Visiting Artist Lecture: Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr. | Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Visiting Artist Lecture: Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr.

Auditorium 150
Visiting Artist Lecture
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Visiting Artist Lecture: Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr.
Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr.

Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr., was a successful computer programmer for AT&T when he saw a printing press at colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, and stopped in his tracks. At age forty, he decided that his corporate life was over. He had found his calling, he says, as a printer and provocateur. His letterpress poster shop currently operates out of Detroit, Michigan. In 2008, Kennedy was the subject of filmmaker Laura Zinger’s documentary Proceed and Be Bold. Sponsored by the Fine Arts Department and the Alice Fjelstul ’96 Visiting Artist Program.

I was born.

I am animal.
I am human.

I live.

I live negro.
I tell you this because you will mistake me for an african american BUT I am negro, a descendant of the enslaved peoples of these united states of america.

I live southern.
I was born colored in Louisiana. I was raised negro. I was educated Black at Grambling College, a historically integrated college.

I live in the moment.
In the moment is creation. Creation is within every human. We must celebrate our creativity. The moment fuels our creativity.

I live to put ink on paper.
This is the major outlet for my creativity. I put ink on paper for the glory of my peoples. The words of my peoples have largely been excluded from "fine print." I defy this condition and force my peoples' presence into this part of this civilization's culture.

I am a printer.
I am not an artist.
I am a stuff-maker.
I am not an artist.
I am a visitor.

I will die.