Grand marshal's favorite subject is Glen Ellyn
For Jerry Perkins, life and art go hand in hand.
As an award-winning architect and businessman for more than 50 years, Gerald "Jerry" Perkins has had a role in helping to mold Glen Ellyn with a vision for what he wanted it to be, and for what it is to many - a picture-perfect place to live.
In his role as watercolor artist, he has captured much of that beauty and recorded it.
This year's grand marshal of Glen Ellyn's 4th of July parade, Perkins will have much to reflect on as the parade traverses past some of the 100 buildings and landmarks he has designed or redesigned in Glen Ellyn: the gazebo near the Prairie Path, the Horsley Building at Main and Crescent, Fire station No. 1, the Civic Center and numerous homes.
Perkins founded his architecture business, now known as PPKS Architects, Inc., in 1951.
He was recently named a Glen Ellyn Legend by the Glen Ellyn Historical Society. Besides designing many of Glen Ellyn's distinguished buildings, the World War II vet also served as a village trustee, founding member of the Glen Ellyn Historical Society, assisted with the Stacey's Tavern restoration and was a proponent of the Glen Ellyn History Park, in addition to serving with Rotary and on other boards and as a consultant. His award-winning firm has designed more than 3,500 local and international projects.
At the conclusion of the 4th of July parade at Lake Ellyn Park, it is only fitting he will gaze upon the War Memorial and the boathouse - more evidence of his vision for the village.
"There is so much of the infrastructure of Glen Ellyn - he designed that," said Jan Langford, executive director of the Glen Ellyn Historical Society. "The impact that he has had has been tremendous."
At an April reception honoring Perkins for his Legends award, there was a display of his many talents including his watercolors.
"We had a retrospective of some of his art and architecture," Langford said. "Not all of his paintings depict Glen Ellyn, but my personal favorites are the Glen Ellyn landscapes. People love to be reminded of the community that they love."
Perkins always had a love for art. During the Depression years, his father gave him some advice.
"My dad always said, 'You don't want to be a starving artist.' I talked to a school counselor. She said, 'You're good at art and you're good at math. Those are good qualities for an architect.' So I went in that direction. My paintings are a hobby," Perkins said.
His talent has proven to be not just an asset in his line of work, but something that he relishes.
"Some fellows like to play golf or tennis," he added. "Some like to go fishing or hunting. My passion is to go out into the wild and paint a picture."
Perkins still remains very active. "I have to force myself to quit at the end of the day. I just love the work I've been doing. That's the key," Perkins said.
His Glen Ellyn home abounds with his watercolors, reminders of the places and travels he has enjoyed. Perkin's late wife, Janice, had polio, but it did not stop them from living their lives to the fullest. She was a travel agent who specialized in accommodations for the disabled. Jerry and Janice toured the world over, with Jerry stopping to paint when he saw a fitting subject.
"All my walls are pretty well taken up," he said. "I have a story for each and every one."
There are vignettes portraying locations near and far: scenes of England, France, Iceland, Scotland, but also nearby settings in Wisconsin and of course, his beloved Glen Ellyn. They are all captured in a singular moment of serenity and beauty.
Perkins recalled the day he set about painting the idyllic watercolor scene of the boathouse at Lake Ellyn. It was a glorious day - sunny, green, with splashes of vibrant color from the nearby trees and azure sky of early summer.
"A number of people had asked me if I would paint the boathouse, and I did. I just sat on the ground and put my pad and paper on my lap," Perkins said.
A print of that image has been created and is available in limited quantity to benefit the Glen Ellyn Historical Society.
When Perkins paints, he brings all of his supplies to the site and completes the work on the spot.
"I do everything right then and there," he said.
Some of Perkin's watercolors are in the hands of private collectors, but his family has benefited as well.
"My family, my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren all have paintings," he said.
When Perkins was asked to allow the Glen Ellyn Historical Society to make a print of one of his works, he selected his watercolor of the boathouse. That print is available to view and a limited number are available to purchase for $35 at the shop at Stacey's Tavern Museum, 557 Geneva Road, Glen Ellyn. For details, call the Glen Ellyn Historical Society at (630) 858-8696.