Kelly Kristin Jones - What the Garden Does

$100.00

What the Garden Does, 2026

AIR 2019

Inkjet print on paper
8 × 10 Inches

A found image in a contemporary women's magazine depicts an expansive azalea garden, a familiar emblem of the South deeply entangled with the history of plantation landscapes. While several azalea species are native to the southeastern United States, the sweeping ornamental plantings at historic estates emerged after the Civil War, transforming sites of violence into picturesque destinations. I remove pigment from the printed image by hand, abrading its surface until the photograph begins to falter. The act of erasure interrupts the image's pastoral message, asking how beauty, memory, and photography shape the stories landscapes are made to tell.

This print is an edition of 25, available only from September 17th - December 7th, 2026. After this date, this image will not be made available in this format again.

What the Garden Does, 2026

AIR 2019

Inkjet print on paper
8 × 10 Inches

A found image in a contemporary women's magazine depicts an expansive azalea garden, a familiar emblem of the South deeply entangled with the history of plantation landscapes. While several azalea species are native to the southeastern United States, the sweeping ornamental plantings at historic estates emerged after the Civil War, transforming sites of violence into picturesque destinations. I remove pigment from the printed image by hand, abrading its surface until the photograph begins to falter. The act of erasure interrupts the image's pastoral message, asking how beauty, memory, and photography shape the stories landscapes are made to tell.

This print is an edition of 25, available only from September 17th - December 7th, 2026. After this date, this image will not be made available in this format again.


KELLY KRISTIN JONES

Kelly Kristin Jones uses photography to examine how the medium shapes exclusionary historical narratives. By collecting and manipulating contemporary print media, archival photographs, and personal images, Jones reconfigures familiar imagery to expose the constructed nature of representation. She positions photography as both subject and medium, critically engaging with the archive to question whose stories are preserved and whose are silenced. Rather than treating photographs as static records or true documents, Jones approaches our “empire of images” as a space for engagement, critique, and resistance. Through her practice, Jones reclaims agency and challenges historical narratives shaping collective memory.


Thoughts on the lab

My residency at Latitude came at a critical moment in my practice. Several years after graduating from SAIC, I needed meaningful access to equipment, technical expertise, and a community of artists. During my month at Latitude, I learned invaluable new skills - from drum scanning and advanced Photoshop workflows to printing on canvas, silk, and plastics. The staff generously helped me source materials for experimentation and enthusiastically supported every new idea I wanted to pursue.

Just as important was the Latitude community. The collaborative environment at the lab was unlike anywhere else I've worked, expanding not only my technical abilities but also my understanding of what was possible within my practice.

Years later, Latitude remains an essential part of my practice. I continue to use the lab to make prints, and the Former AIR benefits have allowed me to maintain access to resources that would otherwise be out of reach. Latitude has had a lasting impact on both my work and my career, and I remain deeply grateful for the opportunities and community it continues to provide.