Arts and Leisure
Friday, April 26, 2013
‘I’m Just Going to Keep Being Strong Forever’
Today’s Westport Arts Center’s ArtCafe was held in Bridgeport where the Center has a relationship with the Bridge Academy charter school through its Connections progam, now in its eighth year. A reception was held at the Armstrong Gallery where a student art show is on exhibit. The works were created with artist-in-residence Dylan Cotton who asked students to explore their ideas of identity encountered by urban youth. Eighth grader Deonna Wise, 14, said her work (lower left) is made up of “lines going everywhere because no matter how many people try to bring me down, I’m going to keep being strong forever, just like a line goes on forever…” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Readying for BMS Art Exhibit on Wednesday
Teachers and volunteers prepared today for the 10th annual student art exhibition Wednesday 6 to 8 p.m. at Bedford Middle School. The evening will feature art, music, and poetry. Family, friends and the Westport community are invited to a reception in the Art Café, according to organizers. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Sold Out at Senior Center
It was a sold out performance today at the Westport Center for Senior Activities for “Try to Remember: Songs and Scenes from a Lifetime of Memories,” a show sponsored by the Friends of the Westport Center for Senior Activities. Produced and directed by Doris Jacoby with professional performers donating their time, the program was dedicated to the late Frank Jacoby, Doris Jacoby’s husband, and Pam Naughton, wife of actor James Naughton, who died April 9. A special guest was was Fred Hellerman, one of the original Weavers. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
Sunday Memories
Scenes from today’s performance of “Try to Remember” at the Westport Center for Senior Activities. Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Honored at Library
Westport artist Susan Malloy thanks attendees tonight at a reception at the Westport Public Library where her drawings of Paris are the Riverwalk display exhibit. The display,“April in Paris: Susan Malloy Draws the City of Light,” continues through April 30. The drawings were published a year ago in Malloy’s book, “A Young Person’s Guide to Paris.” (See WestportNow April 19, 2012) (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Guests On Stage at Playhouse Block Party
Almost 600 persons attended today’s Westport Country Playhouse 2013 Season Kick-off Block Party. Guests enjoyed food trucks, special ticket offers, and a look at the Playhouse’s “backstage experience.” The Playhouse’s 2013 season begins on April 30 with A. R. Gurney’s “The Dining Room,” directed by Mark Lamos. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Kat Gloor for WestportNow.com
Backstage Visit
Guests at today’s Westport Country Playhouse 2013 Season Kick-off Block Party toured dressing rooms as part of the day’s activities.. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Kat Gloor for WestportNow.com
Saturday Fun
Scenes from today’s Westport Country Playhouse 2013 Season Kick-off Block Party. Kat Gloor for WestportNow.com
Friday, April 12, 2013
Arts Center Hosts Staples Alumn’s Short Film
The Westport Arts Center and Helen Klisser During, director of Visual Arts, tonight hosted an ArtCafe Happy Hour featuring the first screening by director Jared Frank (r) of his 12-minute short film “Kingswood.” The indie filmmaker, Staples High School and NYU Tisch Film School graduate was joined in a question and answer session by actress Juliette Monaco and producer Tony Borden. The film, which will make the festival rounds, is about the housing crisis, teen angst and the crumbling of the American dream. See the trailer here. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com
Art for Auction at Westport Arts Center’s Noir Ball
Artist Eduardo Agelvis (l) of Venezuela, whose work (l) is on display at the Westport Arts Center’s “SOLOS 2013” exhibit, shows off a painting he is donating for auction at the Center’s Art Noir Ball 2013 on May 18 at the Steel Shed in South Norwalk. He is aided by gala co-chair Deb Murtaugh. Agelvis created the work with the help of students at a workshop in Stamford and Greenwich with the participation of underprivileged immigrant children from the area. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com
Community Theatre Debuts ‘Mr. Pim Passes By’ Tonight
Cast members David Hartigan playing the role of George Marden and Westport resident Ann Kinner, playing the role of his wife, perform in a preview prior to tonight’s opening of “Mr. Pim Passes By” at the Westport Community Theatre. The 1918 play, created by playwright A. A. Milne, known chiefly as the author of Winnie-the-Pooh books, is the story of a quaint, elderly gentleman, Mr. Pim, who drops into the aristocratic Marden residence for a visit and throws the lives of his host and hostess into complete disarray. The play runs through April 28 with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. and on Thursday, April 25 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available through the box office (203)226-1983 or http://www.westportcommunitytheatre.com. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Celebrating Westport’s WPA Art Collection
The ongoing effort to preserve art works in Westport created as part of President Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1935 was the subject of a talk Wednesday night at the Westport Public Library. The project employed thousands of artists to create commissioned works for schools, libraries and public buildings. Newly named Town Curator Kathleen Bennewitz (2nd l) said the committee overseeing the Westport Public Schools Permanent Art Collection is organizing a tour of many of the works of the artists at the end of October. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Town Curator Named
First Selectman Gordon Joseloff announced today that he has appointed Westport resident Kathleen Bennewitz to the newly-created position of Town Curator, responsible for advising the town on the care of its collection of art and sculpture.
Kathleen Bennewitz: named to new position. Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
The Town Curator will work with the Westport Arts Advisory Committee, an appointed group whose charge is the preservation and promotion of the town’s artistic heritage. The committee was established in 1997 by an ordinance approved by the Representative Town Meeting (RTM).
The town owns several hundred works of art, which can be seen throughout Town Hall, the Senior Center, the Parks Department Headquarters, and even the Fire Department Headquarters. Westport also owns a number of significant sculptures, including the Minute Man and the World War II Doughboy Memorial on Veterans Green.
In addition, the town maintains a close relationship with the Westport Schools Permanent Art Collection (WSPAC), which has more than 1,100 works of art displayed in Westport schools, and with the collection at the Westport Library. The Town Curator will serve as liaison to these groups.
New Levitt Construction Expected in May
By James Lomuscio
Stuart McCarthy addresses the Board of Finance Monday night. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Marlow for WestportNow.com
After eight months of delays, construction on the new Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts should begin next month, according to Westpot Parks & Recreation Department Director Stuart McCarthy.
McCarthy discussed the new schedule with the Board of Finance at Monday night’s meeting.
He told the board construction had been held up due to a delay in the town receiving private funding from the Friends of the Levitt Pavilion. The original start date for construction was in September with a planned opening for this summer. Now, the new facility will not be ready until the summer of 2014, he said.
Last August the town approved $1.1 million toward the new facility located on the east bank of the Saugatuck River and behind the Westport Public Library.
More "New Levitt Construction Expected in May"
Monday, April 08, 2013
Roosevelt Grandson Returns to Westport
By Phyllis Groner
David Roosevelt: Eleanor had a “legacy of love.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
David B. Roosevelt, grandson of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt, returned to Westport today where he lived for 15 years to address the Y’s Women about his famous grandparents.
“Before today’s meeting, I went looking for my old house on Sunny Lane,” he told a packed crowd at the Unitarian Church. “I couldn’t find it.” (He moved away in 2001. No. 4 was torn down in 2009 to make way for the new Family Y.)
He had many wonderful things to say about his grandmother, who was the longest-serving First Lady of the United States, holding the post from 1933 to 1945 during her husband’s four terms in office. She died in 1962, when David Roosevelt was 20. In 2002, he published a book, “Grandmere: A Personal History of Eleanor Roosevelt,” about their relationship.
”I felt my grandmother was not a feminist, but a humanist above all else,” Roosevelt said. “Her support of working women is unsurpassed.”
Note: WestportNow Publisher Gordon F. Joseloff is also First Selectman of Westport