On Agnes Gallery
sc: In my last post, I mentioned being one of "the Agnes kids" is something I am proud to claim. Can you talk a little bit about some of the other "kids" and what they have gone on to pursue within the field?
jon: People are people and artists are artists. I just to have a saying dealing with artists was like trying to carry snakes in a bicycle basket. I learned to respect the universe more. Seems like we had such excellent Karma. Giving creates that. We never worked with anyone who didnt love the gallery and we are so thankful for that.
sc: In my last post, I mentioned being one of "the Agnes kids" is something I am proud to claim. Can you talk a little bit about some of the other "kids" and what they have gone on to pursue within the field?
jon: Most have gone on to work in the field of art. Shannon, Clayton and Cynthia curate. Joel Seah is an educator and Jennifer Chin is a full-time artist.
sc: When you all conceived of the gallery what role did you wish for the gallery to play within the community of Birmingham?
jon: We (Shawn Boley and I) along with Jane Hughes initially wanted a place to show photography with an edge. Once we decided to open a gallery we also wanted to bring experimental disciplines into the space. Our decision to show book artists started out when we saw that some of the artists in the area were experimenting with artists books among them Mary Ann Sampson, Jess Marie Walker and Ruth Laxson.
sc: Can you talk more about the Agnes Gallery and its role within the community?
jon: AGNES served as an incubator and education facility. We exhibited social agenda photography with an edge and we were the first gallery to show film and the first gallery to have a book arts program in the South.
sc: Can you give some examples of how Agnes altered the dialogue within the community? And what were the results?
jon: For the first time photography was treated in the same manner that painting was in Birmingham and not in some back room second hand manner. People began to take photography much more seriously even the Museum [Birmingham Museum of Art] supported the gallery and this was a rarity. In those days, a gallery did not have an open dialog with a museum, especially in Birmingham. Today, a decade past, people in the area still take photography seriously. Peoples minds are much more open to alternative dialog and that art doesnt have to be pretty and that it is nice when art can make you think.
sc: And finally, what did you learn from owning and managing the gallery that you still carry with you?
jon: People are people and artists are artists. I just to have a saying dealing with artists was like trying to carry snakes in a bicycle basket. I learned to respect the universe more. Seems like we had such excellent Karma. Giving creates that. We never worked with anyone who didnt love the gallery and we are so thankful for that.
I am fascinated by the line, "I just to have a saying dealing with artists was like trying to carry snakes in a bicycle basket." Interesting dialog.
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