THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 17, 1995 TAG: 9505170093
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: TARA TROWER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Art and capitalism. On the surface the two make a curious mix. But for local artists Louis and Susan Jones, combining the two has been a way of life for more than 18 years.
``If you're good enough the money will find you,'' Louis Jones said. ``It's just a matter of working hard to get what you want even if it is art.''
In all their years of painting and sculpting, the Joneses have never received government assistance for their artwork. Instead, they have relied on hard work.
The Norfolk couple run a gallery in Dominion Tower eight hours a day. After work, the Joneses come home to their 17-year-old son, Ryan - who also is an artist - and the three spend another eight hours at their drawing tables after dinner.
Dominion Tower approached the Joneses about the possibility of opening a gallery in 1992. A year later, after a series of negotiations, the Louis and Susan Jones Art Gallery opened.
Most of the work in the gallery is done by family members. The pieces range in price from $140 to $780. Louis Jones won't disclose sales figures for the gallery, but says returns are better than he ever dreamed.
But you don't have to be in the market for art to visit, he said.
``People sometimes peer in from the outside,'' he said. ``So sometimes we have to give them a little encouragement to come in and take a look.''
The native Virginians have just completed their largest project - six large pieces for the Omni Waterside Hotel as part of the its $3.5 million renovation.
The Omni commissioned the work in January after examining work by artists from across the country.
``In addition to their being from this area, we liked the feel of their work,'' said Donna Allen, Omni director of sales and marketing.
The hotel has invited executives attending this week's Inc. 500 convention to the unveiling of the Joneses' work, as an example of how corporations and artists can work hand in hand. The convention is a gathering of businessmen and women from the nation's 500 fastest-growing, privately-held companies.
Louis Jones hopes other corporations will follow the Omni's lead in developing partnerships with local artists.
``With Newt (Gingrich) and so many others so negative about funding, you can't count on the government for anything if you are an artist,'' Louis Jones said. ``The Omni took a risk by saying `You can do this' and not going to an art center, where much of the money goes to bureaucrats and not to the artists.''
Art seems to run in the family. Louis Jones's father, Herb Jones, is an artist, and son Ryan has received an art scholarship to Virginia Wesleyan, Susan Jones's alma mater.
The way for the Joneses, both 42, has not been all success and smiles. During the birth of their son, Susan Jones suffered a stroke that took her two years to recover from.
Last year Susan Jones was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammation of the joints. For six months she was unable to tie her shoes, much less paint. The condition is being controlled with medication.
Shortly after Susan Jones regained the use of her hands, the couple landed the Omni project.
``It was scary in some ways,'' Susan said. ``But we knew we could do it. After all this is what we are trained to do.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
LAWRENCE JACKSON/Staff
Louis and Susan Jones run an art gallery in Dominion Tower.
by CNB