Hand in Hand at Old Mill Beach Sandbar
As the sun warmed the community, many got outdoors to enjoy the day near the water - like these two off of Old Mill Beach.
New Neighbors: George Billis Gallery to Main Street
Gallery owner George Billis, Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe, and Second Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker at Friday's ribbon cutting ceremony. As the arts in Westport continue to flourish through the pandemic, Westport has gained the George Billis Art Gallery at 166 Main Street, across from Rye Ridge Deli.
George Billis of the George Billis GalleryThe gallery was part of New York City’s Chelsea Art District for 24 years before their move to Westport this week. Billis, a Milford resident, wanted to find a space closer to home, saying “Westport was perfect.” He is excited to show the vibrant selection of curated art to residents and add more life to the end of the street that held several vacant storefronts.
Billis also has a gallery on the West Coast, in Los Angeles’ Culver City neighborhood.
The current Invitational Exhibition will feature over 30 national and international artists presenting painting, photography, sculpture and works on paper, and was organized by Art Essex which produces invitational shows. The Juror, Lisa Cooper is a gallerist and art consultant, known within the Fairfield County artist community and owner of Elisa Contemporary Art.
Lisa Cooper took great care in selecting the artists and art for the Invitational Exhibition. She states, “I am a strong believer in the power of Art to heal and transform us. During this unprecedented time, it was wonderful to see a range of art that allowed us to travel freely...bringing us to new spaces in nature and the countryside, as well as familiar city streets and scenes. I also rejoiced in the artworks filled with light, folly and humor that created an uplifting emotion. I am thankful for all the artists who shared their creative visions for this juried exhibit” (press release)
The George Billis Gallery can be visited online, or a by visiting the Main Street exhibition space.
Westport Country Playhouse Issues Statement on Death of Christopher Plummer
Christopher Plummer, 2005: A Word or Two, Before You Go. Photo by Gerry Goodstein
Westport Country Playhouse issues the following statement re the death of Christopher Plummer, who had been associated with the Playhouse since 1953:
Anne Keefe, Playhouse associate artist, said:
“The entire Playhouse family is deeply saddened at the loss of one of our staunchest supporters. Chris Plummer appeared as an actor at the Playhouse in the ‘50s, but as soon as Joanne Woodward got involved, Chris was all in. He was a member of our initial Artistic Advisory Board, he appeared in our 9/11 tribute ‘For the Children,’ and he christened the newly renovated Playhouse’s stage in 2005 with his brilliant ‘A Word or Two, Before You Go’ as the first actor to perform on the renovated stage. He went on to be an active board member and an ardent supporter of everything Playhouse. We send our love to his wonderful wife Elaine and his daughter Amanda. He will always be center stage in our hearts.”
Plummer’s association with Westport Country Playhouse dates back to the 1950s. As a young actor, he appeared on the Playhouse stage in two plays on their way to New York, “The Starcross Story” (1953), starring Eva Le Gallienne, which became his Broadway debut, and an Irish play, “Home Is the Hero” (1954), with leading lady Peggy Ann Garner. He was also in “What About Maisie” in 1953.
In 2005, he performed his one-man show, “A Word or Two, Before You Go,” for the Playhouse’s 75th Anniversary Season Re-opening Gala. Last October, he appeared in the Playhouse’s short-form documentary celebrating the theater’s 90-season history,
Plummer was a member of the Playhouse’s board of trustees since 2002. He championed the theater’s 2005 renovation with his words, “It is obvious that we must continue to cherish this gem of a theater, which has not only found its way into our hearts, but surely harbors more history within its walls than almost any other playhouse of its kind on our continent.”
Westport Property Transfers: 01/18/21 - 01/22/21
Westport property transfers as reported by the Westport Town Clerk’s Office:
Total Conveyance Tax: $23,611.44
Total Sales: $9,444,575.00
Highest Transfer Price: 10 Yankee Hill Road: $3,900,000
Lowest Transfer Price: Riverfield Drive (Trustee Deed): $25,575
Transfers:
10 Yankee Hill Road: $3,900,000
4 Squire Lane: $2,700,000
4 River Lane: $1,200,000
28 Juniper Road: $1,000,000
306 Lansdowne: $619,000
Riverfield Drive (Trustee Deed): $25,575