The Westport Arts Center would like to thank the 150 guests who attended our fall fundraiser, “Twice as Nice,” on Sunday, October 26th. On a picture perfect fall afternoon, the event began with festive brunches at private homes and local restaurants, hosted by WAC Board members and patrons. Then, guests proceeded to the Pequot Library in Southport for the performance. Jazz pianists Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes – a charming husband and wife duo – took participants on a romantic journey through the Great American Songbook. After the concert, guests were treated to a champagne reception with Bill Charlap.

The jazz event highlighted two fundamental principles of arts programming at the Westport Arts Center – a commitment to artistic excellence, and creating intimate arts experiences that allow for connections between artists and participants. Equally important, the pre-concert brunches and post-event reception helped create a sense of community coming together in celebration and support of the arts. As WAC approaches its 40th anniversary in spring 2009, we will continue to connect our community through high quality, diverse arts programs that are accessible and affordable for individuals of all ages.

The funds that we raised on Sunday will help support our year-round programming in the visual and performing arts, as well as youth education and outreach. We would like to thank our lead sponsors, Carol and Albert Hallac, for their generosity and support of our Jazz to the Max series; event co-chairs Gloria Stashower and John Weiss for being our gala advocates in the community; our Jazz to the Max partner, the Pequot Library, for sharing their beautiful venue with us; our reception sponsors – Castle Wine & Spirits and The Flower Fall in Westport, and The Pantry in Fairfield; and our dear friend and jazz advisor, Max Wilk for bringing us Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes. As always, we are grateful for our year-round individual, corporate and foundation supporters, cultural partners, dedicated Board of Directors, talented staff, and tireless volunteers, who keep WAC vibrant and alive with activity throughout the year.

Sincerely,

Nancy Heller
Executive Director
Westport Arts Center

Nancy Heller, Executive Director and Gary Cosgrave, President of the Board. Photograph by Phyllis Groner.

Performers Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes. Photograph by Phyllis Groner.

Carol& Albert Hallac, lead event sponsors. Photograph by Phyllis Groner.

Janet Nevas, Alan Nevas, and Gordon Joseloff. Photograph by Phyllis Groner.

Toby Michaels and Ann Chernow. Photograph by Phyllis Groner.

Frank and Doris Jacoby. Photo by Phyllis Groner.

Arlene Bloom, Gloria Stashower, and Sheila Weiss. Photograph by Phyllis Groner.

John and Sheila Weiss. Photograph by Phyllis Groner.

Nancy Heller and Richard Epstein. Photograph by Phyllis Groner.

Joyce and David Thompson. Photograph by Phyllis Groner.

Joyce Pauker, Dick Pauker, and Gary Cosgrave. Photograph by Phyllis Groner.

Bill Charlap and Max Wilk. Photograph by Alyssa Crouse.

At the Westport Fine Arts Festival this past weekend, an estimated 10,000 visitors strolled by the 140 artist booths and along the Saugatuck River, listened to live music and watched performances on stage, and enjoyed refreshments by DMA members Bobby Q’s and Cocoa Mitchell.

The Westport Arts Center is proud to be a sponsor of the 35th Annual Downtown Merchant’s Association’s Westport Fine Arts Festival, and helped coordinate the jury for the festival booths and judging the winners.

In addition to helping with the jury, WAC offered a family art activity, “Color Your Community,” where children colored in original drawings of Westport landmarks by Education Intern and Dickinson College Sophomore Catherine Sippin.

Hilary Watt, WAC’s development assistant, greets visitors to the WAC table

Art activities at the Family Activity booth

WAC Education Interns Daniela Sawyer and Catherine Sippin work with children for their art activity

Visitors view prints by an artist. Photo by Phyllis Groner.

Photo by Phyllis Groner.

Photo by Phyllis Groner.

Chamber-music lovers attended the third of four South Shore Summer Music concerts as part of WAC’s Composer’s Project series with the Enso String Quartet, featuring the music of Composer Karim Al-Zand, who spoke at the concert about his inspiration for composing his work entitled The Art of Conversation (2007).

Photos by Susan Broudy.

The Enso Quartet poses for a photo before going on stage.

WAC’s Development Assistant Hilary Watt and Communications Manager Alyssa Crouse sell tickets with volunteer Zita Casey.

Rebecca Patterson of Antares interviews Composer Karim Al-Zand

The Westport Arts Center and Westport Country Playhouse continued their successful partnership with the presentation of “A Conversation with Kathleen Turner and Edward Albee.”

Below, photographed by Kathleen O’Rourke, are (from center, clockwise): Edward Albee, WCP Artistic Director Anne Keefe, Deborah Murtaugh, WAC Business & Development Director Nancy Heller, WCP Managing Director Jodi Schoenburn Carter, and Kathleen Turner.

Our first ever tented dance party – Take Me To The River — outside our building at 51 Riverside on Saturday June 7, was a smashing success.

We would like to thank the nearly 350 people gathered on a sultry night to dance to the music of Joe D’Elia and the All-Stars, enjoy beautiful desserts and bountiful snacks by Garelick + Herbs, have their pictures taken by Venture New Generation Portraits, bid on wonderful arts experiences in our unique live auction, and enjoy the colorful, playful exhibition in the gallery – Color in 3D.

The Westport Arts Center thanks event chairs Stacie Curran, Nancy Gault, and Laura Maged; catering chair Jodi Felton; auction committee Liz Rueven, Deborah Murtaugh, Frances Wilson, and Cathy Johnston; the folks at Garelick & Herbs, Abbey Tent, Big Wave Entertainment, our landlords Joe and Andrew Wertheim and fellow tenants at 47-53 Riverside, and our incredible staff, Board, and volunteers.

Also, a BIG thank you to our lead event sponsor: U.S. Trust Bank of America Private Wealth Management, and our arts advocate sponsors: Connecticut Light & Power, Fairfield County Bank, Gault, Main Street Resources, and Westport Resources, and our arts admirers: BNY Mellon Wealth Management, Connecticut Cottages & Gardens, Mitchells, Riverside Club & Spa, Tiffany & Co., and, Venture New Generation Portraits.

Our new tag line here at the Westport Arts Center is “Find Your Center.” Well, we’re delighted that 350 hot, happy revelers found their center right here, under the stars, dancing the night away in the belief that arts matter!

Sincerely,
Eileen Wiseman, Artistic Director & Nancy Heller, Business & Development Director

(Photographs by Robin Fellows & Emily Hamilton Laux)

May 23rd marked the commencement the South Shore Summer Music Series, now incorporated into the Westport Arts Center “COMPOSERS PROJECT” at the Westport Town Hall.

L-R: Mason Bates (composer), Donna Kwong, (piano, Claremont) Emily Bruskin, (violin, claremont) Julie Bruskin, (cello, Claremont), Barry Katz, Eric Huebner (Pianist, Antares), Becky Patterson (cello, Antares)

The fifth annual Westport Youth Film Festival presented 62 films, panels, roundtable discussions, an awards ceremony & after party on Saturday, May 10th at the Bedford Middle School.

Pictured below are some of the happy participants, who, thanks to all of WYFF’s generous sponsors, enjoyed another successful festival.

(L-R): .

(L-R): WYFF Team Members Ross Karlin and Katie Hacala, Panelists Tracy Garrison-Fineberg, Andrew Karpen, and Susan Granger.

(L-R): .

Panelist Avery Horn, Filmmaker and Audience Award Winner Alexa DiCambio, and WAC Business & Development Director Nancy Heller pose after the panel on Alexa’s film “Austim in Our World.”

Many fans showed up at the Seabury Center on Thursday, May 8th to see John Gorka, Eliza Gilkyson, and Cliff Eberhardt perform together on stage. These friends also happen to count each other as their favorite artists, and took turns playing their own songs, chiming in for beautiful harmonies. Joining them on stage were fiddler Robin Batteau of Buskin and Batteau and singer Gretchen Peters.

U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays presented awards for this year’s Congressional Art Competition in a reception at the Westport Arts Center this Saturday. 56 young artists participated in the exhibition from high schools in our district.

Photos courtesy of Dave Matlow.

About the annual Congressional Art Competition:

“An Artistic Discovery” began in 1982 as an attempt to offset reductions in federal grants for arts programs by giving our creative high school students the chance to have their talents recognized nationwide. Since then, more than 650,000 students have participated in the competition, and the works of thousands of young American artists have been showcased in a passageway to the U. S. Capitol.

Sarah Steinmetz (L), a Staples High School senior and this year’s first prize winner for her pastel artwork “Laura.” Also pictured (L-R) are Staples senior and runner-up Flora Greenberg, Staples art teacher Camille Eskell, Staples senior Will Denton, Congressman Christopher Shays, and Norwalk High School freshman and runner-up Lorena Sferlazza.

The winning artwork will hang for one year beside works from other congressional districts in the passageway between the House office buildings and the United States Capitol. The winner will receive round-trip transportation for one to Washington , D.C. , compliments of Warren Travel of Westport , for the opening reception. The works of the two runners-up from the Fourth District will be displayed in the local offices of Congressman Shays, one in Bridgeport , the other in Stamford.

Christopher Shays with winner Sarah Steinmetz.

Christopher Shays with runner-up Flora Greenberg

Christopher Shays with Norwalk High School freshman and runner-up Lorena Sferlazza.

Staples senior Will Denton receives his award from Christopher Shays.

We welcome you to bring your friends to the gallery for interactive conversation. The Greens Farms Garden Club meets monthly in different locations. Their April visit was to the Westport Arts Center to see The Paradox of Water exhibition.

WAC hosted a Westport/Weston Chamber of Commerce After Hours Event on April 9th.

Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce Director Lance Herman

Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce Director Lance Herman(Above, L) with Chairman Richard Gordon

Participants we invited to stay late and enjoy solo guitar in the gallery with Freddie Bryant.

Above: Sponsors Dr. Albert and Mrs. Janet Beasley pose with Freddie Bryant.

Volunteer Eve Stockton and lecturer Carter Wiseman pose for a photo concluding the American Architecture 101 series.

Join us for a walking tour of Yale University on Saturday, May 3rd! Sign up, or find out more here.

The packed house enjoyed the popular songs of Johnny Mercer on Sunday afternoon.

Pictured below are:
(Top tow, L-R): Susan Terry, Ivy Austin, Marianne Challis, Alan Tulin, and Max Wilk.
(Bottom row): Margaret Whiting

Participants gathered to listen to Carter Wiseman, architectural critic, author, and historian for a 4-part lecture/discussion series concentration on the historical, social and aesthetic significance of American architecture.

Students from the Bridge Academy of Bridgeport, Greens Farms Academy of Westport, and Staples High School of Westport, responded to the The Paradox of Water in images and words. In the main gallery, a slide presentation of student artwork is accompanied by poetry created by students and read by Susan Terry.

A reception and live poetry reading by participating students was held in the WAC Gallery on March 10.

We would like to thank Aquarion Water Company of Connecticut, who sponsored this part of the exhibition.

Green Farms Academy teachers Nancy McTague-Stock and Elizabeth Cleary pose with “The Paradox of Water” co-chair Janine Brown.

Will McCalpin of Greens Farms Academy reads his poem.

(L-R): Campbell Crowe, Miguel Silvestri, and Jolien Klitsie.

(L-R): Jolien Klitsie, Charline Xu, TiffJones, Stephanie Mernick, and Jasmine Williams.

Hundreds gathered at the Westport Arts Center Gallery on March 7 for what turned out to be a very exciting opening reception for our 2008 Juried Exhibition, “The Paradox of Water.”

36 artists from around the country and overseas were featured in the exhibition, including 1st place winner Jia-Jen Lin (pictured above wearing her installation, “Water Dress,” and 2nd place ceramic artist Jocelyn Braxton Armstrong (below receiving an award from co-chairs Janine Brown and Julie Chandler).

The Peabody Trio kicked off our 2008 Composers Project series on March 7, 2008. Rebecca Patterson of Antares– our artists-in-residence this season, interviewed composer Zhou Long in a pre-concert conversation, followed by a program of Ravel, Schubert and the piece, “Spirit of the Chimes” by Long himself.

POWER OF LOVE, a Valentine’s Day gallery session, was such a success that we had to add an additional show! Cindy Vaccaro, Karen Parrella and Sue Broudy along with favorite local piano man, Chris Coogan, performed old and new standards. They were joined by high schoolers Damian Wiseman on guitar, Luke Gould on bass and Danny Parrella on drums.

By matching the initial $20 admission, all attendees to the POWER OF LOVE had the opportunity to receive the ultimate photographic experience with Venture New Generation portraits in Westport. The ultimate photographic experience includes 1 family portrait session worth $100 and 1 framed 8×10 portrait worth $230. All proceeds went directly to the Westport Arts Center.

We kicked off the “Breakfast at Tiffany” Event with a special Champagne Breakfast hosted and held at the Tiffany & Co. in Westport. In support of the Westport Youth Film Festival, “Breakfast at Tiffany” featured local high school musicians Damian Wiseman and Richard Kwan and Team WYFF’s own “Holly Golightlys” modeling Tiffany jewels. Four lucky attendees won jewelry prizes provided by Tiffany & Co.

Guests then relocated to Toquet Hall to watch the famous 1961 film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” starring the ever glamorous Audrey Hepburn in perhaps her most famous role.

We would like to Thank Tiffany & Co. for helping to make this a successful fundraiser for the Westport Youth Film Festival. Photographs by Larry Lefkowitz.

This morning about 25 art-viewers gathered in the gallery to listen to Westport resident and art historian Tom O’Connor talk about landscape painting and specifically, the work in the current group exhibition Repositioning the Landscape. Tom, who teaches at the School for Visual Arts, eloquently discussed the work in the show in the context of history of landscape painting; he also made conceptual and aesthetic connections between and among much of the diverse work in this show.

I’ve spent so much time looking and thinking about this work, and yet I was surprised and enlightened (and amused) by his discussion of Cadence Giersbach’s huge triptych Niagara, including his description of her “paint-by-numbers” style (and a by-the-way-footnote that Niagara Falls is historically the most popular subject for paint-by-number kits. Who knew?).

Many in the audience were delighted by Tom’s mention of a Claudean Frame, which he talked about in reference to French landscape painter Claude Lorrain and the advent of landscape tourists in Victorian England, who “wandered the countryside with their Claudean Frames.”

Claude Glass from the V&A Museum

I wonder if I was the only one who was mystified…and intrigued enough to consult my Oxford’s Art Companion, which says this mirror device is more commonly called a Claude Glass, and it was indeed very popular in 19th century England. It is a small, black convex glass used to reflect landscapes in miniature. It was indeed used by Lorrain, and much later, by Corot.

The idea of the Claude Glass prompted one of my colleagues, Sandy Lefkowitz, to look at Alison Moritsugu’s work with a new perspective.

Alison’s work is painted on huge slices of Catalpa logs (this one, Large Catalpa Slice I, weighs in at least 70 pounds).

The notion of using what in the 19th century was a new perspective (Claude Glass) on what today is an innovative media support (log slices) to create an art work that the artist happily claims will eventually decay and return to nature is just the kind though-provoking exchange that took place during today’s discussion. Don’t miss the next one!

See you in the gallery…

Our crowded front office is bustling with the final stages of our upcoming juried exhibition, the Paradox of Water.

POW (as we have dubbed it) was an ambitious undertaking for the Westport Arts Center. We got off to a late start, and submissions arrived at a snail’s pace through December. At Thanksgiving, I was panicked…not even 50 submissions.

Bins of artists’ submissions to Paradox of Water

But when we returned after New Year’s Day, we were slammed…(hats off to our mailman, who thought the holiday rush was over!). By the deadline of January 11, 346 artists had submitted 1077 images, all of which were processed into a PowerPoint presentation for the juror, Mary Sabbatino of the Galerie Lelong.

WAC POW co-chair Julie Chandler with juror Mary Sabbatino at Galerie Lelong in Chelsea

The jurying process is scrupulously anonymous—with WAC juried exhibitions, the juror has no information about any of the artists; decisions are made strictly from the images and any accompanying but anonymous statements. WAC representatives refrain from commenting on any of the work. Sabbatino, who was never less than graciously enthusiastic during the process, said she was “extremely impressed” with the caliber of work that was submitted.

In the end, Sabbatino selected 41 art works from 38 artists. There is a diversity of media: film, photography, installation, printmaking, painting and sculpture. Of course, this means there were nearly 300 artists whose work was not accepted, and that is the main subject of this posting. I know there are some artists who may be disappointed, but I like to think that most artists realize how very subjective the jurying process is—POW ultimately reflects the choices of one individual.

For some artists who submitted, POW was a chance to explore a new path, take a risk. One example is Shayok Mukhopadhyay, who happened to walk into the gallery earlier today. Shayok is a photographer whose main subject is landscape.

Shayok Mukhopadhyay on the deck of the Westport Arts Center earlier today.

But his submission to POW was not photography, it was sculpture. And it was accepted into the show. “Why did you decide to deviate from photography, Shayok?” I asked.

His answer: “I wanted to say something about the Paradox of Water and this was the best way of saying it.”

He explained further, “With themed exhibitions, artists often look through the work they’ve created over the least few years and see what they can find related to theme. Well, I found this a photo of a truck carrying bottled water. But it wasn’t enough. I thought, how can I turn it up a notch, make it stronger?”

“It occurred to me that mufflers, car mufflers, suggest the shape of a water bottle, and a muffler can say a lot of other things too.”

So Shayok went on a field trip to Queens, where he says there is an abundance of car junkyards, and found his muffler, the first step in creating his work.

Shayok’s piece is original and thought-provoking, and reflects his own expression of the “paradox of water” rather than someone else’s expectation. His process, adventurous, even fearless, brought to mind a book called Art & Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland, which I recommend to any artist. It explores thoroughly the many reasons why artists become discouraged at various stages of their artistic development. In the chapter called Fears About Others, the authors say, “For the artist, the dilemma seems obvious: risk rejection by exploring new worlds, or court acceptance by following well-explored paths.” In Shayok’s case, I am happy to report that by risking rejection, he gained acceptance.

See you in the Gallery!