Ellington

Scott Crawford believes that visualizing a dream is the first step to making it happen. That concept inspired him to design his ideal city of Jackson with LEGO blocks.

"t's hard to make something happen when you can't imagine it happening," the retired clinical psychologist says. "... This is my imagination of how a cleaner, greater Jackson will be, and I think we can make it happen."

Crawford's installation, which is on display at the Arts Center of Mississippi starting Dec. 9, is a 12 feet long and 6 feet wide model of a pedestrian-friendly Capital city with bike lanes, sustainable energy sources, side walks and civic pride. Crawford initially started The Lego house as a project to distract him from his multiple sclerosis, which caused him to retire in 2000. As he got more involved with the project, he wanted to share it with the public.

"I wanted to make a display for the children and adults of the public that had a message to it," he says. " It quickly grew in my mind, and I wanted to create a picture of an ideal Jackson that's clean, safe, accessible and inviting for everyone."

Crawford, who is a board member of the nonprofit Keep Jackson Beautiful, showed his project to other members, who encouraged him to display it in a public setting. "It's still evolving. I've been working on it through this day ... it got bigger and bigger," he says. 


Crawford was born in Boston, Mass., but grew up in Vicksburg. He earned his bachelor's degree in clinical psychology from Millsaps College and his doctorate degree in psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1995. He resides in Jackson with his dog, Zoe.

The opening reception for "LEGO Jackson" is Thursday, Dec. 9, from 5 p.m. to 7p.m. at the Arts Center of Mississippi at 201 East Pascagoula St. Admission is free for all ages.