'Original acts', highlighting Jones collection opens Feb. 5

"DONALDSON T.L. BYRD," BY THE LATE UD PHOTOGRAPHER ROBERT COHEN, A RECENT ADDITION TO THE COLLECTION

"Original Acts: Photographs of African-American Performers in the Paul R. Jones Collection," which opens Feb. 5 at the University Gallery, will include an additional showing of three photographs donated to the exhibition.

A portrait donated by UD's Office of Public Relations in memory of longtime University photographer Robert Cohen, depicts innovative jazz educator and famed trumpeter Donaldson T.L. Byrd. Mr. Cohen, who died in 2000, took the photograph in spring 1999, when Byrd was at the University teaching a course in music history.

Another gift to the exhibition is a photograph by Atlanta photographer Jenni Girtman of Joe Jennings. Jennings is a jazz musician and a professor of music at Spelman College, which is collaborating with UD in creating educational opportunities for students and faculty in conjunction with the Paul Jones Collection.

A third special photo on display with "Original Acts" is a shot taken several years ago of the World Trade Center twin towers by professional photographer Edward Jones. A New York native and nephew of Paul Jones, Edward Jones wanted both to contribute to his uncle's collection and to remember the victims of the Sept. 11 attack on the towers, according to Amalia Amaki, curator of the exhibition.

"He has never exhibited this photograph before, and we think having it on display now is a very appropriate gesture," Amaki said.