Essay 544 • Feb 11th 2024
- by Garry Jones
In the heart of Birmingham there is a community centred around challenging the narrative around gender, race and religion. Ran by head coach Binni, "Muslim Girls Fence” strives to teach traditional fencing at a grassroots level, helping local women to empower themselves through a sport normally reserved for the upperclass. The work doesn’t stop at fencing though - the group is there to help the women reflect on their own identities and inspire a larger conversation in the community.
Garry Jones is an award-winning portrait photographer working across music, culture and sport. Following on from his studies at Southampton Solent University focusing on Art documentary, Jones spent time capturing the residents and rural spaces of Warwickshire and the impact of HS2 on the local neighbourhoods. His work has been exhibited across the UK & IRE including Brighton Photo Biannual, John Hansard Gallery and Cork Gallery. Returning to education in 2018 to study a Master’s in Visual Communications at Birmingham City University, he has concentrated on building a portfolio of commercial and editorial work in music as well as becoming a prominent figure within UK Skateboarding and is set to accompany Team GB to Paris 2024. Alongside this, Garry has continues to document the to the stories of communities across the UK including the Coventry Morris Men, the Madame Tussauds artists and Muslim Girls Fence.
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