October 16, 2024
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. Kennedy will discuss, in his words, how
“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.”
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. Describing his work, Kennedy has said “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.”
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.
About MCLA
At MCLA, we’re here for all — and focused on each — of our students. Classes are taught
by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive
on every level of their lives. In every way possible, the experience at MCLA is designed
to elevate our students as individuals, leaders, and communicators, fully empowered
to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 130-year commitment to
public education, we have fortified our dedication to equitable academic excellence.
MCLA has appeared on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Top Ten Public Colleges for
10 consecutive years, earning the No. 6 spot on the list of Top Public Liberal Arts
Schools in the nation for 2025, after earning the No. 7 spot the prior three years.
The College’s focus on affordable education and economic prosperity is reflected in
additional 2025 U.S. News rankings: No. 5 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for
liberal arts colleges in the state and No. 2 for Top Performer on Social Mobility
for public liberal arts colleges in the country. These rankings measure how well schools
graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants.
Learn more at www.mcla.edu.
