HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (January 10, 2022) – The devotional works of one of Middle Tennessee’s foremost artists are coming this winter to the Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center (MACC) in Hendersonville, Tenn. The exhibit, titled Ted Jones: Faith, Hope, Love, will run Jan. 15 to Feb. 20, 2022 and will feature more than two dozen new works by the artist Ted Jones. All of these works find their inspiration in the artist’s deeply held spiritual beliefs.
“Ted Jones’ artwork is simply breathtaking,” says Cheryl Strichik, executive director of the Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center. “His reinterpretations of Old and New Testament subjects are both powerful and uplifting, and his ability to convey a sense elevation and reverence is unfailing. The MACC is truly honored to share Ted’s vision of beauty and love with our visitors.”
A native of New Orleans, La., Jones is a versatile artist known for his copper repoussé reliefs, printmaking, paintings and wood sculptures. His signature style is remarkable for its curvaceous lines, figurative elements and rich detail. He has a penchant for depicting biblical subjects, an approach that flows directly from his artistic philosophy.
“Art for me is not just a way of life, but life itself,” says Jones. “It is the correlation of my total experience, of which my art form is the creative record. The studio is my chapel. The art form is my offering and prayer.”
Jones’ sentiment has clearly resonated with thousands of art lovers around the country. His works have been on display at numerous galleries, museums and universities, and they are in the permanent collections of such notable institutions as the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas, the Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C., and the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville, Tenn., among many others.
Recent exhibitions of Jones’ art include Pillars of Faith at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Nashville. In that exhibit, Jones created vivid portraits of the men and women of the Bible. He also recently completed the fourteen stations of the cross for Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Hendersonville, Tenn.
In addition to his busy studio career, Jones has been an active arts educator. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Xavier University in New Orleans and continued his art training at Michigan State University and the University of Montana. He has taught printmaking, design, sculpture and photography for 34 years at such institutions as Fisk University and Tennessee State University.
An opening reception for Ted Jones: Faith, Hope, Love takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, January 15 at Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center, 1017 Antebellum Circle. Admission to the exhibit is free and art will be available for purchase.
Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center is conveniently located off Gallatin Pike just three miles east of Rivergate Mall. The place serves as a haven for the arts, hosting major art exhibitions throughout the year. It also offers classes and summer camps on art and film for children and adults. Monthaven Mansion is available to rent for weddings, receptions, showers, corporate team-building classes and private parties. For more information, visit www.monthavenartsandculturalcenter.com or call (615) 822-0789.