 "Photo: Photo courtesy of SUU Communications Department")
Jim Floyd Jones, a renowned Utahn artist, died Dec. 5 in his Springdale home at 76 years old after battling emphysema.
Born Feb. 21, 1933 in Cedar City, Jones was best known for his landscape paintings and created more than 1,400 paintings in his 33-year career.
Jones was called a “spiritual painter,” according to the documentary, Jimmie Jones: Red Rock Painter, produced by Communication Department Chair Jon Smith.
Jones earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah in 1961.
SUU president Michael T. Benson said Jones donated his four-acre home, worth $1.5 to 2 million to help fund the construction of the South Utah Museum of Art.
“In general, his dream was to build a legacy of his amazing paintings; his ability to capture the beauty of this area was unmatched,” Benson said. “We take for granted the beauty of this area and I think Jim would want us to appreciate the beauty which surrounds us.”
Jones earned his doctorate degree in fine arts in May 2009 from SUU.
Benson said Jones was a man of great character and also a talented artist.
“I’ve never met an artist who was so gifted artistically and also so kind, caring and gentle,” Benson said. “Those who knew him well knew he was a man of talent and an incredible man.”
Jones’ older brother Gary said one thing he admired most about his younger brother was his self-discipline.
“He would get up early, play the piano for a half hour, paint for 5 to 6 hours and in the afternoon he would relax and read,” Gary Jones said. “He was self-disciplined; all people admired that.”
Reece Summers, Braithwaite Art Gallery curator, said he met Jones 14 months ago to have Jones create a gallery ofhis recent works in the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery.
Summers said Jones created 14 paintings in the course of 12 months prior to his passing.
“These fourteen paintings will find a home in the SUMA Jim Jones gallery,” Summers said.
“He basically created these fourteen works of art and left them to SUU as a legacy.”
Danelle Cheney, a senior graphic design major from Payson, said she thinks Jim Jones influenced the construction of the SUMA project and future students profoundly.
“Personally, I am proud to say that I have been able to witness the plans and foundations for SUMA to be built,” Cheney said. “I hope future students take full advantage of the opportunities it will have to offer and be proud as well.”
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