UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 22, Page 3
March 4, 1993
Eclectic selection; African-American art on view at University Gallery 

     Paul Jones, an Atlanta business executive and entrepreneur, has led a
double life-as a former government official involved in the civil rights
movement and as one of the foremost collectors of African-American art.
     An eclectic selection of art from his collection is featured in the
exhibition, on view at the University Gallery through April 4, entitled
African- American Art:The Paul R. Jones Collection. Graduate student
Richard Standifer is guest curator for the show, which includes works
ranging from life studies, portraits and depictions of African-American
life to striking abstracts and old and new photographs.
     Jones' life and career have taken him all over the country and to far
parts of the world.
     In a recent interview with UpDate, he recalled that he grew up in both
the North and South. His parents were in Alabama but sent him to live with
family members in the Bronx for schooling.
     "When I first arrived in New York, everyone wanted to hear my southern
accent and when I went home summers, they wanted to hear my northern
accent," he said. Jones attributes this double exposure to his
understanding of both areas, which helped him throughout his career and
made him an effective mediator in the civil rights movement.
     His art collection has its seeds in New York as well. He was exposed
to the city's major museums, and they made a lasting impression on him.
"Everyone was so quiet and intent. People would stand in front of an
exhibit for 10 or 15 minutes. Even though I was a child, I decided there
must be something to this," he said.
     A graduate of Howard University with bachelor and master's degrees,
Jones continued his studies in the area of race relations, urban affairs
and the criminal justice system in special programs and graduate school.
     During his government service, he was a community relations specialist
in the Department of Justice and the Department of Commerce, executive
director of the Model Cities Program in North Carolina and became a White
House staff assistant for minority affairs. His next move was to Thailand
as deputy Peace Corps director in the early 1970s. Subsequently he became
involved in ACTION, a volunteer program.
     Looking back on his government career, Jones said, "I never tried to
box anyone into a corner; I never tried to make anyone lose face, but
things got accomplished."
     Since 1978, he has headed his own company, Paul Jones Enterprises in
Atlanta, a residential and commercial real estate development firm.
     It was in Atlanta that his avocation, collecting African-American art,
began. He had collected reproductions of art but wanted to collect
originals. His opportunity came when he attended Atlanta College's annual
juried art exhibition of African-American art. It was a fortuitous
visit- he realized that African-American art would become the focus of his
collection, which now totals over 500 pieces. The curator now invites him
to a preview of the show to see all the entries so that he can add to his
collection.
     "At art shows of this kind, there are a lot of viewers but not many
buyers. As I began buying art, I also got to know the artists, and many are
my friends. At a Spelman College reception, I met Charles White. He was the
artist who painted the powerful portrait, 'John Henry' in the collection.
We got talking, he came to my home and we stayed up until dawn. He told me
to look him up in California and, when I was out there, he introduced me to
a gallery owner, who has been a good source for my collection."
     At first, Jones was interested mainly in the human form and realistic
art, but as his appreciation of form and line has grown, he has included
many modern and abstract works. He has acquired works by undiscovered
artists who then went on to make a name for themselves. His photography
collection ranges from old family pictures still in their original
mountings to a striking photograph, highlighting a young girl dressed up
for her graduation against a desolate cityscape. He also has a collection
of art from Africa.
     The Delaware connection was made when William I. Homer, H. Rodney
Sharp Professor and chairperson of the art history department, made a
presentation at Emory University. Amalia Amaki, who is Jones' curator and a
graduate student at Emory, introduced Homer to Jones, who invited Homer to
see his collection.
     After seeing Jones' works of art, Homer said he felt that an exhibit
from Jones' collection would complement a symposium, "Image and Identity:
The African-American Experience in 20th-Century Art," being held at the
University on April 2. The event will be sponsored by the art history
department under the direction of Wayne Craven, H. F. du Pont Professor of
Art History.
     Belena Chapp, director of the University Gallery, and Craven were
enthusiastic about the idea, and Jones agreed to the project.
     Jones, whose works of art have been exhibited at several schools and
museums in the South, said he was pleased to have this opportunity to share
his art with a new group of viewers and was particularly impressed by the
setting the University Gallery provided for his art.
     Aside from collecting and sharing works of art, Jones has another
mission-to encourage others to begin their own collections. "People who see
my collection begin to think, 'If he can do it, so can I.' It's difficult
for artists to get started and they need support and encouragement from
those who appreciate their work," Jones said.
                                        -Sue Swyers Moncure