Professor featured in documentary about printer Amos Paul Kennedy Jr.

November 5, 2008

A documentary about letterpress printer Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. will include commentary by University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s own Elena Bertozzi, an assistant professor of communication.

“Proceed And Be Bold” is the critically acclaimed documentary which focuses on Kennedy and his controversial artwork that touches on topics such as race, gender and black history. The Brown Finch Films production features Bertozzi, who assisted the film with commentary.

An expert of Kennedy’s work, Bertozzi has also maintained an intimate relationship with the printer for more than 10 years. “Amos is my beloved,” said Bertozzi. “We have a very beautiful relationship.” The two met at Indiana University where both were employed. Committed to the feature because she believes in Kennedy’s message, Bertozzi believes each of Kennedy’s pieces are open for individual analysis. “His work is about so many things,” said Bertozzi. “It’s up to the viewer to make a personal interpretation.”

Since stepping down from a corporate position at AT&T, Kennedy has expressed himself freely through his art without consideration of financial gain, sometimes selling his work for as little as $5. Kennedy is no stranger to controversy either, experiencing deep and sometimes emotional discrimination from employers, university officials and even fellow artist.

One incident in particular occurred at Indiana University when Bertozzi and Kennedy protested against the treatment of a fellow professor. Kennedy sent a “Nappy-gram” to the office of affirmative action. The symbolic message was a post card reading “Affirmative Action Is A Joke” on the headline. Indiana University administrators struck back by filing a complaint of racially harassing communication against Bertozzi. The documentary contains footage of the IU police interrogation.

Some may consider his work controversial; others believe his brilliance stems from his willingness to cross specific artistic borders. UW-Whitewater Arts and communication senior William Thomas believes his work creates an artistic demand from fellow artists. “From a design point of view his work is nothing less than spectacular,” he said. “The most interesting are the pieces where the text is minimal and the symbols are allowed to dominate the composition.”

Not all of Kennedy’s work is controversial. One of his most notable posters is the text of Sojurner Truth’s “Aint I A Woman” speech. The poster includes Truth’s name in the headline and the entire speech in the body of the poster. A personal favorite of Bertozzi’s, she believes the piece speaks for itself. “Sojurner Truth was a hero to all women,” she said.

Creating the definitive work is a destination that some artists never reach. Maybe there is no blazing trail or footprints in the sand but the journey is more valuable than the destination itself. For Amos Paul Kennedy Jr., Challenging perceptions and pushing the proverbial “envelope” is his life’s work.

“Proceed and Be Bold” will be shown at the Crossman Gallery located inside the center of the arts in February 2009. Both Bertozzi and Kennedy will be in attendance.

For more information contact Elena Bertozzi at 262-472-1725 or bertozze@uww.edu. Kennedy’s work can also be seen on his website www.kennedyprints.com.