Bill Jackson, Black Series, n.d.
August 23, 2024
Bill Jackson (1942–2018) was a prolific photographer from the Detroit area whose works have been exhibited throughout the country; he was represented regionally by M Contemporary Art in Ferndale and received numerous accolades during his 50-year career.[1] An alumnus of Monteith College at Wayne State University, Jackson was drawn to photography “not as a storyteller nor a documentarian,” but as an artist channeling “the power and creativity of late 20th century painting and music making.”[2] Often minimalistic in composition, Jackson’s works seem to play extensively with juxtaposition—light versus shadow, organic versus industrial, mundane versus extraordinary, and of pattern, color, form, and scale—and the tensions that emerge therein.
The photographer said of his own practice: "My photography is sparse. Some images are dramatic encounters. Others invite exploration and contemplation. But they say no more than necessary."[3] Black Series, which measures an impressive 45” x 63” compared to its tight crop, exemplifies such an interest in contrast and ambiguity. The photograph (which, it may be interesting to note, is devoid of any artificial brightness[4]) depicts two black, rounded forms which meet center right over a stark white background. Each form is textured and appears to have a flat face, although it is unclear the origins of these forms and their setting, as the density of the composition obscures contextual clues. The title likewise offers little direction, so formal relationships are fluid, their interpretation intentionally left to the viewer (perhaps we see two chemical barrels, two plastic cylinders, a piece of furniture, or even sanded and painted lumber? Are they standalone objects or part of a larger network?). The sparse photograph invokes many associations such as an open book, a pair of legs, and furrowed soil. Jackson’s embrace of subjectivity in this way—his encouragement of inquiry, invention, and sentiment—seems almost antithetical to his medium yet yields the unique drama and intimacy which characterizes his oeuvre.
Despite his untimely death, Jackson has left a lasting impact on the city’s artistic community. While several works feature prominently in the collection at Wayne State University, Jackson is also the subject of a recent solo exhibition at the University of Michigan North Campus Research Park: HOMECOMING, on view through September 5th, 2024.
Written by Sarah Teppen