Artist carries forward Chambers County stone mason’s legacy

CONTRIBUTED BY JAMES PATTERSON

CHAMBERS COUNTY — A regionally famous Chambers County stone mason’s legacy is being carried forward in an unexpected way.

Carrollton, Georgia  artist Johnny Jackson has created a body of work using reclaimed wood from historic homes, including four pieces inspired by his great-great grandfather, Rock Jackson, who made marble headstones from stone quarried on his own land in Chambers County.

One of those works, “Alabama Obelisk,” translates that family history into a contemporary form, carrying forward a tradition of craftsmanship rooted in the land itself. It’s a story of local heritage continuing across generations — from stone to wood.

Jackson’s work will be featured in an upcoming exhibition titled “Close to Home…What We Hold On To. How We Remember,” opening May 2 with a reception from 4 to 6 p.m. and running through June 24 at the Rockmart Cultural Arts Center in Rockmart, Georgia, just about an hour from Chambers County. The exhibition also includes paintings by Scott Foxx and a collection of unfinished quilt tops, all exploring Southern life, memory and tradition.