Autobiography of Nancy Ann Jones (a.k.a. Annie Red Crow and Moonsinger)
Nancy Ann Jones, widely known in sacred and feminist art circles as Annie Red Crow, was a visionary artist, Wiccan priestess, Métis medicine woman, educator, and activist. Born on December 13, 1936, in Pasadena, California, Nancy embodied a rare blend of artistic mastery, spiritual wisdom, and deep cultural knowledge. Her life's work was devoted to healing, ceremony, and the power of creative expression. She used art as a sacred practice to reclaim and elevate the divine feminine, champion Indigenous and earth-based spirituality, and nurture generations of artists and seekers.
Early Life and Education
Nancy was the daughter of John Henry “Jack” Munns and Gladys Miranda (Forthum) Munns. Her father’s English roots and her mother’s Norwegian ancestry formed a cultural tapestry that shaped her curiosity about world traditions. She was raised in Altadena, California, alongside her younger brother Larry. From an early age, Nancy showed an interest in art and spirituality.
She attended Edison Elementary and Eliott Jr. High School in Pasadena before completing high school at South Pasadena High. She continued her education at Pasadena City College and later earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History with a minor in Anthropology from California State University, Northridge.
Marriage and Family
At age 17, Nancy met the love of her life, Fenton Grant Jones. They married in San Antonio, Texas, on March 15, 1957, and went on to raise five children: Denise, Michele, Russell, Leslie, and Deidra. Her legacy grew to include ten grandchildren and multiple great-grandchildren. Nancy was a devoted mother who nurtured creativity and individuality in her children, inspiring them to live authentically and spiritually connected lives.
Artistic Journey and Professional Life
Nancy’s artistic career was vast and multidisciplinary. She mastered a wide range of mediums, including acrylic, pen and ink, weaving, collage, batik, pottery, printing, bookmaking, tie-dye, and sculpture. Her work often explored themes of transformation, ritual, earth cycles, goddess spirituality, and Indigenous wisdom.
Nancy was deeply involved in the feminist art movement. She served as a program director at the influential Woman’s Building in Los Angeles and contributed to collaborative projects such as Judy Chicago’s renowned installation “The Dinner Party.” She also helped lead the Women's Graphic Center and was an art critic, teacher, and mentor to many young artists. Her curatorial and activist work extended to Self Help Graphics and the Artists Contributing to the Solution (ACTS) group.
She was honored with the Hagia Sophia Lifetime Achievement Award by the Temple of the Goddess in 2011.
Spiritual Leadership
Known ceremonially as Annie Red Crow, Nancy was a Wiccan priestess and a practicing medicine woman within the Métis Sweet Medicine Sundance tradition. She founded and served as priestess of the Shrine of Our Lady of the West, a spiritual lineage rooted in Indigenous, feminine, and earth-based practices. Her spiritual art—such as her South Direction piece “Trust and Innocence”—is both prayer and prophecy. She led moon rituals, seasonal ceremonies, and community healing circles grounded in the sacred wheel of life and the honoring of all directions.
Legacy and Impact
Nancy's legacy lives on in the art she created, the rituals she led, the children and artists she mentored, and the communities she helped heal. Her name is recorded in feminist art histories including “Expanding Circles: Women, Art & Community” and “Yesterday and Tomorrow: California Women Artists.” Her activism and artistic philosophy reflected a belief in the interconnection of all life and the sanctity of the feminine.
Nancy passed away on January 12, 2024, having touched countless lives with her spirit, intellect, and radiant presence. Through her children, her students, and the spiritual circles she nourished, her light continues to shine.
This autobiography was created with reverence and love by her family and community, drawing from Nancy’s own writings, artworks, and the lives she enriched.
