A Not-So-Starving Artist
Debunking the myth of the unemployable Art major
It’s no secret that some college majors are more well respected than others. STEM and Business students typically receive much different reactions to their majors than those who are studying Music, Film, or — God forbid — Liberal Arts. However, this idea that arts-based majors are fated to struggle with unemployment (or, alternatively, become a Starbucks barista) is outdated, narrow-minded, and plainly false.
Imani Jones never doubted for a second that art is her calling. She devoted her education to developing her craft, attending the Mill Street Arts Institute (now known as The Art Effect) and then receiving a B.A. in Fine Arts in Painting from Maine College of Art. She now holds the position of administrative assistant at Arts Mid-Hudson, where she spends her days working among a community of artists to plan events, host critique groups, and more. She is proof that art doesn’t need to be limited to the realm of hobbyism, but can lend itself to a fruitful and satisfying career.
Since she was a little girl Jones has felt drawn to creating art, and developed a particular love for painting. For her, it’s less about having something beautiful than it is doing something beautiful. While other artists may eagerly await for their painting to be finished, Jones places more of an emphasis on the actual act. Her artistry is all in the process.
“It was so visceral to me,” she says. “It’s something I could do with my hands. It’s something I felt I could hone for the rest of my life. So I was like, this is what I want to do.”
And hone she did. During her time at Mill Street Arts Institute, Jones won the Gold Key Award from the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards as well as a scholarship to study abroad in Mexico. She also participated in the Senior Project program, a AP-style course that elevated students’ skills to college level. Perhaps most impactful of all was her receiving the Student with Exceptional Promise in the Arts Award from Arts Mid-Hudson, the very organization where she now works. Her artistic success continued after moving on to Maine College of Art, where she won multiple scholarships as well as Best In Show in the Bachelor in Fine Arts exhibition. But despite her obvious talent and the endless accolades given to her work, Jones still received mixed reactions when telling people she was going to school for art.
“Most people’s reactions were very patronizing because they think [art] is something that can’t be a career,” she says. “That it isn’t a job, it’s a passion. But I think about it as my career and job because it’s like, I put hours into it. I stay till 4 a.m.. I invest money. Like any business, you invest funds into your product.”
Jones’ successful career in art is a source of more than just income. It’s a source of fulfillment, self-discovery, and spirituality. She describes her artistic journey as learning how to see for the first time — discovering how reality appears to her, and how she’d like it to appear. It was also a process of becoming familiar with creation. This, of course, raises the question: what do you choose to create? What do you give life to? In much of her artwork, Jones chooses to center Black women. In doing so, she gives herself a vehicle for exploring herself and the world around her — understanding herself in not only contemporary America, but history as a whole.
She also makes sure to create the art that many museums and galleries are so sorely lacking. Jones depicts Black women doing their hair, or feeling pretty, or surrounded by flowers. She suspends these moments in her paintings, paradoxically emphasizing both the present moment and timelessness. She is inspired by Rothko’s philosophy of valuing a still moment, and hopes that her art may also allow people that moment of mindful being.
“We’re always just going on about our days to get to the next thing. It’s hard not to,” she says. “But that’s why it’s so important for me to create these pieces, just so people can have a moment of oh, I exist in this time.”
Jones also wants pieces like hers to change the way society views Black bodies, particularly in museum spaces. She describes art as a time capsule, and by choosing to illuminate joy, love, and self-care, she makes sure that those moments receive their rightful place in the canon of human history.
In addition to changing the world through her own work, she continues to affect change by supporting the work of others. According to Grants and Programs Manager Lilia Pérez, Jones’ artistic background gives vital insight to what the Poughkeepsie art community needs, and is integral to Arts Mid-Hudson’s ability to foster a collaborative and constructive environment.
“Other aspiring artists can look to Imani as an example of someone who is balancing a meaningful artistic practice while working to share artistic opportunities with others,” Pérez enthuses. “[Her] passion and commitment to give back to her local community inspires me every day.”
Jones’ work at Arts Mid-Hudson is evidence of that when someone chooses to embrace their passion, they encourage others to do the same. She hosts a group for older artists, giving them a space to reconnect with the community after these difficult years of increased isolation. She also teaches a children’s art class monthly, effectively giving back to the very community that fostered her own artistic endeavors.
“Just seeing how kids get inspired,” laughs Jones. “Like I made this! Yeah, you made that! Just seeing that sense of joy. That’s really what makes me super, super happy to give back.”
If you are looking to get involved in the local arts scene, Arts Mid-Hudson hosts workshops, critique groups, and more. Visit their website for more information.
