Draft: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 on May 26, 1941 in Paterson, New Jersey to parents Elise North Jones and Ormsby Francis Jones. He grew up in a large tight-knit family and they encouraged his artistic endeavors while instilling in him a sense of respect for others. His care for humanity and social justice issues were part of his formative years, and as he matured, he incorporated these concerns into his art practice and his social justice and political endeavors. Though his family supported him in the arts, it wasn't always his plan to become an artist. It was his high school art teacher, Rosalind Feinstein, that Jones credits with his decision to pursue the arts. Prior to that, he had wanted to study foreign languages and work in the United Nations as a translator. He attended William Paterson University (then, William Paterson College) and earned his bachelor of fine arts degree. 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. As a young man during the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War Era, he became deeply involved with the cause for equal rights, the anti-war movement and social justice for African Americans.

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. 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.

Ben F. Jones is a strong advocate for other artists as well. This work led him to found the African American Cultural Committee at the Montclair Art Museum in the 1980s along with Janet Taylor Pickett and Valerie Wilson Wesley. The committee is still in existence today and following in Ben, Janet and Valerie's vision, continues to work to exhibit and maintain the legacy of artists of the African Diaspora. In addition to serving established artists, Ben F. Jones is also committed to supporting young artists. The Montclair Art Museum established a scholarship in Ben's name to provide tuition to young artists needing financial support for art classes at the museum's Yard School of Art. The scholarship provides tuition for young artists still in middle or high school wishing to take art classes. A scholarship in Jones' name was established at New Jersey City University where he began teaching in 1967 to provide financial support to those majoring in art.

Arriving at New Jersey City University (then, Jersey City State College) Jones' activism led him to become involved with the Black Freedom Society. He encountered others who were motivated to seek social justice and equal rights and this led to his further involvement and identification as a socialist, revolutionary and internationalist working for global justice.

Movies and Books
The Art of the Journey - The Ben F. Jones Story (2018 movie)

Collections

 * The Brooklyn Museum
 * The Studio Museum, Harlem, New York
 * Montclair Art Museum
 * The Newark Museum
 * Hammonds House Museum
 * Paterson Museum