A View of World War I Through the Arts

A standing room only crowd tonight attended a presentation at the Westport Historical Society (WHS) titled “Johnnie Get Your Gun.” The event, a collaboration by the WHS, the Westport Public Library, and WestportREADS, was led by Westporter Robin Jaffee Frank, former chief curator (2011-2016) of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Arts, Hartford. Frank presented American artists’ responses to World War I and showed period relics including the famed “I Want You,” poster and Norman Rockwell’s Life magazine cover which reassuringly depicted happy doughboys singing George M. Cohan’s popular song “Over There.” The WestportREADS selection, “Regeneration” by Pat Barker, focuses on World War I history. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com