. His visit was sponsored by the Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity, Friends of the Dartmouth College Library, Preservation Services, and the Dartmouth College Library Book Arts Workshop.



Amos intersected with campus events in many areas. He visited Michael Chaney's class on Dave the Potter, where he viewed student work and discussed his own work and ideas (photo above). On Tuesday night he had dinner with ten students arranged by the Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity, and Wednesday night he was at a viewing of Proceed and Be Bold, a documentary about Amos by Laura Zinger (also available in the Jones Media Center). He was also interviewed on "Word of Mouth with Virginia Prescot on New Hampshire Public Radio (listen here).

The workshops were a drop-in style, and over the course of the workshops we estimated 200 visitors. Five posters were produced based on quotes that were submitted by members of the Dartmouth community.
Written by Deborah Howe.

Book Arts Special Instructor Appointment

I am very happy to announce that Sarah Smith has been appointed the first Book Arts Workshop Special Instructor. Sarah has an MFA in Book Arts and Printmaking from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and is a skilled letterpress printer and bookbinder. She also has deep experience with student instruction, shop management, and digital printing. Sarah comes to us from Montserrat College of Art and Endicott College where she is currently teaching. In her capacity of Assistant Professor at Montserrat she is Chair of the Book Arts Program and manages Imposition Press. Sarah has also taught at Simmons College and was an assistant book conservator for some time at the Northeast Document Conservation Center.

Sarah's appointment is a significant step in the life of the 23-year-old Book Arts Program, and everyone associated with it are extremely excited. The Special Instructor is a full time, ten-month appointment for three years and is being funded by the Friends of the Dartmouth College Library, the Dartmouth College Library's Cornell Fund, the English Department, and the Associate Dean for Arts & Humanities Office. When Sarah joins us we will be able to increase the number of instruction and studio hours as well as facilitate greater curricular use of the workshop. Sarah will begin her appointment on September 1.
Written by Barbara Sagraves.

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.

New Position: Book Arts Work Shop Special Instructor

I am thrilled to announce the creation of the Book Arts Workshop Special Instructor position (DRM-D) responsible for the day-to-day operation of the letterpress and bindery studios. This new three-year, 3/4-time term position will collaborate with Dartmouth College faculty on book arts seminars and exercises, work with and mentor undergraduate and graduate students in developing skills related to the book arts, and be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the studios. Hiring a Special Instructor will enable the Library to significantly increase the number of hours the studios are available to students, faculty, and others.

The position is funded by the Friends of the Dartmouth College Library, the Dartmouth College Library's Cornell Fund, the English Department, and the Associate Dean for Arts and Humanities Office.

For a complete job description and to apply on line, go to Dartmouth College Current Job Listings. Please refer to position #1011369.

All applications require a resume and cover letter. Candidates invited for an on campus interview will be requested to present a portfolio of their work with examples of: letterpress printing including broadside, chapbook or edition printing; bookbinding including single signature and multiple sewn signature structure, adhesive bound and non-adhesive bound structure, portfolio, and box construction; and innovative work in the book arts.

Application review will begin on October 15, 2012.

Written by Barb Sagraves.