Hello Neighbor: Artist Al Jones
Davidson County resident Al Jones has a personality and a story that is as complex and detailed as one of her works of art. Growing up on the southside of Winston-Salem, her current life and style are a complete juxtaposition from her upbringing.
Originally hailing from Bluefield, West Virginia, she describes her childhood memories as if they were a scene from a 1970’s “After School Special” and claims that Bluefield has been one of the largest influences on her art. Her love of art began at the age of eight, discovering her talent by recreating the Sunday comic strips. Jones shared a memory of her father taking her cartoon inspired art to the Art Director of Salem College where he was employed as a groundskeeper. The advice received from the experience provided direction for the young artist by pushing Jones to draw more realistic images.
More growth and inspiration were gained in middle school through one of her early mentors, Alice Von T Napp, who challenged the artist in ways that gave her new freedom and confidence in life, through her art. “In high school I was placed in advanced art and I was allowed to basically do my own thing. I began studying the human figure and for years I drew classic nudes then later created my first collection which I named Enigma, it was a personal collage project.”
“As a teen, art became my escape and a way for me to parle my feelings and block out the immediate world. I would draw and go into my own world which I created, there I felt safe and in control,” said the artist.
In her twenties Jones did something very unexpected, she quit drawing and did not pick up a pencil or touch a pad for numerous years. These years without art were filled with personal emotional growth and occupied by her other passions, classic cars and animals. The desire to create quickly returned to Jones with animals and classic cars both serving as her muse and being the subjects that prompted her rebirth. Her passions influenced her work which now included drawing custom pet portraits and classic cars with architecture, eventually morphed into her current style and brand “Crookedsteer.”
{Image: Al Jones} Local artist Al Jones has a premier gallery show opening on Saturday, July 20th at 2 p.m. at 202 N. Main Street in Lexington.
The greatly detailed graphite drawings that Jones produces are filled with intricate details that pull you into the work. Each and every piece has a small logo hidden in it, which is to me a challenge and a delight to find. Her art is in many ways transformative reminding me of vintage photos and postcards from decades ago, yet they are all created by her hands.
Jones’ premier art show entitled “Redneck Renaissance” is a unique retrospective and interactive display of over 90 pieces of art that is excellently conceived, curated and styled by the artist, Amanda Feliciano, Executive Director of Arts Davidson County and myself, Clarence-Vernon Hargrave. “Redneck Renaissance,” as a title is the artist’s nod to another interesting part of the melting pot, which is America. The show is a detailed delight for the senses that will pull you in, make you laugh and a few of you may even clutch your pearls, as you explore the exhibit which expandes the entire gallery, in a way that has been previously unseen in this region.
“We are all different, yet we are all exactly the same when we get past the perceptions.” stated Jones. Her show which opens on Saturday, July 20th at 2 p.m. at 202 North Main Street in Lexington is a chunk of pure Americana and a walk-through experience. The show will run through August 10th. You may meet Al Jones in person at the opening reception for the show on Saturday. All of the displayed art at the show is for sale as well as other nostalgic props and custom pieces.
{Image: Al Jones} The title piece for the gallery show hints to the detail that Al Jones achieves with just a graphite pencil.
