Ironbank
Conversation Pieces Artist Bobby Jones w ith
By Karen Renee
REF L E C T I NG T HE S OUL OF OUR C I T Y n the heart of Columbus, there exists an artist who Iwithin possesses the ability to reveal the hidden beauty our landscape. With an undeniable talent
for capturing the essence of our city, Bobby Jones is a visionary artist who unveils a parallel world which often goes unnoticed by the hurried eye. Each piece is a testament to the deep connection and soul that powers our community, reminding us of why we love where we live. A recent winner at the Columbus Artists’ Guild Pinkie First
Covered Bridge - Riverwalk - Bibb City
Members Exhibition, where Bobby won first place in photography with his entry “Pinkie First,” the artist is an iconic presence in town who continues to chase our city’s magic spaces. Each of Bobby Jones’ creations is influenced by his surroundings – and the people who have influenced him through his life. Home planted the seeds of his creative nature. He loved learning from his family, and wanted to know how to do everything they did. There was sewing, cooking, gardening and “fixing everything that needed fixing from the house to 732 cars.” As time passed on, he left home and began a journey that would eventually lead him back to become the local favorite he is now. He was a military man, a Chinook helicopter mechanic and crew chief, but what he recalls most from the places he was stationed is LocaL
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their influence in his art endeavors. Fort Dix, New Jersey was where he took his first trip to New York City and fell in love with architecture. Through his tours at other forts, in Virginia, Kentucky, and even Alaska, he experimented with new mediums and taught people how to create art of their own. He found joy in seeing the joy in others when they created things. However, it was after his military career and some time at Pepsi and Duracell, that things really started to change. He was “tired of dirty fingernails and banging up my fingers and arms”. He enrolled at the Art Institute of Atlanta. Jones was determined to be a “healthy artist” not a starving artist. He wanted his love of art to support him and his art habit. Atlanta served Bobby well. School was hard, but he never wanted to leave. “In two full years I missed one and a half days of class. The first desk in front of the teacher of any of my classes was Mabella
NOVEMBER 2023
