Galerie Siguaraya is pleased to announce the opening reception on July 10, 2009 at 7:00 pm for an exhibition featuring multimedia installations by the critically acclaimed artist, Ben Jones entitled, “Chango-Change.” This exhibition runs through August 15 and by appointment until August 29, 2009.  Jones is internationally celebrated as a painter, sculptor, printmaker, installation artist and lecturer.

 

“Chango-Change,” refers to Chango, the Yoruba deity, god of thunder and lightening, who rules the colors red and white and is symbolized by his double headed axe, which represents swift and balanced justice. The ritual paying homage to Chango, is an important element of this exhibition where shape and form emerge through vibrantly painted abstract patterns and design compositions. In the artist’s own words, “Chango, serves as a metaphor of power and strength and symbolizes people rejuvenating and rebuilding themselves.” Jones also creates a wallpaper series for this exhibition, incorporating a poem entitled, “Freedom” by Frederick Douglass, best known for his autobiography, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave”, published in 1845. Juxtaposed against Yoruba symbols, stenciled words and arrows to represent the forces of change in the world, Douglass’ poem recites, “Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground.”

 

Ben Jones (born 1941, New Jersey), received an MFA from Pratt University (Brooklyn, NY), MA from New York University (New York, NY) and BFA from Paterson University (Wayne, NJ). Jones has made over fifty cultural exchange visits to Cuba since the nineteen-seventies, and is noted by the Granma International of Havana, Cuba as one of the most important African-American artists of his generation. For over four decades, Jones’ multimedia installations have reflected his travel and research in Africa, Europe, South America, United States and the Caribbean. The brilliant rhythmic colors, abstract motifs, dense symmetrically designed compositions and symbols found in Jones work combines a classical portrayal of African art culture represented by the African Diaspora and the African-American experience. A New York Times critic recently noted of Jones’ installation at the Jersey City Museum in February 2009, “Many memorable, thought provoking images that deserve to be....known and appreciated.” Through abstract patterns, color and rhythm, Jones speaks to his political and cultural involvement with socioeconomic progress and cultural achievement on a global scale. Jones states, “ .......I want my work to be for everyone. Once we realize that we are not only one world, but apart of an expanding universe, we begin to express the joy of creation and a love for all people.”