Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Matt Jones. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Matt, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
Beginning in my formative years, my parents instilled in me, a strong sense of self-discipline, tenacity and resourcefulness. Being one of the only artists even in my extended family, I am not sure they always knew exactly what I was setting myself up for or how best to guide me. Being from strong lineage of business minded, logical thinkers, I am not sure they knew what to make of my pursuits. However, they have always encouraged resiliency and resourcefulness. As an artist, a linear pathway through life doesn’t necessarily exist; one must adapt and react to fluctuating circumstances without pause. I think I owe that sense of grit, to them.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
My name is Matt Jones and I am a ceramic artist working across the spectrum of functional and sculptural clay works. Like most artists, I gradually found my passion for art as I came up through my schooling. Taking a random ceramics class in high school (amongst other art classes) solidified my desire to explore it a bit further when I attended college at Colorado State University. From my time there, I received degrees in fine art, art education, and arts administration. After spending a few years in public education, I made the leap to pursue a personal arts career by joining a gallery, pursuing workshops/residencies and most recently, I am working to receive a Masters Degree at Louisiana State College of Art and Design.
My work has always leaned heavily towards themes of landscape/environment, time, and human interaction. I work fairly fluidly between objects of use and sculpture. Often elements of surface including glaze and texture will present themselves in both regards. A sense of refinement and human touch has always been an important exploration in my process.
While I am engaged in my masters program, I am working to develop a series of work that touch on my own experiences of growing up in the American west. An exploration and analysis of the dramatic environmental changes that have occurred over my lifetime there as a result of the large influx of humanity onto these previously untouched landscapes. I am most interested in what these new relationships look like between these new communities of people and the land they now inhabit and develop. My work navigates the often romanticized and idealized notions people have of living in these regions and how it is often at odds with the fragility of such places. I think that art offers new avenues of communication and reflection for things words cannot say, or sometimes, the words that have been repeated to a point of disregard.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Upon completing my undergraduate degrees, I immediately fell into the public education system, In fact, I remember receiving the phone call that I was hired to teach art for grades 7-12 only moments before walking across that graduation stage. There was no pause time as I think most new graduates experience to perhaps reflect on their next steps. This is not to say that I did not want to be a teacher as I most certainly did- I just didn’t expect it to be such a sudden reality!
I spent my first three years teaching middle and high school art in Lakewood, Colorado. Those were some of the most memorable times of my life and it was incredibly rewarding albeit, exhausting. Thereafter I received a job offer to teach only ceramics classes at another high school to which I accepted- my heart has always been in clay. I stayed only a year at that school after feeling that I had far more I needed to experience in life. It felt difficult and somewhat foolish to teach young people about art without having built an arts career of my own. Only being in my mid twenties, I decided to leave and do just that- build my own artistic life.
I began showing at a local gallery, later I was accepted as an artist in residence at a studio in Northern California. Not too long after though, my world (like everyone’s) was halted by Covid-19. It was during that period of pause that I plotted my next move- graduate school. I found a local ceramics guild that provided me studio space and facilities to craft a portfolio I could use to apply to universities and I did just that. Ultimately, I think life as an artist will be a constant act of pivoting to the pursuits that develop as one’s art does. Everything is progressive.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
In my view, the best thing society can do to effectively support the creative ecosystem and the creative individuals driving it, is simply understand the value of what they are contributing to the culture we ALL inhabit. That ultimately requires a strong reflection of our own values, where our intentions lay. In a fast paced world where anything you want is a click or phone call away, I think many creatives have found difficulty in promoting their value and integral role in this culture of cheap consumption.
As artists, we are materialistic by nature. Primarily, we create objects and products as well as services surrounding those things. They are crafted with intention, purpose, quality and ingenuity not often obtained in consumer culture. As creatives, we live as a fluid dialogue of what was, is and will be, and I think supporting people like us provides greater opportunities for authentic living and a progressive society. I was once told by a mentor that every dollar you spend, is a vote- a reflection of what you support and believe in. That is why choose to support fellow creative workers. I see the benefit for my own autonomy and that of the society we live in.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @jones_ceramics