The Smell of Earth: Seitu K. Jones Working in the Elements celebrates the four-decade career of St. Paul multidisciplinary artist Seitu K. Jones. Jones, who describes his practice as “tending the soil of community,” is also a master gardener, food justice advocate, historian, and archivist. He leverages his role as an artist to connect with and support neighbors, scholars, artists, and culture bearers, while prioritizing knowledge-sharing and legacy preservation for African American artists. For Jones, nourishment is rooted in relationship-building, collaboration, placemaking, and a desire to ensure thriving futures for his community: “I aim to not only support the community where my work lives, but to channel the love and contributions of the community itself,” he writes. “It is my intention to continue to honor the history of a place and capture the present moment to foster a rich civic life for all.”

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