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Jean Mattson (center), president of the Historical Society of Plainfield conducts the 2001 annual meeting. |
Plainfield cultural icon Jean Mattson passed away on May 1 at her home.
I knew Jean as a photographer, an indefatigable events and exhibits organizer, and as a friend. She was indeed, as her daughter Lois has said, a force of nature.
Her photography was masterful, with attention paid to every detail. (For my notice of her 2010 retrospective show at the Plainfield Public Library, click here.)
Over the years, she began a continuing project of recording the images of the Plainfield men and women who had been crucial in some of the great civil rights struggles of the 20th century.
Eventually, she expanded that project to include a broad segment of Plainfield people and presented the final work as an exhibit at the Plainfield Public Library.
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'Young girl on a bench,' from Jean's 2010 show. |
She also celebrated her Irish roots and mounted an exhibition of photographs from her travels in Ireland in another Library show.
But perhaps Jean's most important contributions to Plainfield's diversity were the events she organized.
In 2000, Jean put together an exhibit at the Library entitled "100 Years of Plainfield Artists", drawing on Plainfield's many talented artists -- such as painters Riva Helfond, Alonzo Adams, Indira Bailey, and landscape artist Gerri Heydt -- as well as recognizing artists of the past with Plainfield connections, such as Jonas Lie.
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Jean at '100 Years of Plainfield Artists' in April, 2000. (l ro r) Gerri Heydt, Mayor Al McWilliams, and Indira Bailey. |
In addition, Jean was a motive force behind Ethfest, a celebration of Plainfield's cultural diversity in music, dance, and arts and crafts. The series of festivals, which ran from 2000 through 2002, was made possible by the support of Mayor Albert McWilliams.
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Jean and Mayor McWilliams pose with Guyanese participants in first Ethfest, 2000. |
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Peruvian musicians perform at Ethfest 2002. |
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Crowds thronged Ethfest 2002 at Cedar Brook Park. |
But as much as I valued Jean's contributions to the community, she was also a friend.
The first time I met her, shortly after moving to Plainfield, she remarked that her daughter Lois and I "must have been separated at birth," a joke that caused hilarity over the years.
Nat and I were adopted into the family and spent many years together at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.
Christmas Eve dinner, following Swedish customs and menu, was invariably served at Jean and Moose's landmark Ravine Road home, after which we all would attend Midnight Mass.
For years, when Al McWilliams' star was on the rise as mayor, Jean could be seen riding her bike throughout the neighborhood, soliciting anyone she met to vote for McWilliams, who referred to her simply as "the Citizen".
Owing to Covid-19 restrictions, a small, private funeral will be celebrated Thursday, with Canon Robert Griner officiating. You can read the online obituary at Higgins Home for Funerals here. The family plans a memorial service after the pandemic restrictions are eased.
Jean, I shall miss you greatly, but suspect you are already organizing an exhibition that will outdo all your previous efforts.
Rest in peace.
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