The National Gallery, Castellani House has announced the passing of its long-standing committee member Agnes Jones, AA.

Agnes Jones, AA

In a press release the Gallery said Jones passed away on Sunday after a brief illness. She was appointed a member of the Management Committee of the National Gallery in 1993 and served from January 1994 to October 2008 giving a total of 15 years of unbroken service. “She brought to the gallery a depth of experience from a career in the fields of education and visual art, as an art teacher and subsequently administrator in education, teacher training, curriculum development and nursery education in the Ministry of Education,” the release said. It also said that Jones also served as Administrator of the Burrowes School of art from 1985 to 1998.

The Gallery said Jones was a pupil of legendary art teacher ER Burrowes in his Working People’s Art class in the 1950’s, exhibiting with his group as well as with the Guianese Art Group and later, the first Women Artists group led by Marjorie Broodhagen in the late 1960’s. When the Guyana Women Artists’ Association was formed in 1987 Jones was appointed a vice-president and subsequently always played a role on its executive.

A funeral service will be held for Jones tomorrow at 3 pm at the Church of St James the Less on David Street, Kitty. Tributes will begin at 2.30 pm and burial will take place in the church yard.

The Chairman and Management Committee of Castellani House extend sympathies to Jones’s relatives and friends. A gathering to celebrate her life will be held at the Gallery today at 6 pm. Members of the artists’ community are invited to attend.