I had been waiting to contact the book arts program at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa when I got a message from Jessica Peterson, inviting me to visit her studio in Gordo, Alabama, and the studios of her colleagues and landlord, Amos Kennedy and Glenn House. Unfortunately, Jessica was out of town doing a residency at the Genesee Arts Center (hooray!) so she passed on our invitation to Glenn House, aka, the godfather of the book arts in Alabama.
We went to visit his studio, which he shares with his photographer wife, Kathy Fetters.
Let me just tell y’all now–Glenn House is amazing and hilarious, and his telling of the beginnings of the Book Arts program was quite a story, involving his history and many characters. Listening to him go over these details was definitely a treat!
Glenn House headquarters!
Glenn House, Little Buddy (the dog), and Killer B (the cat)
Glenn, storytelling
We sat enrapt for over an hour listening to the details of how Glenn House started working in the University of Alabama publications department, but over time, started teaching printing and letterpress in the library. This is what became the University of Alabama Book Arts MFA, which, for better or for worse, we had to get traveling towards. So Glenn got our tour going, taking us around his studio and his renters’ studios.
Kathy and Matt in the office space
Glenn and Kathy's collection of artwork, including clay heads by Glenn
Kathy's many photography ribbons
Glenn and Kathy's collection of prints
Glenn also showed us his personal presses, though some were under maintenance, so I don’t have photos. But he has a papermaking setup, including a beater made just for him by Howard Clark! He also gave me some papermaking felts (!!!) which are now very hard to find in this country. Hooray!
Glenn showing us his papermaking set up (glee!)
Glenn's custom made beater
Then he took us to see his former partner Barbara Lee Black’s studio, which I don’t have photos of but she does REALLY cool photography. We went next door afterwards, which is where Amos Kennedy and Jessica Peterson’s studios reside.
Amos Kennedy's shop -- and headline
FYI, Amos has something crazy like eight presses and his prints have been following us on this entire trip–which is why Matt then made this face:
yay!
Amos Kennedy's prints
He also showed us Jessica’s space as well as some of the other presses he’s been saving.
Jessica Peterson's studio
Glenn House, press whisperer!
on Jessica’s window space:
yep.
and with that, unfortunately, we had to move on. until next time, Glenn! thank y’all so much for having us by!
Onwards to the University of Alabama!
Tags: roadtrip
Great visit, Folks. Come back when all the gang is here.