PEORIA (25News Now) – A well-known artist capturing the authentic history of Native American tribes for Peoria Park District’s next statue.
Four years ago, the park board decided to remove a Christopher Columbus statue from Laura Bradley Park. Now, it’s paying Peoria Artist Preston Jackson $100,000 to create a new statue focusing on Indigenous People.
“It’s evolution, a recognition that we are striving continuously to know the truth, and that’s what I got the opportunity to replace, one image from the other, to teach,” Jackson said.
The Park District Board of Trustees chose Jackson to make statue in August.
Thus far, Jackson only has a frame of the sculpture’s structure, shaped like the Cahokia Mounds in Collinsville. He said each side will reference a specific existence of Native Americans.
However, before Jackson begins forming the clay representing wildlife and culture, he has more research to do, like interviewing local tribes, to ensure every detail is accurate.
“I would say …