Charles Jones graduated from SHSU sixty years ago, but he still has a presence here. That presence is in his art work on display in the Hoyt Art Building on SHSU’s campus; in the reputation he has formed as an artist and printmaker; and, most recently, in his generous donation of several art works to the Thomason Room at SHSU.
Jones graduated from SHSU in 1963, went on to earn two Master’s Degrees, and embarked on a polymathic career that has involved art, printmaking, music, and academia. After serving as a Professor of Art for many years at Stephen F. Austin State University, he retired to run La Nana Creek Press and was, in turn, named Professor Emeritus at SFA.
Jones is a master of the woodcut, which he often pairs with the written word in various books or other publications. He thinks of these, he says, as a “duet, with image and text achieving a balance.”
LEAP Ambassadors had a chance to see that balance, poetry, and art at the Thomason Room in the middle of finals week. With a mix of faculty, staff, locals, and the LEAP Ambassadors on hand, Joe Kirkland introduced Jones…
…who discussed his interesting works, which were on display around the Thomason Room. Intriguingly, the books took up every table in the room!
Jones discussed his varied career, the printing work he’s done on different topics (including insects, with his co-author, David Kulhavy, whose son, Aron, is the Huntsville City Manager), and his work with Ezra Pound’s widow (Dorothy) and son (Omar). In short, there was something discussed for everyone, and it was a very enjoyable afternoon.
But it wasn’t over! Barbara Kievit-Mason, the University’s Archivist, generously provided us a tour of the archives, where we saw old yearbooks (some, more than 100 years old), newspaper articles, and, most impressively, artifacts uncovered from the Old Main ruins, which followed the 1982 fire that destroyed the structure.
We saw old Sammys…
…pins…
…found some old friends in the yearbooks, and had an all-around enjoyable and educational day!
Many thanks to Charles Jones for his donations to Sam Houston State University, to Ms. Mason for our personalized tour of the archives, and to the Library staff who hosted such an enjoyable event!
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