SPRINGFIELD.- The Illinois State Museum presents the exhibit Bearing Witness: The Art of Preston Jackson. The Illinois State Museum in partnership with the University of Illinois Springfield Gallery, Springfield Art Association, and Prairie Art Alliance presents a citywide exhibition Bearing Witness: The Art of Preston Jackson from September 9 through October 28. The Illinois State Museum portion of this exhibition will continue through November 26. This exhibition will feature the works of the much beloved African American artist from Peoria, Preston Jackson. Each art venue will present a different group of works by Jackson. This is the first partnership effort of this kind between four major art venues in the Springfield community. Selections from Fresh from Julieanne's Garden, his critically acclaimed figurative bronze sculptures, will be presented at the Illinois State Museum.

This city-wide celebration of Illinois artist Preston Jackson will display different bodies of work at each institution, to enable the viewer to explore and experience the depth and breadth of Mr. Jackson's prolific career:

University of Illinois Springfield - an outdoor sculpture, plus Julieanne's Garden figurative bronzes in the UIS Art Gallery Illinois State Museum - more Julieanne's Garden sculpture plus the large Jackson steel and bronze vessel sculpture in the Lower Level Galleries Springfield Art Association - Paintings and Abstract, where Jackson shows his talent as a colorist Prairie Art Alliance at the Hoogland Center for the Arts - a portion of From Bronzeville to Harlem, a miniature cityscape in bronze and steel.