WAAC Culture Corner: Grateful for Art

Prepared by WAAC Member and Westport Poet Laureate Diane Lowman 

Welcome back to the Westport Local Press’s Westport Arts Advisory Committee’s “Culture Corner.” Each month, the WAAC scours our 33.45 square miles and highlight one of the many artists – visual, written, performance, and other – who call Westport home. These artists create a spectrum of color that shines over town like the rainbows often seen over the Saugatuck, so we have made “color” our theme.

For November, we’ve chosen golden – for the foliage certainly, but also, as the color of gratitude. We celebrate Thanksgiving this month, so it seemed a good time to express appreciation for the vibrant art scene in town, and one of the town’s institutions that so supports our collective creativity: The Westport Library.

Let’s start with the current exhibit. All of the library’s gallery space is currently dedicated to the work of local artist Leonard Everett Fisher. According to their website, “His career as a painter, illustrator, and designer spans over 70 years. The exhibit highlights Fisher’s deep sense of humanity which is conveyed through his unique use of shape, line and color.” The few examples shared here represent only a slice of the exhibit, which is much better viewed in person (runs through January 2, 2022).

I sat down with Bill Harmer, Executive Director of the library, to express appreciation for everything they do to support and promote the arts in our community, and to find out how they approach showcasing all the creativity in town. Harmer acknowledged that since Westport has such a long, rich history of being home to so many visual, writing, and performing artists that he has always considered this a key, critical part of their mission – to recognize, honor, and provide an outlet for all that talent. It figured heavily into the redesign of the space, where three rotating gallery spaces, and state of the art performance and studio spaces afford a publicly visible outlet to myriad forms of expression. He personally promised artists of all kinds that their work would always have a home both physically, and on the programming schedule, at the library.

Many pieces from the town’s own art collection, as well as the library’s own well-loved black and white collection hang throughout the building. During the worst of Covid19, Harmer encouraged his staff to “pivot,” and continue to provide access to the arts to its patrons online. In another pandemic silver lining, this gave birth to a video series, which is still available on their website, profiling over 30 artists-in-residence. 

In creating programming, Harmer says the library works very closely with the Westport Chamber of Commerce to eliminate barriers to artists showcasing their work: the drive-in theatre in the Imperial parking lot, that provided so much safe, fun entertainment to the community at a time when so many other outlets had shut down, as well as the very popular Supper and Soul series, are great examples of this collaboration.

Now that venues can again welcome he public, the library has some exciting upcoming arts events on the docket: they will showcase new musical talent with both a new series spearheaded by Chris Frantz of Talking Heads fame and the The Westport Sessions, produced in the broadcast studios. Artist Charles Joyner, who spent several formative years here in town, will be featured in upcoming exhibits and events. The annual StoryFest celebrates the written word and Short Cuts highlights film. This is only a smattering of the ways in which our local library makes the arts a very important part of their raison d’etre. The best place to keep abreast of their vast offerings is, of course, their website: https://westportlibrary.org

We just wanted to take this month to express our gratitude to all those who create in our community, and to the library for so proactively supporting them.

Halloween in Westport: Trick or Treating “Tips and Tricks”

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Photo by Jaime Bairaktaris for WestportNow.com/October 2019, Compo Beach. 

With treat or treating back this year after the pandemic lockdowns - local neighborhoods are preparing for thousands of ghouls and goblins to arrive for their sweet treats. The Westport Police Department has issued safety tips to keep families safe as Westport’s youngest residents turn to the local streets to celebrate. The police department keeps a presence in the most popular trick or treating hotspots, such as the Compo Beach neighborhood and Gault Avenue neighborhoods, while motorists are reminded to watch for crossing costumes. Trick or treating usually begins in the community around 4:00 PM and can be expected to slow down when the community’s teenagers have figured out all the candy has gone for the year.

Westport Police Department

With Halloween almost upon us, the Westport Police Department would like to offer some safety tips.  If everyone adheres to the following suggestions a safe and fun Halloween should be had by all:

Trick or Treaters:

• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult.

• Agree on a specific time when older children should come home.

• Only go to homes where the outside lights are on.

• Stay Visible – Carry a flashlight/glow sticks and consider affixing glow tape to costumes and bags.

• Never assume a car can see you as visibility is low.  

• Use sidewalks and crosswalks.

• Travel in groups.

• Carry a cell phone – Make sure you and your kids can easily reach one another.

• Never enter a stranger’s home.

• Have an adult examine all candy prior to eating and avoid homemade treats made by strangers.

Drivers:

• Be mindful of pedestrians.

• Do not speed through neighborhoods.

• Use extreme caution – Many trick or treaters are hard to see due to dark colored costumes.

The police department wants everyone to be safe, so please review these safety tips with children who will be trick or treating.   Additionally, extra officers will be out on patrol during Halloween night. 

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Morning Weather Report: Seasonal Forecast for Trick or Treating

Today

A chance of rain before 8am, then a slight chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. West wind around 6 mph.

Tomorrow

Sunny, with a high near 60. West wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Tomorrow Night

Increasing clouds, with a low around 42. Northwest wind around 6 mph.

Staples Water Polo Seniors Honored as they Celebrate 11-10 Win

(L-R): Staples Senior Water Polo Team members Brendan McGinley, Max Tanksley, Jasper Cahn, Ivan Dubinin, Peter Moody and Head Coach Danilo Sierra-Giraldo. Not pictured is senior Timothy Poly. Contributed photo by Debbie McGinley. 

The Staples Boys’ Water Polo Team celebrated a record breaking season after winning 11-10 over Suffield Academy on Saturday. The senior boys were honored by the Wreckers team members as they celebrate their last season with the group.