Renowned Printmaker Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. returns to MCLA Campus

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.  
 
About Amos Paul Kennedy Jr.

Amos Paul 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. 

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MCLA Professor Melanie Mowinski

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