Westport has been an artistic enclave for decades- with some of the World’s best photographers, painters, writers, and thinkers all calling the community “home”. The tradition of training artists for the future has a history just as long, and with the Museum of Contemporary Art Westport - the future of Great Art in Westport is bright. By Jaime Bairaktaris

Westport’s tradition of inspiring others to make “Great Art” began in 1948, when members of the New York Society of Illustrators founded the Famous Artists School on Wilton Road - with “famous artists” such as Albert Dorne, Norman Rockwell, and Westport’s Stevan Dohanos being three of the nearly one dozen artists who began teaching the community’s next artists. The school’s premise was simple for students: subscribe to their program, receive illustration lessons by mail, and then send your illustrations back to be graded by the “Famous Artists”. The school was successful until their bankruptcy in 1972.

The Westport Arts Center served Westport after the closing of the Famous Artists School, bringing art creation and galleries to locals while continuing to develop in the ever changing artistic community. After displaying and creating art in their first building on Post Road East, the center moved to it’s space on Riverside Avenue. The gallery hosted local and visiting artists with well attended local events and shows, but was limited to a small display space and difficult parking.

MoCA Westport - the town’s new state-of-the-art contemporary art museum and creaton space - solved those limitations, and continued its contributions to Westport’s arts scene with updates and more community involvement. The 2019 expansion project took over the former Martha Stewart television studios at 19 Newtown Turnpike, turning them into a new art destination for both locals and visitors.

The 10,000 square foot building, dating back to 1926, is steeped in history - however walking through the glass entry doors into the lobby keeps visitors firmly planted in 2021 as their interior design and curated exhibits rival even some of the Manhattan greats. Executive Director and Westporter Ruth Mannes began her position and journey with the non-profit museum in February of 2020, just one month before the pandemic would change how museums operated worldwide. Mannes, an art collector and a well respected figure in the business sector, strives to create a museum that involves the community and educates the future through “great art”, saying in February “All over the world, people gravitate to institutions that exhibit great art. I see MoCA Westport being one of these exceptional places.” The museum focuses on a variety of artists and mediums with different shows throughout the year, including group shows planned for each Fall.

Their last exhibit, World Peace, “reflected the culture of identity, and the divided and fractured political climate of America’s past and present” and included photography, sculpture, video, site-specific installations, works on paper and protest art from local and world-renowned artists. Curated by Director of Exhibitions Liz Leggett, in collaboration with Todd von Ammon, art dealer, independent curator and director of von ammon co., in Washington, D.C. - the team took use of the modern space by creating a wide range of art experiences, even including repurposed billboards, and allowed viewers to traverse the museum spaces while finding art as they went in its many forms.

The museum’s next exhibit, Hindsight is 2020, opens tomorrow and will run through March 13th. Hindsight is 2020 includes nearly 200 pieces of work from high schoolers in the New York & Connecticut area, with cash prizes awarded by jurors Paul Efstathiou, Director of Contemporary Art at Hollis Taggart Gallery; Amy Kaplan, a Westport-based artist and RTM member; and Tessa Moore, Vice President of MoCA Westport’s 2020-2021 Teen Council and a Staples High School junior.

The future remains bright for those wishing to not only enjoy art, but take part in the process of creating it - as The Academy welcomes children and adults to classes taught by accredited and acclaimed teachers. Under the direction of former NYC schools assistant principal and MoCA Director of Education Anne Greenberg, lessons and courses are offered for all ages and include painting, storyboards, jewelry creation, knitting, meditation, and other types of mixed media.

When the pandemic began, MoCA rose to the occasion to offer a safe option for K-8 learning pods in their own section of the Newtown Turnpike compound, as well as reservation-only gallery viewings. Mannes described the building’s brand new HVAC system and extensive renovations as an unknown blessing, not knowing the updates would be so welcome and vital to keeping the students, staff, and viewers safe during a pandemic. Once health situations improve, future plans include more community programming as well as a robust cafe space with a small bar area serving alcohol for events and guests.

Despite a new name, a new address, and a broader community outlook - the Museum of Contemporary Art, MoCA Westport - has remained creative in programming and a pioneer in displaying, teaching, and inspiring Great Art in Westport.

Visit their website to learn more about their new exhibit, or contact The Academy at MoCA for information on signing up for classes or courses.

Hindsight is 2020 begins tomorrow, with reservations starting at noon.