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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchives'Proceed and Behold!' at St. John Film Society

'Proceed and Behold!' at St. John Film Society

Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. (Art courtesy of film website).Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. is a black printer who makes art with his printing press. He also makes statements with his works that reflect his view of the black experience.

Kennedy is also the subject of Laura Zinger’s “Proceed and Be Bold!” The 94-minute documentary will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the St. John School of the Arts as part of the St. John Film Society’s monthly film series.

Kennedy is an internationally recognized artist known for his socially and politically charged works of art. At age 40 and unsatisfied with his comfortable, middle-class life, Amos traded in his computer for a printing press and his white collar for a pair of overalls.

Zinger’s film examines the pretensions and provisions of the art world. The work of this self-proclaimed “Humble Negro Printer” raises emotionally-charged questions and reveals remarkable depth beneath the bold print.

Zinger met Kennedy when she was a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champagne. After she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature, the two kept in touch. When Zinger decided to make a documentary, she thought of Kennedy.

“I chose him because I knew he was incredibly nice and would be nice to me if I failed miserably,” Zinger said.

“Proceed and Be Bold!” tells Kennedy’s story and includes clips from his controversial years as a professor at Indiana University. At Indiana, he sent the affirmative action program staff “nappy grams” to point out that the program didn’t work.

“Proceed and Be Bold!” was made in 2008 by Zinger’s 20K Films and has been shown at 58 universities and art organizations throughout the U.S. mainland. It has had 10 international showings and was presented at nine film festivals and three design conferences.

Zinger will be at the St. John screening to answer questions afterward.

If you can’t make the St. John Film Society’s showing, the film can also be streamed over the Internet for $1.99. Visit https://www.thewatchbox.com/movies/145-proceed-and-be-bold.

For more on the film, visit www.proceedandbebold.com. Visit www.stjohnfilmsociety.com to learn more about the organization.

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