Westport artist Miggs Burroughs (c) was recently commissioned to create a display of historic memorabilia along with 10 lenticular images from archival photos of the New York and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras. The exhibit opened tonight at the Austrian Cultural Forum at 11 East 52 St., New York. At the end of March, the exhibit will go to Vienna to be displayed at its Philharmonic Hall. Burroughs is pictured with Barbara Haws (l), chief New York Philharmonic Orchestra archivist, and Assistant Archivist Gabryel Smith. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo<

The Westport Historical Society and TEAM Westport tonight hosted author Adrian Miller to speak about his new book “The President’s Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, From the Washingtons to the Obamas.” The event on George Washington’s Birthday was a high point in both organizations Black History Month programming. MIller, who was a special aide to President Clinton, entertained the audience with little known insider details about presidential meals and the people who cooked them. Known as the Soul Food Scholar, Miller describes himself as a recovering lawyer and politico. He won a James Beard Award for his 2013 book, “Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

By Susan Granger

Every film year acts as a mirror and reflects the tenor of the times. When the Oscars began in 1929 to celebrate the motion picture industry, the winner was William Wellman’s anti-war “Wings.”

The subsequent Depression years celebrated character studies like “Grand Hotel,” “The Great Ziegfeld” and “Rebecca.” After the turmoil of Kennedy’s assassination, the Academy chose lighthearted fare like “Tom Jones,” “My Fair Lady,” and “Oliver!” And in 2000, the last time a Republican won the White House, after losing the popular vote, “Gladiator” won the Oscar.

Socio-politics inevitably influence the choices of the almost-7,000 Academy voters and, this year, the Academy inducted 683 new members. How they’ll vote is an unknown factor.

Back when studios had people under contract, they voted in “blocs” for the films of their home studio. As Joan Crawford once said, “You’d have to be an idiot to vote against the studio that holds your contract and produces your pictures.” But the studio system no longer exists.

The back of the “I am more than___” form filled out today by U.S. Rep. Jim Himes at the Westport Arts Center and now included in its current exhibit, “As We Are!”  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lynn U. Miller for WestportNow.com

From Schubert to Brahms, a classical music festival is set for Wednesday, March 1, at 8 p.m. at Steinway & Sons of Westport, 501 Post Road East, organizers announced.

Igor Pikayzen, concert violinist and 2005 Staples High School graduate, teaches a master class last month to Staples students. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The concert is major fundraiser for Edelio, a nonprofit, first time, four-concert series scheduled at different locations throughout town this summer.

The series will feature classical, jazz, contemporary and final master classes by Staples High School students, according to Igor Pikayzen, a violinist, event organizer, and 2005 Staples graduate.

Pikayzen said the March 1 Steinway gala will include works by Schubert, Chausson, Feygin, Waxman and Brahms. It will feature Pikayzen on the violin, Tatyana Pikayzen on the piano and Caleb van der Swaagh on cello. A reception will follow.

Westport artist Nina Bentley today caresses one of her artistic animals from her “Adopt-A-Pet” collection on the final day of a three-artist exhibit at the Silvermine Arts Center, New Canaan. The exhibit, “Flights of Fantasy and Games Changes” also includes works by former Westport resident Jane Lubin, and Kim Hanna of Delaware. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By Gordon Joseloff

Irene Backalenick, a former longtime Westport resident, has entered a new career at 95 — poet.

Irene Backalenick with her new book of poetry, “Rueful Reflections.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo by Cynthia Mcguire

A former freelance journalist (New York Times, etc.) and noted 30-year theater critic, she calls herself a “beginner poet” and has just published her first book, “Rueful Reflections,” available at Amazon.com.

Now a resident of Bridgeport’s Watermark senior living facility, Backalenick said, “I’d never written a poem in my life until I moved here.”

Her profile on the back on the book elaborates: “It proved to be the perfect genre for retrospection.