The Lyons Share Gallery, 330 De La Mare Ave. in Fairhope, features the prints of Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. during First Friday ArtWalk, May 4.

Kennedy is a letterpress printer and book artist. His exhibits include posters on topics ranging from the Okra Festival to the memory of Rosa Parks. Kennedy says he is a black man interested in documenting and celebrating difference. He employs historic printing methods through, which he expresses his sociopolitical views about topics such as his African heritage and community activism.

When asked about Kennedy, local photographer Stephen Savage commented, “He demonstrates to us all, that art need not be intimidating or exclusive. Amos Kennedy opens doors that seemed closed to regular folks who don’t attend art gallery openings. He invites everyone, rich or poor as a creator, or in appreciation, to be a part of the joy of creativity.”

Kennedy began learning the printing trade at Grambling State University in Louisiana, and received his master of fine arts from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

A trip to a Williamsburg, Va. print shop in 1980 clinched his desire to become a professional printer. Only his friends know that in a past life he was a computer programmer and professor at Indiana University. He currently occupies a Rural Studio-constructed building in Akron, Ala.

For more information about this special gallery event, call (251) 928-2507.