Jon Arge
photographer, designer, & fine artist
Born a Taurus during the Age of Aquarius in Venice, Florida, Jon Arge showed promise in nothing other than reckless self-expression from the start. He moved on at an early age from wall based, large-scale abstract murals in lipstick to smaller, more concise renderings in ink on paper. After attending the Savannah College of Art & Design, he relocated to Atlanta, where he dabbled eagerly in nonsense and art for more than a decade.
His work is driven by love and inspiration comprised of people, obsessions, or situations. To be successful, he believes each piece of his art must reflect the shining light and energy of its subject.
Having exhibited throughout the South, he was one of eleven artists chosen for the 2001 Atlanta Biennial. Collected worldwide, he has established a committed following of commercial and private clients, with corporate commissions including IBM, Coca-Cola, and Turner Broadcasting System.
In 2017, his archives, including all photographs, personal papers, original drawings, and artwork masters, were acquired by Emory University for the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library. He currently resides in every single one of his pieces.
“I never knew what I was doing. I just knew I had to do it. I wanted people to look their best and relay what was going on in the room.” ― Jon Arge
Polaroids
The Rotunda
The exhibition begins with eight Polaroids: four by Alli Royce Soble and four by Jon Arge. Polaroids are instant cameras with self-developing film. They produce a print a short time after a picture is taken.
Polaroids were the perfect format for capturing what Soble called “our secret places” in the time before digital cameras and mobile phones with cameras.
The Polaroids in this section are enlarged and mounted to light boxes. Presenting the photos this way emphasizes the warm, comic book-like colors of the Polaroids and the playful and performative aspects of the moments they document.
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Life in Images
The Corridor
Arge had his camera with him all the time, and he was always taking pictures. “I wanted people to look their best and relay what was going on in the room,” Arge says.
“After you got the image, you were holding the object the moment created. All the energy of that moment transfers into this object [the photograph] and it recharges the moment.”
A Polaroid camera was Arge’s favorite way to capture these moments. This section of the exhibition highlights eight of the approximately 4,500 Polaroids in Arge’s collection.
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Questions
Consider the five questions as you browse the photographs:
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Materials
the case
A case from the physical exhibit features materials from the Jon Arge photographs collection. This Polaroid SLR 680 camera was Arge’s favorite model. It is displayed along with his journal from 1990, opened to the page that records his reaction to his first visit to New York City. The case also has a 1994 flyer Arge created for Wigwood, a benefit for ACT-UP Atlanta, HIV/AIDS service organizations, and other local groups.
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Jon Arge Photographs at Rose Library
Scope and Content Note
The collection consists of the photographs and papers of Jon Arge and contains Polaroid photographs, artwork, event files, sketchbooks, and printed material that primarily document Atlanta’s gay nightlife. Many of the photographs document events at clubs like Metro and Backstreets where only Arge was permitted to bring his camera.
The photographs also document Atlanta’s drag queen scene and events like Wigwood (fundraiser for ActUp Atlanta and the AIDS Survival Project), WigOut (fundraiser for MondoHomo at Friends on Ponce), other fundraisers, and house parties.
Additionally, the photographs show events that took place at art studios and museums such as 800 East and the Atlanta Contemporary Arts Center. The printed material and event files also document Arge’s work with the American Music Show, the Atlanta Bienniel, and Wigwood. The artwork and sketchbooks show Arge’s work in mediums other than photography, especially drawing.
Emory Finding Aids – Jon Arge
Credits
The Emory Libraries makes every attempt to be in compliance with copyright laws. Due to the nature of archival collections, we are not always able to identify correct copyright holders, or to verify copyright status absolutely. We are eager to hear from any rights owners, so that we may obtain accurate information.
Please contact us if you have more information about the copyright status of any materials in this work, or if you believe we have not properly attributed your work or used it without permission at rose.library@emory.edu.
Copyright and Citation
Emory University does not control copyright for images in the Jon Arge Photographs archive. Images are made available for individual viewing and reference for educational purposes only such as personal study, preparation for teaching, and research. The reproduction, distribution, public display or other re-use of any content beyond a fair use as codified in section 107 of US Copyright Law is at the user’s own risk.
Preferred citation: [after identification of item(s)], Jon Arge photographs, Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Emory University.
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One comment for “Jon Arge”
elaine borden
Jon Arge is the best and so is his work. My son Christian Borden of eleganza fame is honored by jon as is many others
love to you jon and all you do