In Jackson, Louisiana, 200-year-old buildings may be falling apart but are never demolished. Instead, they’re transformed into artistic holy ground.
This weekend, Charter Street Studios will host the 50th annual Jackson Assembly Antiques and Art Show. The show is a celebration of the town of Jackson and a fundraiser for the continuing preservation work of the Jackson Assembly. Upstairs in the two-story building, antique dealers from seven states and local artists will showcase and sell their original works. Downstairs in the Gumbo Kitchen, homemade meals will be sold to customers.
Jackson Assembly publicist Jan Worthy, who helped put the event together, said this tradition started in the early ‘60s when some of the older women of the community decided to get together and sell antiques in their homes to raise funds to save the old buildings around town.
“The first time, they brought their old antiques and all of a sudden they were gone,” Worthy said. “They ran out of antiques, and people were fighting over them and everything. It was way more people than they anticipated and it just kept getting bigger and bigger every year.”
The items sold in Charter Street Studios aren’t the only antiques in the show. The entire building itself is an antique, as Charter Street Studios is almost two centuries old. Built in 1820, the studio has since been revamped and made into a key component of the Jackson Assembly Antiques and Art Show.
Now, many other centuries-old buildings in Jackson are being repurposed for the Jackson Assembly Antiques and Art Show. Worthy said the buildings were purchased and renovated with the funds from past shows.
“One of the only advantages of being in the backwater and being poor is that these buildings were never torn down,” Worthy said. “The antique dealers love it because they have old wood floors, brick walls and really high ceilings that show off their antique qualities.”
At the show, people will get the chance to see all of the history the town has to offer. For participants, there will be self-guided tours of Jackson’s historic district.
Worthy said the entire town of Jackson comes together every year for this event. It’s a community affair for everyone to get involved.
“This is a very small town, with probably less than 3,000 people, and it’s just amazing that a small group of people could do something this big for this long,” Worthy said. “Everybody in the community benefits.”
Some of the biggest beneficiaries of the show are the local artists the studio houses. Louisiana artists such as Donna Kilbourne, Keith Morris, Roger Persons, Alice Kent, Stephen Kimball and Ronnie Collins will get the chance to show and sell their art pieces, many of which are original watercolor paintings.
Kilbourne said she made her piece selections for the Jackson Assembly show based on her knowledge of the community’s interests.
“For this show, generally I have an idea of what appeals to this viewing audience,” Kilbourne said. “I mostly pull anything that’s Louisiana-related, or the animal paintings. Any of my animal or landscape paintings usually do well here.”
The Jackson Assembly also allows the artists to use the second floor of Charter Street Studios as studio space for a minimum amount of money. Kilbourne said because the Jackson Assembly has been so supportive of the artists, the show is an important way for the artists to show their appreciation and have personal contact with people who enjoy her work with contagious and inspiring enthusiasm.
“The most rewarding feeling for any artist is when you have someone who truly appreciates your work,” Kilbourne said. “Artwork becomes a part of the artist, so you’re selling a part of yourself. That’s what we have at the show.”
The 50th annual Jackson Assembly Antiques and Art Show takes place March 27 to 29 at 1740 Charter Street in Jackson, Louisiana, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the first two days, and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the last day. Tickets are $10 for all three days.

Gallery • 2 Photos

Ronnie Collins

This is an original piece by Ronnie Collins, a local artist featured at the 50th annual Jackson Assembly Antiques and Art Show