Westport Fire Department Donates Gear to Ukraine
Westport Fire Department:
Westport Fire Department donated used personal protective equipment such as coats, pants, boots that they can no longer use to Ukraine. On behalf of the Westport Fire Department, Fire Marshal Nathaniel Gibbons organized the project and delivered the fire turnout gear yesterday for a shipment being sent abroad to the Ukrainian firefighters.
Gibbons stated, “Firefighters support one another around the county or the world. The men and women of Ukraine fighting fire under war conditions reached out for our support- so we responded. We support them and their fight for freedom.”
Chief Michael Kronick stated, “Imagine trying to put out a fire without the proper fire equipment. There are raging fires in cities, forests, and fields from the numerous bombing attacks which the firefighters are working around the clock to put out. We know that our equipment is going to save lives and help the firefighters.” Gibbons also wanted to thank Westport resident Mark Yurkiw. Yukiw is fluent in Ukrainian and expedited the communication and logistics necessary to get this gear directly to Ukraine Emergency Services.
The National Fire Protection Association specifies that structural turnout gear shall be retired when the garment is beyond repair and no longer able to pass the NFPA 1851 test. While this donated gear is past its technical expiration date for use here in the States, it is clean, in serviceable condition, and ready to provide protection to our Ukrainian brother and sister firefighters.
Westport's David Pogue Uncovers "Dumpster Diver" Who Found A Multi-Million Dollar Art Treasure
Work on exhibit at the Hollis Taggart Gallery In Southport by Francis Mattson Hines found in a dumpster
Many Westport residents will recognize David Pogue who was the New York Times weekly tech columnist from 2000 to 2013. He’s a six-time Emmy winner for his stories on CBS News Sunday Morning, a New York Times bestselling author, a five-time TED speaker, and host of 20 NOVA science specials on PBS. His recent story on Sunday Morning is amazing and started with a skateboarding mechanic turned art investigator who came to see a barn in Watertown Connecticut and has now lead to the Hollis Taggart Gallery just over the Westport line in the quaint village of Southport.
It happened like this; Jared Whipple got a call from his buddy George Martin who was emptying out a Watertown barn which had not been touched in forty years. Martin found a 40 yard dumpster completely stuffed with fine art work, some wrapped in plastic others just covered in dust. Appreciating the works he saw, Whipple noticed each was a signed F. Hines. He began an internet search which didn't provide much info until he discovered one canvas signed Francis Mattson Hines. He hit "pay dirt", so to speak after becoming obsessed with finding out the artist's history and eventually discovered that Hines had achieved his "15 minutes of fame" according to art historian and publisher Peter Hastings Falk. In 1980 Hines wrapped the famous Washington Square arch in Manhattan in 8,000 yards of polyester fabric and he continued "wrapping", also doing JFK Terminal and Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York, becoming the only artist in history to wrap NYC billings in fabric.
As it turns out Hines was only interested in creating art which he did constantly from his New York studio, having the finished artwork sent to the Watertown barn where it would be stored for all those years until being discovered by Martin and Whipple. After
contacting the Hines family he was given much of the valuable artwork to offer for sale. Prices are expected to be as much as $35,000. for certain pieces and once sculpture is priced at $55,000.
When Whipple attempted to see about showing the work, gallery owner after gallery owner "slammed the door in my face" he told David Pogue in the CBS Sunday morning story. Feeling quite overwhelmed by the whole saga, Whipple told Pogue, "I still can't wrap my head around it", maybe "Hines could wrap my head around it".
Part of the Press release from Hollis Taggert Gallery: Hollis Taggart announced today an exhibition devoted to the work of Francis Mattson Hines (1920-2016), an artist known for his wrapped paintings, sculptures, and public art projects, especially the wrapping of the Washington Square Arch in 1980. Though his work received critical acclaim during his lifetime, Hines slipped into obscurity toward the end of his life. Fortunately, most of his work was salvaged from a dumpster outside of his barn studio a year after his death. Unwrapping the Mystery of New York’s Wrapper revives Hines’ work and career, positioning him at the forefront of expressionists experimenting with wrapping, and demonstrating his unique vision to imbue his works with a tension and kineticism reflective of the changing world around him. Hines’ paintings will be presented alongside archival material, including photographs and project drawings. The exhibition contextualizes his work in the creative output as a groundbreaking style within the New York art scene of the 1960s through the 1980s. Unwrapping the Mystery of New York’s Wrapper is curated by Paul Efstathiou, Director of Contemporary Art at Hollis Taggart, and Peter Hastings Falk, art historian and publisher, and will be on view at Hollis Taggart’s Southport, Connecticut location from May 5 through June 11, 2022, with an accompanying focused presentation on view at the gallery’s Chelsea location.
The gallery will hold an opening reception Thursday May 5th from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM at 330 Pequot Avenue, Southport CT 06890. For further info contact the gallery at info@hollistaggart.com.
To see Whipple's story visit www.francishinesartist.com
Morning Weather Report
Today
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2pm, then a chance of showers. Patchy fog. High near 60. East wind around 7 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight
A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 8pm. Patchy fog before 2am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. North wind around 6 mph.
Tomorrow
Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. North wind around 8 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Calm wind.