Stephen F. Austin State University's hospitality administration program is showcasing the artwork of SFA Professor Emeritus of Art and former Regents Professor Charles D. Jones this semester in the Culinary Café. The exhibit highlights portraits by Jones of African-American blues musicians who are featured in the book, "My Black Angel," which was released by the SFA Press in fall 2014.
An opening reception will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, in the Culinary Café located in the James I. Perkins College of Education Annex, 1620 Raguet St. The reception is free, open to the public and celebrates Black History Month. Light refreshments will be served.
The exhibit highlights portraits by Jones of African-American blues musicians who are featured in the book, “My Black Angel,” which was released by the SFA Press in fall 2014. The book also includes poetry by Kim Addonizio and will be available for purchase and Jones to sign during the reception.
Jones, who now serves as director and master printer for the LaNana Creek Press in SFA’s College of Fine Arts, taught printmaking, drawing, Mexican art history and the “Art of The Book” in SFA’s School of Art from 1971 to 2011. During his tenure, he was named a Regents Professor, received the Distinguished Professor Award from the SFA Alumni Association and was honored with a Teaching Excellence Award.
Jones has been an exhibiting artist throughout his career with his work featured in more than 30 one-person exhibitions. His solo exhibitions have been showcased at the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico; The Museum of Printing History in Houston; Tyler Museum of Art; the Museum of East Texas in Lufkin; Longview Museum of Fine Arts; and the Galveston Art Center.
His exhibition “The Vietnam Suite” toured the Midwest under the auspices of Mid-America Arts Alliance and Europe during 1987-88 with exhibitions in England, the Netherlands and France. His recent international exhibition record includes England, Holland, Italy, Mexico, and several cities in Russia and France.
Jones was co-curator for “Octopus Dreams: Contemporary Native American Works on Paper,” an exhibition sponsored by the American Consulate in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
A retrospective exhibit “East Texas Impressions: The Art of Charles D. Jones” is currently on display at the Cole Art Center in downtown Nacogdoches. The exhibit features drawings, prints and paintings by Jones.
The opening reception and book signing are sponsored by the Texas Forest Region and SFA’s hospitality administration program.
For more information about the event or hospitality administration program, contact Dr. Chay Runnels, program coordinator, at runnelsc@sfasu.edu.
