Kerry Winston Jones

Biography

Kerry W. Jones is a native of Salt Lake City, Utah.  He became interested in photography when he was four years old, by watching his father develop black and white prints in a makeshift darkroom in the basement of their home.  The interest was enhanced when he was given a Kodak Brownie Starflah camera for Christmas in the early 1960’s.

Fine Art and Oil painting were areas he was interested during his high school years.  After high school and two years at the University of Utah, Jones entered the U.S. Air Force.  It was only by chance that he was assigned to an aerial reconnaissance unit where he learned electronics and photography.  He worked as a technician on the electronic and film camera on RF-4C aircraft and served a tour of duty in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam conflict.  It was during that time that he bought his first 35mm. single lens reflex camera.  It became a constant companion.

After his military service he returned to the University of Utah.  He earned a BA. In History and minored in Journalism.  There were no classes in fine art photography and photojournalism offered the widest variety of photographic instruction.  His dream was to ride the Pony Express Trail document the experience with pictures and write stories. 

Jones is employed full time with the U.S. Department of Agriculture at the Aerial Photography Field Office.  He also spent the last twenty three years teaching classes in basic and advanced black and white photography in the Communication Department of the University of Utah part time.  He also runs his own photographic studio.  From 1982 until 1997 he worked as volunteer lab assistant and taught classes at the Salt Lake Art Center where he developed his skill and interest in fine art photography.  He built the photography lab at the Peterson Art Center in 1995 and served as the first director of photography until 1998.  During that time he also taught classes at the Kimball Art Center in Park City.

Although the majority of his work has been in the creative expression of Fine Art, and specifically the expressive nature of black and white prints, he also enjoys the art of documentary photography. 

Kerry W. Jones was a member of The Left Bank Gallery in Salt Lake City from May of 1997 until it dissolved in 2004.  He had one person exhibits of his work in November of 2000 and June of 2003 and was a partner in four other group exhibits.  In the spring of 2001 he was asked to juror the photography exhibit at the Eccles Community Art Center collection in Ogden, Utah.  He has also had exhibits at the Art Access Gallery in Salt Lake City.

Pieces of his work are in the Utah State Fine Art permanent collection at the University of Utah Fine Art Museum, the Eccles Community Art Center collection in Ogden, Utah, the Salt Lake County art collection and the City of St. George, Utah.  In 1996 he was selected to be on the Utah Statehood Centennial Committee for Salt Lake County and given the assignment to document the activities connected with the Utah Statehood Centennial in Salt Lake County.  This portfolio is on permanent display at the Salt Lake County Offices in Salt Lake City.

“After more than thirty years I have not lost my interest in photography and the nature of light.” 

Personal Statement

I have chosen photography as a means of personal creative expression for over thirty years.  I do not claim to be a great artist or philosopher.  Photography is simply the medium through which I try to communicate the things I see and feel.  If for one brief moment I can share what I see and feel or cause the viewer to see and feel something different, even if that something is from the interior of the viewer, then I have done all I need or want to do   I enjoy the Zen like state that I find in every step of the process.   The center of my work is the abstract and graphic expression of the traditional black and white image, presently referred to as a silver print.  Digital images have their place.  They just don’t seem to carry the same creative magic or expression. 

I agree with the statement of photographer Edward Weston, “The human mind is the actual medium of expression not the tools used.  The hand that moves the brush, chisel or camera does not act without guidance.”  It is my opinion that art is the act of personal creative expression no matter how it is produced, performed or written.  In photography the performance is usually done in the seclusion of the darkroom.  The photographic print is the result of that performance.  It is then possible to discuss the composition, tones, rhythm or textures the way we would a piece of music, dance  or the written word.

There will always be a central area of expression for the individual artist.  I believe it is important for any artist to explore other areas of creativity.  This brings growth and visual awareness and adds depth and richness to any creative expression.

I have taught classes in beginning and advanced photography as an associate instructor in the Communication Department of the University of Utah. For over twenty three years.  I was also an instructor in the photography department at the Salt Lake Art Center for over fifteen years.  I was the director of photography at the Peterson Art Center for three years and I also taught classes at the Kimball Art Center in Park City. 

Through all of these experiences I have time and again witnessed the excitement and joy a student finds in the discovery of personal creative expression in photography.  It is an experience I hope I never grow tired of.

After more than thirty years of involvement in photography and the nature of “light” it still hold a magical fascination.