Ben Jones, an artistic activist. Born in Patterson, New Jersey 1941. His talent was discovered in his early ages by his art teacher Roslyn Feinstein. She immediately brought Jones to New York to view the art exhibits. Feinstein went as far as to purchase materials for him to further his talent. This investment crafted his talent that helped further his career.
This opportunity for Jones to discover his creativity in his early ages lead him to establish an artistic style. In his early adulthood Jones was the target of biased police aggression, as well as racist aggression. Ben jones started his journey as an activist and became heavily involved in, “ The Black Freedom Society.” Jones attended informational, talks on black consciousness and history. His artistic approach is influenced from his experiences of identity and race. Jones’s gallery connects the roots of many African-Americans through the vision of art.
Many of the images conveyed an artistic message one image that stood out to me is the African panorama created in 1976. It is a mixed media from the collection of the artist this artistic creation uses many vibrant colors. It starts with a top layer with what seems to be eight levels. The first level is of different female bodies. They carry pots in the traditional manner on their heads.
The first print pattern has triangles that contain squares and circles. Each one are colorful with vibrant colors, the next level is conceived of colorful stars and dots in this specific pattern the colors are being repeated in a sort of pattern. The next level contains stars and circles with similar colors from the first round of painted women. The next room have two men who look as if they are discussing, one male has an eye behind his head. The other seems to have some spiritual thought on his mind with what seems to be a symbol of something with spirituality behind his head. Both men have their hand placed on their mouth as they are posing a thought.
The following line appears vibrant with colors. They are structured and used to connect the following women in sequence. The final line are different flags, showing how we are connected in one way or another. This piece shows how, although we are from different locations. Different cultures may have similar techniques. The spiritual faith within cultures as others may utilize a more critical understanding. Either way we all come in different shapes, sizes but we may be connected in more ways than we think.
A second image that stuck out to me is connected. Connected is a very strong piece with many interpretations connected was created in 2022 on acrylic with digital print. It is a part of the artist collections. This creation is exposing the reality people are connected whether they realize it or not positive and negatively first thing to notice of the image is the motherboard in the sensor of the eye.
The image can be perceived in many ways. The art incorporates technology and reality. On one side there is the iPhone. Some may view this as the latest technology. Another part shows a lightbulb in the center of the eye. It could stand for innovation possibly a symbol for ideas.
Surrounding the eye are multiple lineage connections they connect from one image to another. In some connecting lines there is an atomic bomb and it connects to other images. At one end of the drawn connections are fish, while others have connect from the seeds of nature. This RP contains images of war and life. The negative effects, that society may have a hold on us.
It is an explanation of exploitations of the world through war and technology advancements. Our knowledge and vision can be the same very thing that destroys us. We consume so much in the world, we have not learned to protect nature from environmental degradation.
Each artistic piece conveys a different message. As you walk through the gallery viewing each image in order you get a sense of a storyline. It begins with a sort of where it started, rather than letting the viewer interpret who they are. The creator artistically expresses different geographical locations, while showing how we are all intertwined.
Rather than leaving it to the viewer for interpretation, he then follows through with portraits of musicians who contributed to an error of “inspirational music,” Ben Jones- The Universe of Ben Jones exhibition. Harold B. Lemmerman Gallery (Hepburn Hall) March 2024.
Ben Jones goes on to state, how the “60s was about identity.” They had James Baldwin, they used abstract impressions, many found identity through Art descriptions.
Jones uses his versatility to expose the power and racial injustice, many have dealt with at the hands of others. Ben takes us on a journey from where we came from. What we have become as well as where we have gone. Each artistic creation shows a time frame of different moments. These seem to be pivotal moments that did not define him, but solely shaped his views. His life experiences as a black man in America are his own personal experiences published artistically to create and demand change
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