Neighborhood Center of the Arts

Art • Advocacy • Opportunity

David Jones

I’m 82 years old, the oldest artist here at Neighborhood Center of the Arts. I’ve been part of NCA since the 1970’s, back when it was called ‘The Workshop’.  I liked it back then and I guess I still like it because I am still here doing art. I was working over at the fairgrounds in the Senior Center as the dish washer and doing janitorial work. Before that I worked at the National Hotel as a janitor. So when I stopped working I started doing more art with Neighborhood Center of the Arts.

Coming to NCA is important to me because I want to stay busy and I don’t want to stay home and watch television 24/7. Having friends is important and all of my friends come here. All my friends have been in my life since I lived on Pleasant Street; that was in the late 80’s. I took a break from the art center and worked at Pride in Auburn, before Pride was in Grass Valley. When they moved to Grass Valley I followed them. Neighborhood Center of the Arts is important to me because I have the opportunity to earn extra money. I live on my own and the extra money from my art is important. Most important are my friends and the staff, they make me happy.