Tammy Winser, a member of the Artists Collective of Westport, shows off her work tonight in a pop up art show at the barn at the Westport Country Playhouse. Asked to explain her work, she replied: “My installation is based on my selfiesbythedoor Instagram and current environmental world events. As I take selfies of what I wear, tragedy has struck with the Amazon burning and oceans full of plastic. So I have reimagined what I would wear as an interactive life size paper doll to bring awareness of what we are doing to our precious planet.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com

There was a large turnout tonight for the opening of the Artists Collective of Westport pop up art show at the barn at the Westport Country Playhouse. Miggs Burroughs, one of the founders, said: “The founders, known as Toasters (because their exhibits pop up) take great pride in being the only Westport arts organization that continues to revere Westport’s artistic heritage while enthusiastically nurturing, and exhibiting local artists throughout the year.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

A book donation annex was installed today at the Westport Library. Comprised of two 9,000-pound modules created from converted shipping containers, according to Marc Laibe, library construction advisor, the 640-square foot structure replaces the temporary book donation trailer on the library’s Jesup Green side. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Members of the Artists Collective of Westport today prepared for their latest Pop Up show opening Wednesday with a 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. reception in the barn at the Westport Country Playhouse. The show will be open through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. for artists talks. Pictured (l-r):  Linn Cassetta, Miggs Burroughs, Tammy Winser, Katherine Ross, Nina Bentley, Michael Brennecke, Susan Fehlinger  and Dale Najarian. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

By Susan Granger

If you’re an avid fan of PBS’ dramatic series “Downton Abbey,” you’ll relish the big-screen version. If you aren’t, you’ll probably wonder who these people are and why the audience adores them.

Conceived by Julian Fellowes, the 52-episode TV series spanned a 14-year period from 1912 to 1926, set in the titular 300-room British country house (Highclere Castle) that was magnificently landscaped in the 18th century by Capability Brown.

It’s now a year later in the home of aristocratic Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville), his American heiress wife Cora (Elizabeth McGovern), their eldest daughter Mary (Michelle Dockery), her beleaguered sister Edith (Laura Carmichael), and their Irish Republican, widowed brother-in-law Tom Branson (Allen Leech).

The extended Crawley family includes the acerbic Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) and her equally tart nemesis, Isobel Merton (Penelope Wilton).

Crowds line up today on the opening day of MoCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) Westport at 19 Newtown Turnpike. Formerly the Westport Arts Center, the museum for the next six weeks will offer an unprecedented opportunity for guests to view two of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s famed installations ogether for the first time on the East Coast. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Helen Klisser During (l), a WestportNow contributing photographer and artistic director emeritus of the Westport Arts Center, poses tonight with New Zealand artist Joseph Michael and former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark in front of the UN headquarters building in New York as Michael’s immersive art installation featuring a melting iceberg plays on the building. The project, weeks in the making, was timed to today’s climate action protests before the UN’s climate action summit. Klisser During, a native of New Zealand, was a producer and fundraiser for the project. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The Westport Historical Society, long keeper of Westport’s history, is about to become history itself, at least in name.

The venerable institution headquartered since 1981 in a 1795-built house on Avery Place opposite Town Hall from Sept. 28 will become known as Westport Museum For History & Culture.

The change will coincide with the opening of its newest exhibit, “Becoming Westport,” which will follow Westport’s history from a colonial settlement through the 20th century.

The date is also the Westport Museum’s benefit dinner “Night at the Museum” that will feature celebrity chef Chris Scott and CNN anchor and Westport resident Alisyn Camerota.

By James Lomuscio

From narrow quarters with limited parking at 51 Riverside Ave., the Westport Arts Center opens Sunday with a new name, MoCA Westport, a new location with three times the space, expanded programming, and a more global focus.

Yayoi Kusama’s “Narcissus Garden” is on exhibit at MoCA. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

MoCA, the acronym for Museum of Contemporary Art is located at 19 Newtown Turnpike in a 1926-built stone building that initially made airplane parts. Years later it served as Martha Stewart’s television studio.

The property straddles Westport and Norwalk. The driveway iis n Westport, the building itself, Norwalk.

“The mission of the newly named MoCA Westport is to inspire intellectual and creative curiosity through the arts, which rightfully does not limit itself to town lines,” said Heather Lawless, MoCA spokeswoman.