In a small modest studio on the fourth floor of the Monroe Center for the Arts in Hoboken, Aida Jones hangs more than two dozen pieces on the walls.
In her last exhibit, Jones portrayed nude women in bright acrylic details on canvas. Loud yellows contrasted with soft hues of blue and green. In "Smoking," Jones captured the erotic essence of a woman smoking topless. The bright blue on the woman empowers the image making a goddess of the person. The cigarette gently caressing the lips is a soothing pro-tobacco avant-garde look at sexy. The woman in the painting, Jones explained, is independent but vulnerable.
"She is a spirit waiting for someone to take her," Jones said.
Besides "Smoking," the cathartic "Moondance" is a plain view of the energy found in simplicity. The subtleness of the people dancing in the woods on a hot night invokes emotions like watching a shockingly sad film or experiencing a mild tragedy. There’s a subtle chaos in Jones’ work.
The combination of loud colors illustrating a common image confuses the mind while exciting the senses.
"I bring my state of mind into my work. When I’m sad, the paintings are sad," Jones said.
Other works include portraits of ’60s rock icons like Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon. She also painted a bright yellow pop art Statue of Liberty.
Jones employs a unique approach to her painting, carefully developed over the course of her 10-year career. Her style shows the influence of formal training in classical realism, while reflecting her deep appreciation of the abstract expressionist style. Using bold, bright acrylic colors with swirls of high contrast lights and darks, her paintings depict abstract forms and figures, portraits of women and musicians. With formal studies at Kean University in Union, The Arts Student League in New York City and the New Jersey Center for Visual Arts, Jones developed an understanding of contemporary approaches to her painting technique and style. Her studio doors are open and her work is on exhibit on the first Sunday of each month.
"My work expresses relationships, emotions, moods, and sometimes just focuses on beauty of a thing or a person," Jones said. "The works are strongly grounded in feelings. I adore color and form and how these two elements can evoke such passion, anger, intensity or peacefulness."
Painting lessons are also available at Jones’ studio for the adult beginner and intermediate artist. Students work with acrylic paints from a variety of subjects designed to increase their understanding of color mixing, value, light, and acrylic painting techniques.
First Sundays
Jones is one of the many artists who highlight the First Sundays series at the Monroe Center of the Arts. What began about a year ago as a way to draw Hobokenites to the building at 720 Monroe St. in Hoboken, has become a monthly experience. The next First Sundays is scheduled for Nov. 2 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The open studio tour is held the first Sunday of every month and it is a self-guided journey through the Monroe Center.
More than 100 painters, photographers, crafters, fitness experts and graphics designers open their lofts during First Sundays and welcome an average of 250 local and area residents to the center.
"This is one of Hoboken’s most popular events," said Judith Robinson, the center’s director, in a previous interview.
According to Jones, within the next five years, the Monroe Center will be redeveloped to include a restaurants, cafes, and retail stores to transform it into a true cultural community. Plans for a theater are also in the works.
"We want to create a vibrant community at 720 Monroe that is committed to the arts," Jones said.
The Center already is home to a Club KO, a fitness center; the Hoboken School of Music; Hoboken Yoga; floral designer Christina Andersen; and a Model Service Management agency.
Other artists opening their studios with Jones on Nov. 2 include, Aliza Augustine, William Baez, David Martin, Laura Alexander, Thomas Egan, Mac Hartshorn, Virginia Rolston Parrott, McKevin Shaughnessy, Elaine Lazinsk, Janet Cunniffe-Chietto, Sissi Siska, Nancy Green, Clara Rodriguez, Edward Tadiello, Leslie, Rubman, Larry Michelotti, Mark Davis, Peggy McGeary, Colleen Williams, Andersen, and Joe Borzotta.
First Sundays will be held Nov. 2 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. For information on First Sundays call (201) 795-3767 or visit www.aidajones.com. q