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Art becomes outlet for Joe Simms, 63-year-old Orange County man with mental disability Date published: 2/13/2005 By CATHY DYSON Joe Simms walked into the New York City art gallery as if he belonged there. He started talking with others whose work also was on display, and in no time at all he was blending in with the crowd. What might have been considered small talk for some was no small accomplishment for someone like Joe Simms. The 63-year-old had spent years in isolation, unable to tell others what he was thinking or feeling. He hadn't been able to learn the basics in school--or even go to school much--because there weren't any programs, in his day, for people with mental disabilities. So Simms lived with his mother, under her protective care and, for the most part, in his own little world. Even as recently as a few years ago, he wouldn't have attempted a conversation with someone he didn't know--or gotten through one without stuttering. But here he was, on this cold winter evening in the Soho district of Manhattan, where contemporary artists gather to show off their stuff. Sure, he fidgeted a lot, and he has a tendency to mumble, but the humble man from the rural countryside of Orange County was being far more outgoing than he ever used to be. He probably mentioned the vibrant colors he uses and the make-believe animals he favors. He might have explained his style in simple terms, saying: "No, I don't look at no picture when I paint. I just go on and paint." Art brought Simms to this New York City gallery. Art gave him an outlet to express himself. Art changed him. "He's more open, more verbal, more sociable," said his younger sister, Mary Simms Burton, who lives in Charlottesville and went with him on his first trip out of Virginia. "As he's gotten older, he's gotten so much more independent, and we're so very proud of him." And grateful that others recognized Simms' raw talent--and offered him a place to work. 'It's gotta come out'Megan Marlatt noticed something special about Joe Simms' work the first time she saw it.
1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
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