Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Julie Renée Jones, a Midwest-based artist (and mother to two girls, 3-years-old and 6 months) whose photography beautifully navigates the realms of family, narrative, and memory.
Julie uses her camera to uncover the unseen, creating images that evoke both nostalgia and deep reflection. Her work has been widely exhibited across the U.S., Canada, and Europe and has graced the pages of prestigious publications like National Geographic, The Guardian, and Time Magazine. A selection of her work from Hold Still is featured in Eye Mama: Poetic Truths of Home and Motherhood by teNeues.
Julie's projects, like her forthcoming Umbra series, continue to push boundaries and captivate viewers, while her ongoing recognition includes two Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Awards. She received her MFA from Columbia College Chicago and a BFA from the University of Dayton; she currently lives in Dayton, Ohio.
Julie’s insights offer a thoughtful dive into the world of contemporary photography, which I always love learning about.
Take it away, Julie…
1) Where is the most unexpected place you've found inspiration as a parent?
In the dead of the night. As an artist I have been drawn to light and the magical way photography in particular can capture it. Even before I became pregnant with my first, I felt as if I had lost some part of that natural inspiration and it was really alarming for me.
One night pretty early on, maybe a month and half since her birth, I had just put her back down after a particularly long nursing session. She had been up and down all night and I felt like I was going crazy. I rolled over to finally try and get some sleep and out of the corner of my eye I saw this tiny little hand slowly reach up out of the bassinet and towards a beam of moonlight and my heart stopped.
There was the initial sense of dread that had become so familiar for me being a new parent, like "Oh no, how can she be awake again? I'm so tired, I can't do this." But, it was also so beautiful and it was the first time I felt the pull to create again.
Over the next several days I was consumed with making an image that encapsulated that complex feeling I had in the moment and that was the beginning of exploring motherhood and my relationship with my daughter as part of my practice.
2) When you parent your creative self, what form of discipline do you use?
I try to make even minutes count. Even if I cannot get into the studio that day or I fail at making an image or miss a deadline I try and at least consider and reflect on my practice every day.
Some days I only get five minutes where I feel I can dedicate time to my creative self and I will go think of a new photograph to make for the next day or find an open call to apply to.
I find if I give myself that grace, that even small moments count, that I don't get so overwhelmed by the days or even weeks where I cannot be my most creative self and I have to focus on keeping up with my children or getting things done around the house. It has helped me redefine what it means to me to be a practicing artist.
3) Who are your caregiver-artist inspirations?
My first was definitely Sally Mann. I fell in love with the way she captured her children when I was still a child myself. Most recently I have been drawn to the hauntingly raw work of Amy Woodward (@amywoodwardphoto) and the honest absurdity of Madeline Donahue (@madelinedonahue).
I find a lot of inspiration in non-visual artists as well, like the banal horror of everyday life that characterizes Shirley Jackson's stories. My favorite of hers is definitely The Haunting of Hill House. It was eye opening rereading it after becoming a parent and how much of her work reflects the impacts that motherhood had in her own life.
To learn more about Julie, go to her website and Instagram.
Recommended Reading
This isn’t really related to much I talk about, but I found this study of how a basic income could help address housing insecurity to be really compelling.
“What If You Pursued What’s Interesting Instead of Happiness?” A new book explores why we should seek a “psychologically rich life” and how to do it, and I really enjoyed it.
“Ode To My Heart,” by Norma Ramirez is featured in
. It’s a wonderful, must-read poem.“An Artist Flowering In Her Nineties,” by Rebecca Meades for The New Yorker. This is the feel-good read I needed.
“Moms Under Pressure: The Surgeon General Advisory on Parental Mental Health Is About Women” by Jasmine Mote for her Substack,
. Let’s continue to say the quiet part out loud, as Mote writes.“Taylor Swift Is Breaking Tradwives' Brains,” by
for her Substack, In Pursuit of Clean Countertops.“Our Family's Two-Week Experiment Cutting Out Ultra-Processed Food,” by
. I’m tempted, but my kids may kill me!“How Much Does It Cost To Actually Give Birth?” by Charlotte Cowles for The Cut. Birth is big business… unless you step outside the traditional healthcare system. My home births cost between $1,200 and $1,500, and thanks to my access to good health insurance, I only paid $750 out of pocket. But even still, I believe all births should be free!
“How Does Pregnancy Change The Brain? Clues Are Emerging,” by Pam Belluck for The New York Times.
“Gen Z Has Regrets,” by Jonathan Haidt and Will Johnson for The New York Times. You’ll never guess: it’s about social media use.
“Being Social, Off Social,” by
for her Substack A Maudlin Housewife's Music. A good refresher on how to be an artist whilst among people.
One Charity You Should Know About: The States Project
Support The States Project, which does the research and the targeting and gives winnable candidates the support they need to win, all for a fraction of the cost that it takes to run a congressional or senate campaign. This particular giving circle focuses on helping progressive candidates in North Carolina.
Even if you don’t live in NC, the NC Republican supermajority impacts who’s in Congress and the presidential election by their constant and extreme gerrymandering. For years they’ve been attempting to suppress voting rights through limits on early voting and voter ID laws.
You’ll be making the world better for your fellow Americans who live in North Carolina, while also impacting how Washington works for years to come. Consider donating now!