Westport photographer Larry Silver and volunteers today completed installation in the Westport Library’s Great Hall of “Sherwood Island, 1975-2015,” featuring some of Silver’s 40 years of photographs of the state park in Westport. Last year marked the centennial of the state’s purchase of four acres of land that eventually would become the 234-acre park. The exhibit of black and white and color photos runs through June 24. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Staples High School junior Audrey Seo has been selected as the winner of the first Tracy Sugarman Award to a promising young local artist at the Westport Arts Center. Her work and others submitted are on display in the Center’s Project Space. Jurors were Helen Klisser During, the Center’s artistic director, and Westport artist Leonard Everett Fisher, whose works are featured in a new exhibit in the main exhibit hall. Both exhibits open tonight with a 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. reception. The Tracy Sugarman Award is sponsored by Westporter Alan H. Nevas, retired senior U.S. District Court judge, and Janet Nevas in honor of the Westport artist who died in January 2013 at age 91. Other high school artists honored include Katie Craymer, Angela Yu, Josephine Freeman, Emma Fasciolo, Olivia Porretta, Keanan Pucci, Devin Pucci, Lizzy Feeley, Jennifer Martin, Eliana Avonson, Grace Foley, Alexandra McMahon and Sophia Green. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo by Marina White

By Susan Granger

For Orthodox Jews in Israel, divorce is decided not in civil court but by a triumvirate of rabbinical judges.

In order for a wife to obtain one, her husband must consent – and “The Trial of Viviane Amsalem” vividly illustrates this patriarchal tyranny.

After bearing four children and enduring decades of an unhappy marriage, Viviane (Ronit Elkabetz) has left her home and moved in with her brother and overbearing sister-in-law.

For three years, she has attempted to obtain a “gett,” which is permission to dissolve her marriage, but her taciturn, religiously devout husband Elisha (Simon Abkarian) steadfastly refuses.

Westport artist Leonard Everett Fisher today points to a drawing of himself he inserted into one of the works to go on display at the Westport Arts Center beginning Friday with a 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. reception. The exhibit, “Leonard Everett Fisher: A Retrospective,” features 38 of his paintings, drawings, and illustrations from his prolific 70-year career. Installation of the exhibit was under way today. (For background, see WestportNow March 21, 2015)  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Westport prize-winning photographer and now best-selling author Lynsey Addario has another honor coming, this one from her hometown library as its BOOKED for the Evening honoree.

Lynsey Addario: hometown honoree. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

The Westport Library announced today that the 1991 Staples High School graduate, author of the recently published best-selling memoir, “It’s What I Do: A Photographer’s Life,” will be recipient of its annual award at a gala evening on Saturday, May 9.

She joins an illustrious line of previous awardees. Last year’s honoree was fellow Westporter Nile Rodgers, Grammy Award-winning musician, composer, arranger, producer, philanthropist, and writer.

Other past recipients have included Tom Brokaw, E.L. Doctorow, Calvin Trillin, Wendy Wasserstein, Pete Hamill, Martin Scorsese, Doris Kearns Goodwin, David Halberstam, Arthur Mitchell, Oscar Hijuelos, Adam Gopnik, Barry Levinson, Patti Smith, and Jon Meacham.