Unique exhibit by a special needs young man
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - The David & Joyce Milne Public Library in Williamstown will showcase the paintings of 17 year old Jacob Houston for the entire month of October. A resident of Greenwich, NY and a student at Greenwich High School.“Jake started drawing all on his own at a very young age…I think before he walked! He always had an amazing ability to show perspective, even in the early years. He never had any formal lessons other than art classes in school.
He painted a beautiful ocean scene on his bedroom wall when he was in elementary school, and now has painted it over with a N.Y.C. scene covering Central Park down to the Statue of Liberty. He has also been hired to paint an underground water scene mural for a wall in an indoor swimming pool room, and painted Celtics basketball emblems on another person[‘s walls for him.
He has two wonderful art teachers in the High School, Ms. Meyer and Mrs. Dupuis, who have been incredibly supportive of him. Mrs. Meyer advocated for him to take high school art while he was in Junior High, the first Greenwich student to ever do that! Jacob picks his subjects from his personal interests (city scenes and buildings, Eiffel Tower, places he has visited and wants to visit in the future) , commissioned jobs where people tell HIM what to paint ( hot air balloon, wedding scene, their homes, the gazebo in a park in Greenwich), contest topics ( 1850 farm scenes for the Washington County Farm Museum Annual Contest…he has won 1st place 4 years in a row) Many of his paintings look down on the subject from above, you may have noticed. People have told me that they can recognize Jake’s work because of his unique style.
He also loves to “create” sculptures in our backyard… we have a 12 foot high Eiffel tower in our backyard which he build with bricks which he purchased with his own money. He lights it up with Christmas lights which he changes for the holidays (orange for Halloween, red and green for Christmas, etc.)” comments his Mother, Claire.
“I think that art will always be in my life because it makes me feel happy and successful. It has helped me meet a lot of new people and to a lot of new discoveries in my life.” states Jake.
For more information contact Pat McLeod, Library Director at (413) 458-5369 or pmcleod@williamstown.net.
