‘The amount of support I’ve received is what I’m truly grateful for’
Artist born without forearms follows her passion for painting
WESTPORT — One of Rosie Jon’s earliest memories is picking up a giant pencil she got from a fair with her feet as a child.
Jon was born without forearms, but it didn’t stop her from doing what she loves, art.
Art has always been part of her life. She would sit in the kitchen as a child and fill the sketchbook her mother would put in front of her with drawings using her feet.
To celebrate 10 years of her career as an artist, inspirational speaker and writer, Jon’s first exhibition will be on display at the gallery at Green’s Farms Church from Dec. 1 to Jan. 12.
“This is the perfect timing to do this exhibition in this beautiful space — a beautiful space that represents the community that has loved and supported me in such an extraordinary way,” Jon said.
At the exhibition opening Friday night, not only were pieces from throughout Jon’s career on display, but she created a live alcohol painting on glass in front of the attendees with accompanying music. She also set it on fire, which she often does to set it into the glass. It was followed by a conversation portion with her friend and journalist Anne Craig and questions from the audience.
The church will also hang that piece on the wall to add it to the rest of the collection.
Jon said she doesn’t own much of the art she creates, as it is often donated or given as a gift to the school in which she did the demonstration. So, she picked from the few that she has and had prints brought in to represent the change in her style over 10 years and the support she’s had the whole time.
The pieces include the first painting she ever did