2601:85:c580:b6c0:7860:fe11:bdf7:ada3 (talk) Tag: Visual edit |
Tag: Visual edit |
||
Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
== Early Life and Education == |
== Early Life and Education == |
||
Ben F. Jones was born in 1941 in [[Paterson, New Jersey|Paterson]], New Jersey to a large tight-knit family.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=July 10, 2021 |title=The Brooklyn Museum Open Collection - Objects |url=https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/210710 |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=The Brooklyn Museum}}</ref> He attended [[William Paterson University]] (then, William Paterson College) and earned his bachelor of fine arts degree<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=June 21, 2023 |title=William Paterson University Receives Mellon Foundation Grant for Collaborative Project in Celebration of NJ Artist Ben Jones |url=https://www.wpunj.edu/articles/news/2023-06-21/william-paterson-university-receives-mellon-foundation-grant-for-collaborative-project-in-celebration-of-nj-artist-ben-jones |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=William Paterson University}}</ref>. He later attended [[New York University]] where he earned his master of arts degree. He then continued his education at [[Pratt Institute]] where he earned a master of fine arts degree.<ref name=":2" /> As a young man during the [[Civil rights movement|Civil Rights Movement]] he became deeply involved with the cause for equal rights and social justice for African Americans.<ref name=":0" /> |
|||
== Art and Activism == |
== Art and Activism == |
Revision as of 00:22, 18 January 2024
Ben F. Jones
Ben F. Jones is an African-American artist primarily identified with the Black Arts Movement of the 1970s. His work transcends cultural and racial boundaries, particularly due to his extensive visits to Cuba as well as London, Germany, South Africa, Spain, Brazil, Italy and numerous other global locations. His frequent travels have given him a broad perspective as a global citizen invested in social justice. He is interested in elevating consciousness of the inter-relatedness of all things; technology, nature and spirituality. His work weaves these themes together with his experience as an advocate for social justice, freedom and equality for African Americans - recurring themes in his art work and the basis for his community activism as a self-identified socially engaged artist.
Early Life and Education
Ben F. Jones was born in 1941 in Paterson, New Jersey to a large tight-knit family.[1] He attended William Paterson University (then, William Paterson College) and earned his bachelor of fine arts degree[2]. He later attended New York University where he earned his master of arts degree. He then continued his education at Pratt Institute where he earned a master of fine arts degree.[2] As a young man during the Civil Rights Movement he became deeply involved with the cause for equal rights and social justice for African Americans.[3]
Art and Activism
Jones sees his work as an advocate for social justice holistically. “Everything connects,” he noted in an interview on the occasion of his two person exhibition with William Rhodes, Making Visible the Connections, at The Desai Matta Gallery at the California Institute of Integral Studies, “Racism, social justice, environmentalism, spirituality. … If we don’t see the connections, then we keep things in their little boxes and categories and things like that, so we have to see the connection between social justice and protecting the environment and working for equality.” These comments also align with his identification as a socialist politically.[4] His identity as a socialist is likely related to his numerous trips to Cuba, where he has exhibited extensively and worked with generations of artists and political activists on more than 100 cultural exchange visits to the island nation since the 1970s.[2]
Movies and Books
The Art of the Journey - The Ben F. Jones Story[3] (2018 movie)
Collections
Ben F.
- ^ a b "The Brooklyn Museum Open Collection - Objects". The Brooklyn Museum. July 10, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ a b c "William Paterson University Receives Mellon Foundation Grant for Collaborative Project in Celebration of NJ Artist Ben Jones". William Paterson University. June 21, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ a b "The Art of the Journey - the Ben F. Jones Story". Internet Movie Database. January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ Menzies, David (October 15, 2021). "In 'Making Visible the Connections,' artist Ben Jones hopes we can break from same old problems". NJ.com - The Jersey Journal. Retrieved January 11, 2024.