Kevin Jones and Minnie Phan

00:03 My name is mini fan. I'm age 21. Today is October 5th 2013. We're at the Bayview Opera House in San Francisco, and I'm interviewing Kevin for a assignment at my University.

00:19 Hi, my name is Kevin B Jones. I'm 53 years old at the day is October 5th 2013. I'm at The Bayview Opera House in San Francisco, and I'm a member of the 3.9 Collective and I'm here to be interview today.

00:34 So Kevin, I'm really interested in the fact that you've been doing art for so long, but also of taking it far from your personal exploration to a world the expiration. When did you start making art photography the first class? Mr. Skolnick Lynnwood High School was when I first got Photography in 10th Grade and it's just me and I liked it but you could take him that's when I got interested in. I mean prior to that my mom used to take us to the Los Angeles County Museum on Sunday. So, you know everyone cheat with a Polar Polar why we get our one shot. So the photography in creating images kind of got me started and interested in that and I was able to continue with a nice cool.

01:19 So did you end up going to University to study in California not allowed opportunity. So pretty much I do anything if I cry. I graduate on Friday. I was gone on Saturday. That's all I join the Army, I mean the one where the options in, you know, unfortunately College money and things like that just wasn't there. So I need to go to school and I was like be all you can be in get this college education phone. So I went to college during that time. I wasn't serviced. Did you end up doing art while serving in the military? Was there any way for you to have a creative Outlet not really in particular the first couple years I start a total of 12 years active duty, but the first two years I'm a 17/18, you know, you're kind of like to know first time away have a good time. But I bought a camera when I went to Fort Lewis in 1982, and then I started

02:19 No shooting again and I went back to Germany another time so I can you know, but she doesn't have a photo center on that when I have time off but people really do work military believe me. They do work a lot. And what were your subject matter in the military for what in the woods kind of thing, you know, I don't boast marching people German typed out and walk through the woods and things like that. It wasn't so much to people but this was more distant outlet and just walking around and just you know, just take pictures but I saw a lot of more like to just do what this mean. I was a lot of green week. So I know that that

03:01 So then that experience 12 years in the Army and now going back to America. What about that transition? And how does does art help you through that? Is it a is it any sort of what is it for you? All right. I mean I guess I could I do I mean really focus on the African diaspora, but that really didn't hit me and I feel bad there was a woman who worked in the mission Cultural Center. I used to do like images for her for like you've been stopped. She would always say, you need to go to Cuba you need to go to Cuba and I had been to Brazil and I had Danny. They got Nicaraguan stuff, you know, you see people of color but just didn't really get it. And the first time I did go to Cuba it was like Tatiana Rodriguez. She was among the group global exchange and you don't come in through customs coming through. We know we collect in our group there and it just for some reason I saw her and she looked at me and she said, you know, I'm sitting English are you in my group?

04:01 And that but I'm just staring at her cuz it just hit me like my God, you could be my sister and so it just became interested man. I just got to start photographing. You know, I'm connected to these people throughout important. I feel bad cuz I can't remember the name, but that's when it got to me. I said, this is good for me. This is what I want to do right here.

04:32 So then how are you using your photography to speak 4 or 2? I guess the different community that burned Aspera. What how are you influenced by or influencing that Community thing like myself and not all but you know, this is not the end just a lot of kids. Can we call ourself African Americans and you live in the Africa and I know Africans that were crapping as ever from Visa as a global company and they don't see us African African-American this country really can not get there. And so trying to show those faces and places and I tell her story and not in the the blight and you know pain and suffering way but no everyday life and a lot of similarities and things like that are people look at pictures. Where is that? You don't know us and Dominican Republic Dr. Know as a Brazil and then you know,

05:32 It just makes you think for a minute. I know I said I said earlier that the only difference between someone of myself and Haiti is that their slave ancestors stop there that I went in mind made it to United States, you know that the only difference primary difference right there. But you know, I'm sorry, we are connected, you know, what some way and just another way it's just so you know, I do volunteer work for a couple organizations Farm Haiti and cons for sale ambient alpha male, and so just helping tell their store and share their story. It helps them with the images, you know, I've been to Cuba people don't have cameras in and then I'll just being with your people in the image of himself. It just so happy to see it. What was your reaction when you went to these countries that were I have less privileged than American cities or cultures. What was your reaction? First time? You saw that truthfully except for Haiti.

06:28 No difference. I'm a group in South Central Los Angeles. And you know, I'm in my family had a fairly good economic scale. I had you no have doctors in my family and I have four boxes cardboard, you know how to make the rain to me but I was always you know from one in all ways. They're all the same equally innocent, you know, I mean there was a difference but it was like, you know, I'm saying my grandfather in Culver City, you know, and I was more comfortable in his house. But you know, I stayed at my grandmother's house, you know, my father's in South Central and her one-room apartment. You know what it was you had just in this one of y'all six rank is there but you know, he does he just had a good time. So the lady that when I go somewhere, you know, I can you see it. You know, I just it's it's not a bad thing. You don't know your poor till somebody tells you you're poor.

07:16 You know, I mean, I know I know I grew up in Stockton big family.

07:26 Yes.

07:28 You know, so I kind of hate he's a different place and thought you have written four everywhere. So I guess I didn't you know, he just you know, if they're do you say if you happy clean and I'm good and so I'm also an artist and I've noticed when I talk to my community from back home. They don't really understand what I mean by art or that you are is something very passionate about. Do you have that same reaction when you go back to Compton or your family? How do you explain to them? You're an artist and photographer most of the people. I mean, I don't do cruises, you know, cuz I don't want to travel with me cuz it means like backpack not a very fancy hotel that you know, but I'm kind of going off the Beaten Track, but even with that I said, you know, everyone is very always my guy and they want to see these pictures, you know, they want to see these people is like, oh my God, and I did my work is at greater anything but just this place isn't

08:28 You know, it is an eye-opening experience. I'm hoping to make people think you know, if you're going to call yourself an African American in this country, you know, you know things globally, you know, and then go to Africa, you know do that and are looking at communities that are here at Bayview Point or or in Oakland. How are you? How are you responding to those communities that sometimes they don't want to look at that or how are you reacting to those communities project for the Arts Commission in the klow is the profiles of Bayview and I got selected to do a doobie the photographer for this HP Unity organization, which is a religious-based organization older gentleman, I grew up in the Bayview but they're reaching back trying to you know, it's literally going to Hunters Point, you know this intersection you injected himself.

09:28 Young kids and things like that just talking to him and you know I said, you know, I have cousins that live in and out getting food on my table gas in my car. I mean you no issues right now I could care less about a global problem. But I mean in the sense I'm doing the same thing in there and do some photography there or what is like showing people from the outside here is not that bad. I don't have a say not so bad but people have lives here to see that not that fear uncertainty and doubt that everybody's a criminal. Everybody's a gangster know if somebody's grammar to live in here to somebody's mom to Somebody's Baby the trying to make a life in you know, if you give them a chance that can make something out of yourself and know I told you that in confidence late, is it in trouble with always there but you know how but you know parents my parents get me out of trouble, but you know at some point when am I going to do I don't want to be a criminal in the Army. So but you just got out of

10:28 Having a good Basin, you know, you could do the right thing in life. I don't know what you have a broad you mentioned.

10:39 How many I mean the thing of the one thing I travel it's just the the friendships you make and you know, you know my Spanish is not that great. But you know, I do get around and it's just you know, if you meet someone there may assume you're from there and you know, it would be safe and decent people Americano. It is like that moment in time where we look at each other and they like this is everywhere and everywhere Brazil Dominican Republic. Do you know so it is like we are connected, you know, if you thought I was from here, you know, you can easily be in LA and people to senior from there. But you know that African Roots we have that connection and people are always super friendly, you know and invite you to their homes and things like that. Just want to learn about you and you can learn about them and you know,

11:39 Documentary photographer selective I get there and get the inside of the bag and take some photographs showed up giving with you. And you know, this is why I like to do, you know, see you always give your photographs to those that you as my I will go out of my way to make sure it mean if your getting something that you get to share and you know that so cancel globe globe world affairs Council global vision.

12:10 I would feel selfish if you're not going to go there and take some shots. And then you know, it might not get back. The least I could do is to give something back, you know in this and I was like, how do you feel about them other artists who travel to these poor countries and then treat them almost like an exhibit like who's Drew Photo Tours where they go in there. And you know, you got the guy with their Hughes $10,000 light casino and there be no shooting poverty excetera and it come back and they are Prince night, but they don't have a connection to the people or so. I do find that annoying and I was a photographer a very famous Amy Batali and I know I've heard her speak and it's like, you know, it's that help people get caught on this at poverty porn a warp or any of this this down and out. I am totally anti. That's all I want to do in the show The Other Side normal life.

13:10 As it happens in south-central there's another life going on their happiness and connection. So, you know people do what they do, but my connections do you have candy ass breath again? I'm trying to show a different side of people. Can you talk about how you got into the people's lives? I mean you you land in Cuba or wherever how do you go from the airport into the homes of these people? You know, it is normally I may have a plan trip, but this passed away if this is perfect example is the maker of public I went. This is my second time this year and what I have one to get down to in Marco's a panda dog to do the baseball players. This is what happened. You know, I got a tiny little bus our R I get there and I get off, you know, and I see some kids on moped walk up to a kid if they hate my name when I am I save me I'll give you a hundred pesos be just drive around today and I just I just want to check out the baseball players. Do you know any?

14:08 You know, you know I had to pay for the first thing he feels up a little gas tank and we rode around all day long you no talk and making connection, you know, and I went to the Little League teams to the professional teams of like most people assume I from there and then but you know, you make it so I would love these aren't sure if you don't have cameras in a dislocated me hit many of us. I mean I have to pee so much but a lot because he took me to his house. My mom wants to make dinner for you and make that connection so I can't wait to go back and so it just happens. Sometimes it doesn't sometimes it does.

14:49 So I also I went to a trip to Vietnam this summer and was Jefferson leave the country and I've never seen poverty. But when I came back to America, I had so many feelings. There's I didn't know what to do with it. And I wonder did did you feel the same thing? You know when you go from Brazil back to America? What what goes through your mind? That's all we can you imagine someone, you know, JFK or no go to a supermarket and it's like the lights and you know, and I mean St Port of Port American Dream you can kind of get away from that constant barrage of commercial levels in sailing and everything is available for you and you know it but then you have to think you know for you or maybe not so much for somebody in my country here, but I can see is overwhelming. It's always like a detox. I got to go through a man, but it makes me appreciate what I have and it makes me more compassion for others that don't have

15:49 Now we have the opportunity for and I guess I don't really it makes me for folks who are here. If you're born and raised here no matter how hard you have it and life is never easy. If you really knew, you know, people are killing themselves in North Africa under people, you know, the boat got fired they drown trying just to make a life for themselves our kid just for opportunity, you know, and I know so do you want to talk about some of the photos that you brought today? Is there a specific photo that you want to save a story about or memories connected connected to the game. I mean, this is a sample some of the work. I mean this particular one here as in I do volunteer work Farm heading now, we did a beekeeping class and the kids, you know, it's under single light in the Central Plaza and it's heartbreaking you don't we landed?

16:50 Drake and the kid who was our translator ended up being a translator for John Vallarta's to anytime. I meant to say American like to do p keeping them. She's taught me was happening and I ended to play I still didn't get it. It's like, you know Hey, Kevin whenever you do get to bring everything with you, there is no Home Depot, you know, everything needs to come. You know, you got it this program and he said he's a rule Pharmacy kept stressing that so I still didn't get it. So I don't do hives ship them he know and you know, it is a great class excetera in MD truly from that perspective the farmers in this area Haiti and never understood the concept of a beehive the bees if they were maintaining where the bees that they will find in the palm trees for like the first day of the pharmacy. Let me show you my eyes and we walk, you know half a day of these different trees and so it was like all this is going to be good and you know it

17:50 The central Plateau are religious education is not there a lot of the gentleman that there was something about this town is so it's a very poor no electricity. I mean my John his grandmother's house as a generator. So when we got there like the first time I heard of that I mean there is only two headlights on and you know, I'm sitting on the front porch has been a lot of traveling day and little kid came and sat down next to me and started reading the book. I just made the assumption that is might have been a relative another kid. And I know that Donuts about power strip in the people are coming over to plug in their phone to charge and nail I call cycling time. It's going on. It's a Tsum that if you have your share and Haiti, you know, cuz you know, if you have it you should share it but in the town for the kids.

18:46 There is no egg is dark is big black. So the farmers and coconut aminos like a farmer's kind of collective there, but they pay to run at Central generator that runs a single line and essential part of the city of town until kids at Night Live Like out what they don't have running water electricity. Come here to read underneath the light to study the desire to learn it there. You know what this is but given kiss my opportunity and you can't read it was dark and I want to can't afford a candle. So I mean it's going to get here. I literally I just saw a man needs it as a perfect image amazes, you know, this is an opportunity to get out and make something for in life.

19:38 For myself

19:39 So when was the last time you went back to Haiti Haiti last year's eve 2011 like I was supposed to go back and I see so small at NGO they doing great work the idea of actually last year. This time was planted the environment of portraits of the farm that they support the idea. We would do this this portraits for the both together at the end of the Earth at the Angelika sale, right, you know how to make money and you don't get pictures of the farmers play. Just trying to be able to tell their story and when they collect money, you know, I'm still at work, but unfortunately because of funding wasn't able to make it to this other organizations cancel the time on my timer is project with farm right now. Can I do something with you? And so he's like all absolutely, you know, you can you know, basically their environmental organizations

20:39 With me for a week, you knowing where I go. You just take some pictures excetera. So that's what I did it's perfectly and and one of those images was accepted in this year's up or Affairs Council global vision. The really cool thing is if I say sorry and Santiago going to be here in two weeks before they got sponsored by state department for some kind of beekeeping training. So we going to be in Moran. I'm going to bring them to take me to the show doesn't make a full 360 in Beavercreek or wiping 3.9 Collective. I've been a member a year now. I was in the founding member. I was brought in last year super cool group of people have been doing these things and we've gotten together number of light 18 or so ago exactly but painters Riders lawyer. I was two photographers art curators how many subscribers did Collective innocent and

21:39 Got a couple of shows together when we do our independence things, but we made and make this for me but this is going to be here. I believe him into doing great work. The ideas are trying to stab yourself a chameleon do a lot of work here in the Bayview opera house with the community and that there's on 3rd Street and interacting with kids try kids program. So I feel extremely blessed the you know that I know these people and you know, they're my friends now and it's just they push me. I'm just being part of the collect mail mail what I got to do all that work and you know it different people are going to ride me, you know, Mark Michael, you know, it's this amazing music for people to be around this hoe positive. You know, what do you think about black artists in America? What do you think of the status? Do you think there's enough do you think it's being represented in the right way? Do you think that those who are idolized are the ones who should be penalized?

22:37 It's almost there. I mean, you know is a black, you know, Asian, you know, I mean just being part of the collective and these guys have you know degrees in University and University of Maryland the it degree, but this is forcing me to like really read and understand remember names and understand. This is making me know my history Sol better, you know, and that's a good thing, you know, so that's a lot of stuff coming at your kid and put the iPhones excetera. What are you direct your interest in our what are you? What should I be focusing on you know, they don't go outside and play put down the video game read a book.

23:38 The collectivist is helping me become know my history better than which is helping me become a better photographer, I believe so you've been around different countries. What about cities in America? Have you traveled like this country extensively, but my family away from my parents, I drive from Louisiana. So every year every year so like I'll go back to New Orleans and is what is interesting because I always make a point to kind of go to the plantation and I'm the only one in my family. Why are you going there and then normally go to these plantations. That is my my my experience. I'm the only black I be so, you know, I mean, I know this pain there, but you know if you've been in a plantation and you know middle of

24:22 Louisiana in the summer time and you know, it's sugar cane field and it's like, you know, a hundred degree is 90% You got to ask yourself. Why don't they held it people survive? I know I wouldn't I'm barely surviving right now. You know, what is a air condition car like five minutes away from it for me. So it just makes you think and connect to what you know people went to in the opportunities. I have. I mean people literally died. I know but everything is I have today. You know, how did you first get interested in your history of your background have an identity he was from Shreveport, Louisiana when I came back from Germany.

25:13 And you know, I'm 5 and I said pop, I'm bored Africa. I'm going to go one day, you know, but you just check. You know, when did you get end up going to Africa in years ago this month and I opening trip, you know, I mean Johannesburg Eastern Cape Cape Town, I mean it with this. Yeah, man, it's been so many things were happening in the world. You think when I was like, you know, five six seven eight in the bit ago. There's like, oh my God. Yeah now I get it my company and they their name does business with a organization in Cape Town and I haven't been able to go yet, but I was just talking to a co-worker. You know, how can Americans you know, who's going back for Venice still, you know when our part

26:13 You know this the social levels are still there and I was talking to him about you know, you're either why a lack of color and in that different degrees and is it possible you could this field a

26:27 And see that I know that that was a segregation. I still happening in on this it is makes you realize the person I mean we live in a bubble here in the United States having a lot of people and I just want to really see and we're short time when a squirrel so I only want to see and experience in and then, you know, just in my cruise ship running back something, you know, you got a lot of time I want to get out and get dirty people and I'll be connected.

26:56 So the approach that you have with these communities outside the United States. What is something that you've noticed that is so unique to places in Africa places in Haiti. Like what is what does that mean? You don't find in America they find over there. I guess I did see and it's cuz I'm accepted pulled in like the Americano with me, but do you want of us and make sure you don't get robbed. So what does uniqueness could beat this the cultural? I mean, he knows Haiti Dominican Republic on the same island, but no different. I mean this be grow up but doesn't their influences that made those difference. Is there a cross United States, you know, a Klonopin Central Texas, you know and Central Texas have a cowboy background, you know, put them in South Central.

27:56 Can I have Country Cousins from there? So?

28:00 Is it littering? I guess we're on the same and I truly believe that we have a lot of commonality we have differences, but we're allowed to same so when people look at your work, what do you want them to walk away with?

28:15 You know, I hate to say I don't care. How do I clean the glass? So I have his opportunity of vacation days and I have money to travel so it's like a hobby so it but if it gives me an opportunity to kind of capture these cool images and things like that. So did to take away sins to be made aware. I guess I would say, where is that lesson Dominican Republic and she looks like I could be your grandmother that you can have a normal or sustainable whatever job in wherever you live while still doing art and still exploring and still learning is a personal choice.

29:15 I am not the sit on Sunday and watch football game or you know, I want to go do something and I guess this is what I find interesting that makes my life interesting, you know, my garden to keep bees. I mean kind of different than you know,

29:30 I got a baseball game on that. You can watch the game. I'm just talking to the people making out with but then you look Photography in trouble think I mean, I look too. Look forward to it, you know every year like we don't want to go where I want to go get my passport get a plane ticket and go someplace to someplace different, you know, and that's what makes me feel alive is very quickly great opportunity. How do you have children or nieces or nephews school teacher or is merely Army was not conducive to have a kiss cuz I might still be in the Army to stay 20 years, but you don't have nieces and nephews and you know something cool Uncle how do I get to travel? You know, my niece's you know, Camille.

30:30 I sponsor family also and Dominican Republic so making them aware of the great opportunities you guys have here and there are little kids who would kill to have your the one iPod, you know, your iPhone if you know someone get it, but that's part of it, but I'm trying to do their you know, so what do you what do you want to teach your nieces and nephews?

30:54 What does making them aware and making them that same connection, you know my grandfather saying care of it. When are you going to go to Africa, you know and you know, and I went oh my God, and I understand I get it in Africa. It could be anywhere the African diaspora all throughout Central South America. Help me understand myself, you know my niece and nephew don't grow up in a bubble here, you know, it was really get into photography and I'm saying that you live in New Orleans. I mean people pay the go there to take pictures of really cool places there you live there and just you know make her think outside the box in oh and you noticed you don't become the person who she is yet, but I think she'll appreciate it on my own cuz I wanted to do that mean he's amazing programs earlier on my own.

31:52 Cuz I want to do that Kruger National Park thing and so amazing trip amazing moment. I mean they were many but you talk about the part. I thought I might have had a problem my camera now that this was in Johannesburg and so I found stored and you had a part in a pre-internet, but I got a cat from here. Let me take you by where I used to live. We have to move because of the apartheid whilst we drove by it's like your mind live over here now, he knows whether but we used to live in that house. That is

32:41 Do you know if this is a thing of you freeze moment, you know how it is freaking real and also I'll be there at the African trip is huge and very eye-opening in.

32:53 Did you notice a change in yourself when you came back?

32:59 I know every trip. I mean, I think I always try to learn a man. I'm pretty old man on 54 but I mean I'm constantly learning from Africa like you but I know this is being appreciative of what I have and then trying to get back cuz I have that opportunity, you know, so you should help people out. If you can people help me give and I wouldn't be where I am at spokes having helped me, you know, you know, I wasn't always supposed to be where I'm supposed to be but I still get the day or something to eat. The people know you emails or conversations, you know.

33:36 I still have people have helped me get their own Mio black white. Asian, you know Hey Kevin you work hard and help you out man, you know give you an opportunity and how often do you visit LA marathon every year I go back home. I've been doing that for over 12 years, but I go home once or twice a year and now I just feel have a relaxer on the street, but I do want to half marathon for sure last week. So it literally get to run the street that I grew up on the most part difference between the two cities and San Francisco and Los Angeles Los Angeles is extremely much more populated 24/7 traffic now,

34:35 And so now you're the Northwest thing I did last time Larry's but it's more like to know it influencer definitely in Los Angeles now, but we had you know, my friend Pato Olympic next door neighbor. Where did Noah's mom was calling him with that in Spanish?

34:58 I still where I'm from, you know and always go to the watchtowers and I'll go where my grandfather store West 93rd and Wilmington, you know, this is like a level said it like a home though many home company coming and this is where I'm from but northern California and San Cisco. I like it schedule blue lot of things to do here, which is kind of cool. So I'm just going to the Army will let me go back. I'll go to the bank and in 1990 be a very bought them and they move me up here for the first time like in 93 and I was like a while first time going to California by train, but I stayed a year and I moved back home as like cuz the merger was kind of crazy, but then I was like after years I got mad at her and I've been here ever since we'll be 18 years. Are you immerse in the art galleries?

35:59 Yeah, I mean protect, you know what that open studios and things like that. I buy protect participate and in particular being a part of the collective now, so Julian is still open to become a member of the class is doing my own thing and I was just going to go shooting travel the world show me images for I could be your full-time job. Possibly how to keep my foot in the real world. I don't be a starving artist.

36:27 Austin will thank you very much for interview with me today.