Art exhibit opens in honor of 100 Years of Scouting

Boy Scouts are often associated with outdoor activities such as camping and jamborees. On Sunday, however, Scouts got the chance to hear local watercolorist Paul Jackson in celebration of “100 Years of Scouting.” 100 Years of Scouting marks the centennial of Scouting in America. While the actual anniversary of the 100^th year is Monday, the Great Rivers Council, a Boy Scouts of America group that serves 33 counties in mid-Missouri, started celebrations early. Paul Jackson, an eagle scout and board member of Great Rivers Council, prepared an exhibit from his personal collection of his watercolor paintings.

The event Sunday marked one of several events the Boy Scouts are holding to commemorate the organization's 100^th anniversary. Mike Miller, director of finance and marketing for the Great Rivers Council, encouraged Scouts to be actively involved in church services today.

"Faith is an important part of Scouting. It is in the 12 points of Scout law," Miller said.

Jackson spoke in front of about 150 Scouts for the opening.

“(Scouting) taught me to finish things,” he said in his speech. “Boy Scouts also taught me to do the right thing, even if you have to lose everything.”

The exhibit includes 60 paintings with a wide variety of style and subject matter. Jackson’s favorite, which he says is always his most recent, is called “Liquid Light;” it depicts a vibrant street scene with a bird flying through it.

Light is the biggest factor to his paintings, Jackson said.

“Light makes any subject. Sometimes light becomes the subject,” he said. “It is the common theme in all of my work.” 

The Boone County Historical Museum will house the exhibit until September. Celebrations for the 100^th anniversary of Scouts in America will continue in different forms all year, but Sunday was the public event for the Scouts. Columbia was chosen because of its rich history and central location within the Great Rivers Council’s service area.