Jim Horahan, center, welcomes Ben Schiano, and fellow residents Nancy Lenoce, Penny Alexander, and Willa Uzarski to his art show./ Contributed photo
SHELTON - Jim Horahan, a resident of Wesley Heights, recently shared his paintings and artwork at an art show at Wesley Village.
Linda Fera, activity director at Wesley Heights, discovered Horahan had quite a collection of artwork in his apartment as well as in a storage unit.
“I was so surprised to find he had this hidden talent,” Fera said. “The artwork in his apartment was impressive on its own, but when I saw the photos of his other pieces, I just decided we needed to do this for him.”
Horahan, who is in his 70s, only started to paint about 20 years ago.
He is completely self-taught and has created hundreds of pieces. Many of them are kept by family, while others hang in prestigious offices throughout Manhattan.
“My dad had a gallery in Westport for some time," said Kathy McNeil, Horahan’s daughter who attended the show with her daughter Maggie. “He finds true joy in it,” she said.
Fera commented on how Horahan “was completely in his element,” while setting up for the show and staging his pieces.
Karen Diez, Horahan’s other daughter, and Louis, his grandson, also attended the show. According to Karen, Louis is the family member who inherited his grandfather’s artistic ability.
“He really is very talented,” she said.
Horahan is just one of the many talented residents at Wesley Village.
Throughout the year, each of the communities on campus host similar events to showcase residents’ artwork, collections, and memorabilia.
Wesley Heights is part of the Wesley Village senior living campus, located at 580 Long Hill Ave. and is part of United Methodist Homes, a local not-for-profit organization.
The Wesley Village campus offers assisted and independent living, memory support, skilled nursing, short-term rehab, and outpatient therapy and fitness services.
