Durham Tech recognizes retired vice president Tom Jaynes at on-campus gallery unveiling, presents Long Leaf Pine Award

Retired executive vice president Danny Thomas “Tom” Jaynes was honored for his nearly 30 years of service to Durham Tech last month at an unveiling ceremony for the College’s new D. Thomas Jaynes Art Gallery. Jaynes, who retired in June 2021, was also presented the prestigious Long Leaf Pine Society Award for service to the state of North Carolina. 

Jaynes was a longtime leader at Durham Tech and focused his attention on areas of equity and inclusion, economic mobility for low-income and first-generational families, restructuring the College into Guided Career Pathways, and led the COVID-19 response for Durham Tech. 

In addition, Jaynes had a deep love for art, music, photography, theatre and has been active in creative expression for over three decades. He is also an actor, poet, musician, singer, Tiki scholar, and author. 

“We are delighted to establish the Jaynes Gallery at Durham Tech in honor of our former colleague, Tom. We also aim to continue efforts to add art that reflects our community to campus,” said Melissa Chappell, Executive Director of the Durham Tech Foundation.  

Jaynes said his experiences at Durham Tech inspired him to create art and his art inspired him to be a creative leader. 

“I could not be more honored than to have my name associated with the acts of artistry in painting, photography, in sculpture, drawing, and more. I am humbled by this act, and deeply appreciate those who have contributed to make it happen with your gifts and your art,” Jaynes said. 

The gallery space will honor Jaynes by displaying three of his abstract paintings; a pair: Green, Purple, Gold, and the art piece he donated at the ceremony, Gray, Brown, White. 

“My philosophy on abstract is not to suggest something representational when doing abstract, but simply to reference color and leave the interpretation to the viewer,” he said. 

The gallery also displays pieces from Durham Tech faculty and students. 

When asked about his artistic work, Tom describes that he has been “influenced by a long-term fascination with how light interacts with color, shape, and form.” He is “drawn by how the sunlight streams through stained glass windows, how the sun creates life in the glass and vivid color on what it touches.” 

After taking art classes at Durham Tech, Jaynes began to experiment with how paper might convey a similar luminescence on the canvas like stained-glass. An example of that work anchors the new gallery space at the College today. 

Following his remarks, Dr. Tara Fikes, co-chair of the Durham Tech Board of Trustees, surprised Jaynes with the North Carolina Long Leaf Pine Society Award. 

North Carolina’s governors grant the Long Leaf Pine Society Award for their highest honor, for persons who have made significant contributions to the state and their community through exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments.  

 “I want to thank Gov. Roy Cooper for recognizing Tom Jaynes with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine,” said President JB Buxton. “This recognition is reserved for people who have made outsized contributions to their communities and our state – and that describes Tom Jaynes.” 

For more information, contact Desiree Towson, M.S., Communications and Public Relations Coordinator, at allisontowsond@durhamtech.edu.