The Westport Library tonight honored Westport artist Miggs Burroughs at a reception in its Great Hall. The event titled “Bravo & Thank You, Miggs!” caps Burroughs’ yearlong artist-in-residence role at the library. Bill Harmer (r), executive director, praised Burroughs as the library’s ambassador to the town. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Westport artist Miggs Burroughs tonight shows off a t-shirt gift from the Westport Library as it honored him at the end of his yearlong artist-in-residence role at the library. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

A look at the Westport Library’s “River of Names,” the 26-foot mural by artist Marion Grebow commissioned in 1997 as a fundraising effort. The library plans to remove the mural and put it in storage as it embarks on its transformaiton project. The libary says plans are in place to reinstall the mural once the construction is completed. However, Grebow, original fundraisers Dorothy Curran and Betty Lou Cummings, among others, have expressed concerns over the library’s plans for the mural’s removal, storage, and reinstallation. Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By James Lomuscio

As the Westport Library readies for its $20 million transformation with the groundbreaking set for Sept. 14, an artist, her attorney and a former library trustee have serious concerns about the donor tile wall “River of Names.”

The “River of Names” mural was created in 1997-98 by Redding artist Marion Grebow. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Created by Redding artist Marion Grebow in 1997-98, the 26-foot long, 6-foot high work outside the McManus Room choreographs the town’s history and comprises 1,162 separate tiles for which donors to the library’s previous renovation paid between $100 to $2,500 each depending upon tile size and degree of artwork.

Library officials plan to take the mural down as part of the building’s renovation and expansion, just as it has already appraised, removed and stored more than 150 works of art that have been on display throughout the library’s public spaces, reading and program rooms and staff offices.

The rub for Grebow is uncertainty as to where her work it will wind up, if at all, in the new library. Dorothy Curran, who had served at a library trustee for seven years and headed up the donor tile campaign, also questions how the mural removal will be viewed by donors.

Arthur Lipner & Brasilian Vibes performed at the Levitt Pavilion tonight. The mixture of cool rhythms and harmonies brought an enthusiastic response from the audience. One of the world’s leading vibes and marimba players, Lipner, a Brazilian-American, has performed previously at the Levitt as well as the Westport Arts Center. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The cast takes a bow at the opening night Westport Country Playhouse performance tonight of “Appropriate” by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and directed by David Kennedy,  “‘Appropriate’ uses family as a metaphor for the nation, going right to the heart of important questions about who we are and where we come from,” said Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director. The play runs through Sept. 2. Pictured (l-r) are Allison Winn, Diane Davis, Shawn Fagan. Betsy Aidem, David Aaron Baker. Anna Crivelli, Nick Selting and Christian Michael Camporin. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Austin, Texas-based The Peterson Brothers entertained to a packed crowd tonight at the Levitt Pavilion with a modern blend of blues, soul and funk. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The Peterson Brothers, who hold a standing room only weekly residency at the famed music hall in Austin, Texas, were the Saturday offering tonight at the Westport Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts. In addition to having played with and opened for the likes of Gary Clark Jr., the late B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Los Lonely Boys and Willie Nelson, they have appeared at festivals throughout the United States. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo