Fare Thee Well, Amos

Most of you Amos Kennedy, Jr. fans are aware that Amos is packing up his letterpress shop in Gordo and moving his 13 presses to Detroit to set up his new shop: The Detroit Printing Plant. My heart is breaking. This state (Alabama) doesn't realize it yet but they're letting an icon slip thru their fingers. Oh, how I wish that his patrons and members of the art community –that we– had fought and begged him to stay. What's the saying? You don't know what you have until it's gone.

Yesterday, my daughter, son-in-law and I drove to Gordo to "hug his neck" (don't you love those old southern sayings?), one last time. He's been my hero and safety net for five years; he'll be my friend for life. Change is necessary. I get that. Usually, I can adjust with the best of them. But, this time, I'm having a VERY difficult time accepting Amos' move 726 miles away. It ain't next door. 

Oh, well. There's nothing more to say?  It's a sad day. Fare-thee-well my friend. 

Pic: The "humble negro printer" gazing, adoringly, at his friend one last time.

Gordo, Alabama

"Come to Gordo," he said. And, I did.

A couple of weeks ago, I was delighted to have received a personal invite from Amos to visit his letterpress shop. So last Sunday, around 8am, I filled up the gas tank grabbed a mug of caffeine and headed west to Gordo. Anyone and everyone interested in letterpress printing, relief printmaking or book arts can tell you that spending time in Amos' shop is something that you MUST experience at some point in your art career. You can find plenty of stories and blogs on the internet about Amos and his letterpress shop. Do so at your leisure. Fun stuff.

Gordo, is a dusty little town 26 miles west of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and 37 miles east of Columbus, Mississippi. I've been there several times but this was my first trip this year.


It was a day of meeting new faces and socializing with old friends. I had a bite to eat with Kathy Fetters and Glenn House, Sr. Sat with them at their kitchen table and enjoyed a cornucopia of delicious vegetables that Glenn had cooked. My Mississippi country girl persona came out because I immediately plated up the rutabagas and cabbage. I could have sat there all afternoon eating veggies but I was polite and limited my serving. Sopped up a bit of the pot likka' with a corner of skillet cornbread and washed it all down with a glass of sweet tea. It was sooo good. All of us took a slow stroll back to the shop where Amos was working with a technician on a new press. Later, he too cooked up a delicious meal for those of us in attendance. Yes, Amos can cook. I decided to create a special print for my friend; just a small token of appreciation for a really great day. It took about five days to cut, print and ship.

The linoleum impression is printed on chipboard. It's approximately 12 x 18 inches; black relief ink, colored pencil and the words are lettercut by hand. The print will never be offered for sale but I think I nailed the image, don't you?? The title reads: "tribute for my friend, amos, the humble negro printer"

He loves it.

Gordo, Alabama

Last year in October, I participated in The Kentuck Festival of the Arts located in Northport, Alabama. I was stunned when I received notice that my work had been juried in, on my first attempt! My space was B-34. Little did I know that the space had been occupied by Glenn House, Sr. for many years. Turns out that he gave up the spot last year and it became available (for me). I set up my booth and display, with Tom's help, and settled in for a three day run. Students from the University of Alabama's Publications/Book Arts Program were to the right of my tent and on the other side was Peter Rose, an Australian born potter who lives and creates in Knoxville, Tennessee. Glenn House, Sr. and his wife, Kathleen Fetters, an award winning photographer were situated next to Peter. Add to the mix, Amos Kennedy, an internationally recognized letterpress printer and (as my son would say) "it was on." I felt as tho I had known these artists all of my life! On the last day of Kentuck 2008, Glenn extended an invitation to me and Tom to visit Gordo where he, Kathy and Amos have set up shop. I took him up on his offer and two weeks ago, on February 15th, we drove to Gordo, Alabama.

The afternoon was WON-DER-FUL!! To be in the company of such gifted and talented and FUNNY individuals has changed me and my way of thinking. First and foremost, I realize that I MUST spend more time around creative people. Secondly, I'm learning that you can't take yourself too seriously. Laugh out loud, life is short. Lastly, although I don't consider myself an intellectual or a philosopher by any stretch of the imagination, I accept that I can and I do have a lot to say and even more to offer with regard to my printmaking: what I create and why.

Gordo, Alabama is probably best known for it's Mule Day/Chickenfest which is held on the first Saturday in June. Oh, and they create a lovely mule manure paper, too! Gordo is located in Pickins County on U. S. Route 82 west of Tuscaloosa and east of the Mississippi line. It is what it is. A non-descript, small dusty rural town with Main Street running across the bumpy rail tracks simply leading you to the other side. The other side you ask? Yes, the other side of the tracks. That's it. No more; no less. The walking tour was slow and leisurely. Into one building and out; on to another. The museum of Glenn's mother, Ma'Cille, is called Ma'Cille's Museum of Miscellanea. You name it and you'll find almost everything southern as a part of this wonderful collection. Oh, the eye candy! My goodness! Behind each door was art and more art, letterpress equipment, paper, inks, hardware, antiques, junk, bottles, chipboard posters, dolls, jars of stuff and no telling what else. There was so much to take in. And the stories. Kathy and Glenn had stories galore and shared them effortlessly. Glenn's gallery is housed in an old NAPA Auto Parts store. Kathy is a co-owner of Gallery 121 on Main Street. She recently designed and printed a Chickenfest poster which she graciously autographed and presented to me.

We began and ended the tour in the building that houses Amos' Kennedy Prints. He's the real deal. Authentic. When I learned that he once worked in mainstream corporate America, I wondered if he became "authentic" after he left to follow his bliss or if, in fact, he had been "authentic" all along and realized that corporate America and all of the bullshit that comes with it was simply not a good fit for him. Doesn't matter. I'm that much closer to becoming "authentic", too. This is a good thing.

I spent the last couple of hours, of my day in Gordo, sharing lino block proofs that I've created as part of my GIA grant. I was in my element talking about my project: WALK IN THE DIRECTION YOU' GOIN' IN. I talked, they listened. I stepped back and shut my mouth. I wanted to hear what they had to say about my work for better or for worse.

I left Gordo with a broad grin on my face. A VERY broad grin.

Photo Shoot with Southern Living Magazine!

I've had an incredible run and rush, lately, of all things art related.

Last month I had two (2) photo sessions with G. Clark a fantastic photographer employed with Southern Living Magazine. What a professional! The first set of photos were taken in my home studio. The location for the second set of photos was the Alabama Bag & Burlap Company a dusty, old industrial warehouse located off of 1st Avenue North Birmingham. I love the place. The owners are Elizabeth & George. They run one of the oldest businesses in the city, if not the state, along with grandson Erin and with Mr. Floyd, their oldest and trusted employee. Look for the August 2009 issue of Southern Living Magazine. Good things are happening!

In my next entry I'll describe the Sunday afternoon, two weeks ago, that I spent with Amos Kennedy, Glenn House and Kathleen Fetters in Gordo, Alabama.

Movin' Right Along

It's hard to believe that I've just reached the mid-point of my grant year.
September 2009 is looming on the horizon and I'm working as hard and as fast as I can! This is the beginning of MY art festival season. I love it! Unfortunately, I'm going to have to bow out of the shows located outside of Birmingham which I've been accepted to participate in. I don't want to get bogged down with the logistics of trying to prepare new prints when my focus is to complete the requirements of my GIA grant. That's my priority. I'm very excited with the larger lino blocks that I'm cutting. So far the blocks are either 14" x 20" or 18" x 18" which is larger than I've ever worked. I'm taking a few of them to Gordo, Alabama in a couple of weeks to show them to Glenn House, Kathy Fetters and Amos Kennedy. Nothing like a good old critique from a couple of heavy hitters in the printmaking/papermaking/letterpress world. More on that later.

Once you get into a "rhythm" cutting a design into linoleum block, it becomes very theraputic. I used to find this same rhythm when I'd needlepoint at all hours of the night. And as much as I enjoy block printing. . . I have to admit that I really miss my daily stitching sessions. I still keep small canvases stored in my car. Whenever I find myself waiting for something or someone, I'll pull one out and stitch like there's no tomorrow. So much to do; so little time.

I'm enrolled in a stained glass class for the next six weeks. Actually, we've already had two sessions. The class is offered thru the Birmingham Museum of Art. Penny Arnold is the instructor. She's wonderful. I love her teaching style. Very clear instructions, low key, non-obtrusive. By that I mean that she's not hovering over you or insisting that you do something her way as the right way. While there are a number of correct steps that one should follow to get a desired result she definitely has fun, informative sessions. Check out her website Golden Penny Studio.