Written by Scott M. Crawford, Ph.D
LEGO JACKSON started as just a fun distraction and hobby, one way to cope with my progressing disability caused by Multiple Sclerosis. The display was originally intended to brighten my house for Christmas, but it soon became more.
I wanted to imagine what Jackson can and will be. Before something can happen in reality, though, we must be able to visualize it, to conceptualize it happening, and finally, to WORK at it. LEGO Jackson is just one vision of our Capital City, as a clean, safe, pedestrian friendly community that welcomes everyone. It has well-kept houses, bike lanes, sustainable energy sources, accessible streets and sidewalks, public transit, and most important of all, civic pride. People in LEGO Jackson don’t litter, but pick up trash. They get to know their neighbors, confront crime and injustice, care about each other, and respect themselves and their city.
Imagine it, and it can happen. It will take hard work though, and each of us has our part to play. Keep our streets clean. Take a stand against crime. Respect your neighbors, seek cleaner forms of energy, reduce, reuse, and recycle like our Earth depends upon it.
Each year, I add an original design to LEGO JACKSON, modeled using pictures taken of an actual building. One year I did Bailey School. Last year I built The Standard Life Building. This year, I’m adding a hospital complex complete with pedestrian bridge.
Seeing the looks on children’s faces as they enjoy the display makes all the work worthwhile. I hope that by appreciating our city in miniature, we’ll learn to take care of it, and each other.
LEGO JACKSON is scheduled to open Saturday, December 6th, 2014 at the Arts Center of Mississippi, 201 East Pascagoula Street.
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.- Walt Disney
Imagination is more important than knowledge.- Albert Einstein
Be the change you want to see in the world.- Mohandas Gandhi
Check out LEGO Jackson’s Facebook Page here!
Jackson: photographs by Ken Murphy is available now for purchase. To order a copy, call Lemuria Books at 601.366.7619 or visit us online at lemuriabooks.com.
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