Proceed and Be Bold

FILM PREMIERE : This film will have its world premiere on MAY 9th, 2008; and a second screening on MAY 10th, 2008- with seating space available. Contact us for more details or to see the film on May 10th, click here.

Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. is a printing press and book artist, but he wasn't always an artist... He used to live a middle class life like many other Americans, with a family and a job as a computer programmer at an international telecommunications company. But he dropped it all to become an artist inthe lost craft of press printing and book art. Or as he says, "now I just make stuff, that's all. and I tell people who want to do art that they should just make stuff." Amos Kennedy at his printing press
Through his colorful posters layered with strong quotes and different paint textures, Amos uses his art to bring complicated issues such as race and gender into the forefront of the American consciousness. Incorporating the sayings of Rosa Parks and Sojourner Truth, Amos' posters enter the printing press as ink and paper and exit it as true pieces of art. Amos's art is not limited to posters, but extends far into book art, paper fans, and larger art projects.

Proceed and Be Bold is a biography of an artist.
The film spends time with Amos, interviews fellow artists who respect his craft, and analyzes why he creates his works. Amos seems to understand the American dream, American conciousness (or unconciousness), and what his posters should say to reflect our times.

CONTRIBUTE

This film is funded entirely independently and through contributions. To make a contribution through Paypal, click on the "donate" button below. For more information on how you can contribute to the film, contact Brown Finch Films.

FULL TRAILER:

TEASER TRAILER:

Press Kit

To download the press kit as a PDF, click here.

For promotional images and material, contact Brown Finch Films.

Here are some of the places Brown Finch Films has been filming for Proceed and Be Bold:

Whitewater, WI: March 31, 2007 at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater Interviewees include Elena Bertozzi, Assistant Professor of Multimedia Digital Arts and Communication and Kennedy's Beloved.
Montgomery, AL: April 20-22, 2007 at the 2nd Annual Alabama Book Festival Interviewees include Georgine Clarke, the Visual Arts Program Manager of the Alabama State Council on the Arts; and Barbara Evans, a long-time friend of Kennedy and organizer of the annual Alabama Okra Festival.

Mobile, AL: May 3-5, 2007 at a Cash and Carry Show Interviewees include artist and potter Charles Smith and Louis Herman, a long-time friend of Kennedy.
Minneapolis, MN: July 28, 2007 at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts Interviewees include Beatrix Zobl and Wolfgang Schneider, Jude Robinson, and Theresa Crushoha
Cameri and Osnago, Italy: July 31 - August 9, 2007 Interviewees include Alberto Casiraghy, Stefano Bertozzi, Amelia Bertozzi, Marco Badina, Angelo Galli- graphic designer, Ivan Pengo- owner of Il Foglio, a graphic arts paper and materials wholesale business, and Moreno Chiodini- a printmaker and printer.


Hartford, CT: October 6, 2007 at Wesleyan University Interviewees include Barbara Jones at the Caleb T. Winchester University Library and Olin Library; and Gina Athena Ulysse, Ph.D, Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology and author of Downtown Ladies: Informal Commercial Importers, a Haitian Anthropologist and Self-Making in Jamaica.

Chicago, IL: October 26-27, 2007 at Columbia College Center for Book and Paper Arts Interviewees include Kennedy's workshop participants and printing press artists.
Chicago, IL: November 18, 2007 at the University of Chicago Clara Bertozzi-Villa was interviewed- a long-time friend of Kennedy and audience member at a recent artist's lecture he gave.
Milwaukee, WI: January 18, 2008 Laura Thurman was interviewed- co-owner of the Coffee Makes you Black Coffeeshop, and Adric Kennedy- Amos Kennedy's son.
	Stephens Point, WI: January 19, 2008 Caren Heft, Gallery Director, Department of Art and Design at the University of Wisconsin at Stephens Point was interviewed.
Greensboro, NC: January 27, 2008 Helen and Amos Paul Kennedy, Sr. were interveriewed- Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr.'s parents.
	Nashville, TN: January 30, 2008 Jim Sherraden, Manager, Curator, Chief Designer at Hatch Show Print; Alan and Mary Kennedy, Amos’ Brother and Sister-in-Law; Allison Kennedy, Amos's niece.

	Atlanta, GA: February 2, 2008 Randall K. Burkett, curator of the African American Collections at Emory University was interviewed.
York, Akron, Moundsville, and Gordo, AL: February 4, 2008 interviewees include Enoch Harrison (AKA Tee Foot), owner/manager of Tee's Lounge in York; Robert Wilson, friend of Amos's in Akron; Mary A. Jolley, friend of Amos's in Moundsville; and Daniel Wicke and Mark Wise in Gordo- apprentices of Amos.


Montgomery, AL: February 5, 2008 Georgette M. Norman, Director of the Rosa Parks Museum was interviewed.
Louisville, KY: February 6, 2008 Karen Weeks was interviewed- a former apprentice of Amos's while he was in Akron, AL.
Chicago, IL: February 14, 2008 Patrick W. Welch was interviewed- one of the founders of the Micromentalist Movement in art. His interview on Chicago Public Radio's "Hello Beautiful" program can be found here.
Chicago, IL: February 21, 2008 Tom Greensfelder of Greensfelder Designs was interviewed.
Chicago, IL: March 8, 2008 Clifton Meador, Professor/Director MFA Book and Paper at Columbia College Chicago was interviewed.
Chicago, IL: April 2, 2008 Amy Mooney, Assistant Professor of Art at Columbia College Chicago was interviewed.
Gordo, AL: April 13, 2008 Glenn House, Sr., Professor Emeritus at University Alabama, and Kathy Fetters, Photographer, were interviewed.
Tuscaloosa, AL: April 13, 2008 Laurie Johns, a friend of Amos, was interviewed.