Everett Jackson; San Diego Artist, Teacher

Everett Jackson, an artist and teacher whose works helped create an awareness of Mexican and other Latin American cultures, has died. He was 94.

Jackson died March 4 of cancer.

His work was exhibited in New York’s Whitney Museum, Washington’s Smithsonian Institution, San Diego’s Museum of Art and Mexico City’s Museo del Carmen.

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan gave Jackson’s painting “The Hikuli Seekers” to Mexican President Jose Lopez Portillo as a goodwill gesture.

For 33 years, Jackson taught art at San Diego State University. At one point, when a campus rule against using nude models threatened to compromise his class on life drawing, he simply moved the classes to his home.

Jackson began writing in his 80s, publishing four books, including “Burros and Paintbrushes: A Mexican Adventure” and “Goat Tails and Doodlebugs: A Journey Toward Art.”

In 1990, Jackson and his wife, Eileen, were named “co-alumni of the year” of San Diego State. The artist was praised as “an important contributor to the cultural life of our community and nation by promoting the values and culture of Mexico in the (United States).”

Jackson grew up in Texas and went to Texas A & M University, intending to be an architect. Switching to art, he also studied at the Chicago Institute of Art, San Diego State and USC.

In addition to his wife, Jackson is survived by a daughter, Jerry Williamson of Point Loma, Calif.

The family has requested that memorial contributions be sent to the Latin American Arts Committee of the San Diego Museum of Art or the San Diego State art department.