Image courtesy of the Artist.
“A world apart, Cuba is a vibrant and visceral country on the edge of great change. The people who live here are survivors and dreamers in a land where nothing goes to waste and everything is celebrated. The harsh, dilapidated structures of Havana disperse into a lush and rolling countryside dotted with tiny farms and villages where horses and oxen still do the heavy work.
Since Castro’s sweeping Revolution began in 1953, Cuba has struggled economically. For many Cubans, the standards ushered in by Communist ideology are like a persistent pit in the stomach a dull malady that seems bent on censoring their determination and resolve to thrive. I have learned, however, not to underestimate the determination of any Cuban.
Begun in 2018, this series of watercolor paintings explores the interlocking fibers that weave Cubans into their social, political and physical environment. Communism, it seems to me, impacts Cubans like the waves of an ocean. It lifts and carries some, while it smashes others onto the shore. In these paintings, I wanted to depict this range of attitudes and emotions through the expressions, body language and surroundings of these remarkable people.”
- Rance Jones
Born in Lubbock, Texas, Rance Jones moved with his wife Christina to New York City in 1991 to attend School of Visual Arts and pursue an MFA degree in Illustration. The couple moved from a tiny cabin on the Guadalupe River to settle in a typical five story tenement apartment in Manhattan’s West Village. The energy and pace of New York City was a constant source of inspiration for Rance as he pursued his career in Illustration, producing work for "The New York Times" as well as many magazines including a cover for the "National Review".
Rance approaches each painting with the intention of portraying an unfiltered quality in people that is never stereotyped, judgmental, romanticized or staged. Capturing body language, expression and environment are key elements to that process. When someone is caught up in their own thoughts, their facial expression and posture become a manifestation of how they are affected by their environment, society and culture and betrays the protective layers of self-preservation. The sharp, precise realism in his paintings brings a visceral honesty to the stories these lives tell. Knowing he can't fully understand all the complexities of the people he paints, Rance believes the expressiveness and presence of the characters in his work inherently tells their true story.
Rance Jones is represented by Forum Gallery.