Mary Jackson (artist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Jackson
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Jackson in 2018
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| Born | February 15, 1945 |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Basketmaking, weaving |
| Spouse(s) | Stoney Jackson |
| Awards | Macarthur Genius Grant (2008) |
Mary Jackson (born in 1945) is an amazing African American fiber artist. She is famous for her beautiful sweetgrass basket weaving. She uses old traditions but adds her own modern ideas.
Mary grew up in coastal South Carolina. Her family has been making baskets for many generations. In 2008, she won a special award called the MacArthur Foundation fellowship. This award recognized her for making basket weaving exciting and new. Mary also received the National Heritage Fellowship in 2010.
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Mary Jackson's Life Story
Mary Jackson was born on February 15, 1945. She grew up in a special community called Gullah in Mount Pleasant. This town is just outside of Charleston, South Carolina.
Mary started making sweetgrass baskets when she was only four years old. Her mother and grandmother taught her. This tradition of sweetgrass basket weaving has been passed down for many generations. It started with West African slaves who came to coastal South Carolina in the early 1700s.
Early Life and Learning
When Mary was a child, she would gather with her family. They would all help weave baskets in her grandmother's yard. After finishing high school, Mary moved to New York City.
In New York, she went to secretarial school. She then worked for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Mary lived in New York for ten years. While there, she often visited museums and art galleries. She even started collecting modern paintings and sculptures.
Returning Home and New Challenges
Mary returned to South Carolina in 1972. She continued to work as a secretary. She soon learned that the sweetgrass used for baskets was becoming harder to find.
Through her work at the Charleston Community Center, she helped. She got permission from landowners to let basketmakers gather sweetgrass. This was on land that was going to be built on.
In the 1970s, Mary had to stay home. Her young son had a health condition that needed her care. While at home, she started making baskets again. She would sell them at the city market in Charleston.
Developing Her Unique Style
During this time, Mary began to create her own unique designs. She used sweetgrass, palmetto, pine needles, and bulrush in her work. Her carefully made and new baskets started to get noticed.
In 1984, she was invited to show her baskets. This was at the Smithsonian Craft Show. That event was a big moment in Mary's career.
Recognition and Community Work
Mary Jackson has received many awards. One of the most famous is the MacArthur "genius grant" in 2008. Her baskets have been shown in many important places. These include the Smithsonian American Art Museum and The White House Collection of American Crafts.
Her work has also been displayed at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. Other places include the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Also, the Museum of African American History in Detroit. And the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Mary is a founder and president of the Mount Pleasant Sweetgrass Basket Makers Association. She works with other basketmakers and local leaders. They work to save grasses from building sites. They also replant them in protected areas.
Mary is still living in Charleston with her husband, Stoney. She continues to make beautiful sweetgrass baskets. These baskets carry on a tradition passed down from her ancestors. This tradition began in West Africa. It was brought to America by slaves.
Amazing Awards and Honors
Mary Jackson has received many special awards for her incredible work:
- 1993 Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Museum for Women in the Arts
- 2008 MacArthur Genius Grant
- 2008 United States Artists Donnelley Fellowship
- 2008 Environmental Stewardship Award of Achievement from the South Carolina Aquarium
- 2009 Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, College of Charleston
- 2010 National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts
- 2018 College of Fellows, American Craft Council
