With the help of a trusty librarian, I found Hazelbaker Hall where posters and prints were displayed on walls and the most amazing handmade books lay on tables. I noted that visitors were leafing through the books and commented to a woman near me, "It's cool that we can pick these up." She said, "Oh yes. I'm like a kid in a candy store right now."
APK Jr is a "citizen printer" who uses printmaking as a "tool for abolition." His work addresses themes of race and justice. I never expected to see the artist himself, but there he was, wearing overalls and talking about printing with some IU people. I heard him comment about the fun of letting mistakes become part of final products. He likes being a printer because he wants to make art that can be distributed.
I wanted to talk to him too, but could not think of any comments or questions until after I left. If I could go back in time, I would ask him where he lives, and do people work with him in his print shop, and does he still teach classes, and can he compare and contrast the feelings he has making multiple copies of printed posters versus making his beautifully complex one of a kind books, and would he like me to be his apprentice some time in the future? Stuff like that.
I may be inspired enough by this exhibit to start work on a zine soon. If you're reading this, thank you Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. for sharing your work with us in B-town. And kudos to you Wells Library for making this happen.
