JSU Grad: An Advocate of Higher Education in Pursuit of American Dream as an Artist

By Trace William Cowen
Special to the Star
06-12-2008

Reprinted here in its entirety.

Arts

Local photographer's work takes him around the world

The doors to the café swing open to reveal a shadowed figure slowly approaching through a casually flowing stream of fog and subtle pyrotechnics. Neatly tucked dress shirt with sleeves artistically rolled up on each arm, Bono circa The Joshua Tree haircut, a gentler, more intellectual version of The Fonz's swagger, with an abrasively appropriate soundtrack of 90s garage rock setting the tone — none of this actually happened during my conversation with Jerrod Brown, but it might as well have.

A rock star without ever picking up an instrument, Brown is also a loud reassurance of a completely different American icon — a refined take on the American dream. Though the evidence (looming recession, poverty) may continue to stack against it, that dream is, in fact, very much alive and well.

Photographer Jerrod Brown is 29 years old, doesn't have children, isn't married, and is — technically speaking — completely self-employed through his art. Yet, he is a shining, refreshing example of seized opportunities and the benefits of educated self-confidence; Brown is living the new American dream.

Though every bit the self-made man, Brown is quick (and wise) to point to his mother's positive upbringing for helping shape his belief that anyone's life is truly full of infinite possibility.

"There's more to life than just, you know, get married at 18, have kids, work a job that you hate," he said over coffee and satellite radio at a café in Jacksonville. "Anybody can do what they want."

Brown also gracefully acknowledges those older photographers who reinvented the wheel before him ("... a lot of old-school photographers, guys from the '30s and '40s," he said of influences) and is an open advocate for the power and pride of education, citing college (Brown graduated from Jacksonville State University) as a profoundly eye-opening experience.

"Education is the key to everything," he said. "You gotta be motivated and you gotta be educated."

Naturally, most fresh high school grads spend their final summer before falling backward into college doing, well, absolutely nothing ... but not Brown. He hopped in a self-renovated Volkswagen van with a friend and traveled the United States for more than two months. No 2 a.m. check-ins, no hotel soap, no continental breakfast ... just two guys, a van and the paved unseen ahead of them. Brown returned home with a fresh, focused desire to see the world — eventually inspiring him all the way to Japan, Spain and other envious locales.

"Traveling is my passion," he said. "My working hard at what I do ... it gives birth to my travel."

After experiencing more than substantial photographic success locally, Brown decided to skip town for a bit to capture the magic of weddings abroad. His first international wedding sent him to Jamaica, spurring the fine art of "word of mouth" and eventually landing Brown in everything from Jewish weddings to Indian weddings and, eventually, a gorgeous session in Mexico, a personal favorite for Brown. The world is inviting, but Brown insists he has no desire for any permanent move.

"I'm happy here," said Brown, who views the Southern culture as one of the most vibrant in the world.

About 30 minutes into the conversation, one of his clients walks into the dimly lit café, immediately smiling after spotting the photographer. Brown's ease is apparent, but more noticeable is the respect and trust from the bride. Scheduling details and loose ideas are tossed around, but ultimately, she's putting the project into Brown's hands — she's seen his touch, and deeply trusts the outcome.

"Brides are all beautiful, of course," he said, "but if you find the beautiful thing about that bride, you find what makes her shine as an individual ... what really flatters them, what compliments them, then ... they're going to follow suit. That's inspiration right there, when you see that."

As our coffee dwindles to nothing but sips of air, Brown uncrosses his legs and leans a bit closer to the recorder on the table for a joke. For the first time in the conversation, he appears to fit into the old American dream — but with a modern knowledge that will surely steer him from sinking ships and the insanity of incessant routine.

And maybe that's just it; the new American dream is the same dream the Henry Ford generation sought so adamantly but was lost in credit cards and stock risks during the years that followed. Happiness in every possible facet is the true American dream and, thanks to his art, Jerrod Brown is living it — with or without theatrical Fonzie entrances.

On the Web:

• Jerrod Brown's photography

See story at The Anniston Star's website: www.annistonstar.com .

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