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thePeorian.com
Aside from doing his own
works Jackson teaches at the Art
Institute of Chicago.
Jackson is a native of Decatur,
one of 10 children. He said he be-
came an artist and story teller at a
young age. That explains why, as
his biography states, “His work
tends to be narrative in nature,
with emphasis on relating the
details and personalities of our
past.”
To say Jackson is outspoken is
an understatement but he pos-
sesses a wit that can throw off
those with whom he is speaking
if they aren’t ready for it. His in-
fectious laugh and sly grin gives
it away that he is joking. But
there is no mistaking when he is
serious about his beliefs.
He said he is very much a
Democrat and has always been
liberal. “I think artists should
be liberal, at least to the point of
being flexible. Liberals are more
flexible. But many artists have a
difficult time expressing them-
selves and then what they are try-
ing to say doesn’t get interpreted
correctly in their art,” he said.
Jackson believes he expressed
himself clearly in his work but he
certainly does not expect every-
body to agree with him even if
they like the piece itself.
“Some people I know quietly
reject my ideas. But at least they
are causing some kind of reac-
tion. I’m not afraid to express
myself in my art. I don’t hide
behind some abstract concept
that even the artist sometimes
doesn’t understand by the time
it’s finished.
“I speak out because of who
I am. My whole life has been
affected by racism and the many
doors that have been closed
in my face because of it,” said
Jackson. An African-American, he
struggled to get studios to allow
him to present his art when he
was starting out after earning a
bachelor of fine arts degree from
Southern Illinois University. He
Preston Jackson, left, and his
assistant Joy Kessler, show others
a method of preparing plaster for
art work at Jackson’s studio in
the Contemporary Art Center in
downtown Peoria. Below is part of
a Jackson sculpture along Peoria’s
riverfront.