Scenes from today’s Westport Arts Center chamber music concert at the Pequot Library in Southport featuring renowned pianists Misha and Cipa Dichter.  Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

A one-night pop-up art show designed to celebrate Westport’s arts history drew a crowd tonight to the former Max’s Art Supplies store, 68 Post Road East, which closed Sunday after 59 years. “Max’s has been a pillar in the local art community,” said organizer Amy Kaplan, a local artist. “I can’t think of a more fitting send off for Max’s than this show.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westporter Dennis Corsalini studies “Floral Serenade” created by Westport artist Eric Chiang tonight at the pop-up art show at the now closed Max’s Art Supplies, 68 Post Road East. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By James Lomuscio

The spirit of Westport’s arts community was alive and well inside the former Max’s Art Supplies store today, even though the Post Road East business closed Sunday after a 59-year run.

Amy Kaplan, who organized tonight’s Pop-Up Art Show at the recently closed Max’s Art Supplies, stands in front of her oil painting, “Sound, Sun and Ice.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) James Lomuscio for WestportNow.com

Several local artists hung paintings and arranged sculptures, all of them created by 35 artists, many from Westport, as part of a juried art show designed to celebrate the town’s arts history—and the important role Max’s located at 68 Post Road had played in it.

“It’s just a celebration,” said Wendy Pieper about tonight’s Pop-Up Art Show that runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is free.

Pieper, who grew up in town during its heyday as a nexus of artists and illustrators, nearly all who found their way to Max’s, noted that the exhibition that has transformed the store into an art gallery “is one night only, and then we’ll take it down.”

Today’s ArtCafé at the Westport Arts Center featured Westporter Fiona Garland, art historian. Her topic was “Looking at Renaissance Art through Contemporary Eyes.” The ArtCafé series is hosted by Helen Klisser During, WAC director of visual arts. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The newest recipients of an historical plaque from the Westport Historical Society (WHS) are Randy Henkels, his wife, Victoria Sybelnik, and daughter, Sophia,16. The plaque was presented to Henkels, chair of the Westport Historic District Commission, by Bob Weingarten, house historian of the WHS. The plaque signifies their 35 Maple Lane house, in Westport’s Greens Farms section, was constructed in 1853 and is known as the Ebenezer Jennings House. On hand for the presentation was Westport resident Peter Jennings, an 11th generation member of the Jennings family. Pictured (l-r)  are Peter Jennings, Bob Weingarten, Randy Henkels, Sophia and Victoria Sybelnik. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The popular children’s entertainment group “Monkey Monkey Music” tonight closed out the Westport Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts Melissa & Doug Children’s Series. There are three more performances at the Levitt—Friday, Sunday, and next Wednesday—before it ends its shortened season in its new home. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The Westport Levitt for the Performing Arts presents “Monkey Monkey Music” (above) at 7 p.m., today, the last offering in the Melissa & Doug’s Children’s Series. Face painting begins at 6 p.m. The Levitt closes out its shortened inaugural season in its new home with country and westerh band Gunsmoke on Friday at 8 p.m., Strawberry Fields, a Beatles tribute band on Sunday at 7 p.m., and DNR, the almost all-physician local band on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo