Westport Arts Advisory Committee Culture Corner: January & February
Welcome to the Westport Local Press’ first of what we hope to be many installments of the Westport Arts Advisory Committee’s “Culture Corner.”
Prepared by Diane Lowman, Westport Poet Laureate, WAAC Member
Felted hearts by Dolores Santoliquido.
The WAAC, established in 1994, supports and showcases our town’s rich artistic fabric. We will scour our 33.45 square miles for each column, and highlight one of the many artists – visual, written, performance, and other – who call Westport home. The spectrum of color that they create shines over town like the rainbows often seen over the Saugatuck, so for this first year, that’s our theme. Each month we will pick a color and profile an artist that connects (however tightly or tenuously) to that color.
Of course, for February, Red rules. Cupid’s arrow engenders love, and so, too, does Janine Brown. The award-winning, Iowa-born multimedia artist is a member of The Artists Collective of Westport, and curator of this month’s Valentine-inspired, pandemic-friendly heart/art show at 24/7@ 47 Main Street downtown. Eighteen artists exhibit love, red, pink, and heart-inspired artwork in many media in the window at that address, for safe, contactless, distanced viewing.
Janine Brown, Elizabethe Devoll, and Nina Bentley installing this month’s art exhibit at 47 Main Street.
You can see, for example, Dolores Santoliquido’s felted hearts, originally designed as compassionate condolences to those who lost someone to Covid-19. Barbara Ringer imagines Barbie entangled romantically with Ken, and Gumby! Elizabeth DeVoll reimagines hearts in 3D with wings and with real pipes representing anatomical valves. Ginny Waters takes the vow “til death to us part” with whimsical skeletons in love on ceramic mugs.
There are paintings, prints, collages, and creations of all types that defy one material or medium. They are as varied and nuanced as love itself, that comes in so many different sizes, shapes, and colors.
This exhibit, which runs until February 15, gives Westporters, and art aficionados from near and far, to get out into the brisk air, stroll our downtown streets, and take in some inspiring works – safely. The exhibit will change monthly, giving us all a good reason to return frequently, as we hope you will to the WAAC Culture Corner to learn more about our talented artistic community.