I missed the opening event for this year’s LEGO Jackson on December 8, but I made sure to head over to the Arts Center of Mississippi, where the Mississippi Museum of Art used to hold court before moving to their new building a few years ago. Jacksonian, and a Fondren neighbor, Scott Crawford has put his LEGO version of Jackson on display the last several Christmases, and each year there’s more to see. This year I heard there was a version of Bailey Junior High School, Jackson’s very own masterwork by the masters Overstreet & Town, opened in 1937 on North State Street, where it still hovers over its massive site. As you may recall, Bailey got a good cleaning earlier this year.

Bailey Junior High School, Jackson (1937)

Crawford’s version of Jackson is always full of whimsy, and features a vision of the future as much as the present, along with a strong dose of fantasy. This year, some stupid or evil person broke into his storage unit and broke up many of his buildings, but he has come back stronger than ever.

Bailey Junior High to the right, City Hall near the center, windmills to the left and the reservoir far left.

I spent a lot of time examining how Bailey was “constructed.” Now that I’ve built three LEGO architectural kits, I may decide to try my hand at re-creating a Mississippi building from scratch. Bailey was a great choice for LEGOs, and a number of Overstreet & Town’s other schools Art Moderne/International schools are ripe for similar treatment.

When I came home I realized I had taken 60 pictures, so I’ll just let the images do my talking for me–don’t worry, I’ve culled it down to a more manageable number! Needless to say, if you are within traveling distance of Jackson between now and January 15, 2013, you should take a side trip to LEGO Jackson. It’s free and children of all ages will find it fun, interesting, thought-provoking, and you’ll leave with a smile on your face.

Many of the walls of the various buildings are hinged to allow them to open up and have interior scenes.

Bailey auditorium

A nice touch adding the Bailey bas relief sculptures.

Batman is watching over us.

Nice glass block details

Bailey Junior High gymnasium as the Bat Cave. Nice!

The City Hall, built 1854, has been a part of the group since the beginning, as far as I remember.

Jackson City Hall

Check out those volutes!!

The Jackson Convention Center has been reinterpreted as a UFO Convention Center, along with real green aliens and spaceships, befitting its out-of-this world vibe. I admit, I would probably be attending this convention. This brought to mind that horrible/wonderfully funny/apparently sincere Karen Carpenter song, “Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft.”

More odds and ends . . .

Downtown Jackson, a little more Victorian than it really is, but not more Victorian than it really was back when the Victorians were around.

Nice roof sign!

Finally the Metro Parkway linking the airport/space port to downtown is a reality!

A police command center to make the late Frank Melton proud.

A Romanesque church with rose window and open roof to look inside.

A police command center to make the late Frank Melton proud.

Still need drive-through banks though, right Thomas Rosell?

Godzilla!!

Thanks to Scott Crawford for all his hard work and imagination, and to the Arts Center for showcasing the results! Merry Christmas, y’all!

Categories: Jackson