Cornell-ish Box by Christine Timmons, mixed-media collage on wood panel (Various papers, vintage fabric-covered buttons, shell button, coral glass, dead leaves, half-cork, wire)
Jesup Gallery
December 14, 2024, through February 4, 2025
Reception: Thursday, January 9, 6-8 pm, in the Trefz Forum; click here for more information.
(Reception kicks off at 6 pm, followed by a conversation between Timmons, Jason Pritchard, and Miggs Burroughs at 7 pm.)
Christine Timmons’ work with collage issues from a lifelong interest and involvement with art, craft, textiles, design, and working with her hands.
"I love getting past the initial uncertainty of beginning a new piece and gradually discovering a path through the labyrinth of building a collage," Timmons said. "While working on a piece, I'm always looking for a visual tension (and harmony) among the elements ― many of them pieces torn from my trove of old monoprints and often papers that I've painted. Most of my collages nowadays are abstract, and I work principally with paper but often combine it with fabric and occasionally with paint and other media and objects."
Before the pandemic, Timmons began learning to work with encaustics (pigmented hot wax), which contain a "mysterious quality" that both intrigues her and informs her art. Unfortunately, Covid shut down the school where she had been studying, putting a pause to her encaustics efforts for quite a while. Recently she has begun taking encaustics workshops again, excited by the prospect of exploring more about combining encaustics with collage.
Left: Evita’s Eyes by Christine Timmons, Mixed-media collage on wood panel (Ticket stub to Evita Peron Museum, Buenos Aires; details of Timmons' photos, various papers, encaustic wax); Right: Christine Timmons
Timmons grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and earned a BA in French from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (with a year abroad at l’Université de Lyon, France) and an MA in French from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The path of her professional career reflected her diverse interests and included teaching French language and literature; working in the Press Bureau at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium; working as a special projects editor for Encyclopaedia Britannica in Chicago; restoring damaged works of art on paper for museums and galleries as an apprentice paper conservator; editing both Fiber Arts and Threads Magazines; and curating art exhibits at The Westport Library for 13 years before retiring in December 2019.
Along the way, she studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and took numerous independent classes in painting, drawing, printmaking, papermaking, photography, jewelry making, bookbinding, and collage at various schools and art centers, among them, Silvermine Arts Center, Creative Arts Workshop, Rowayton Arts Center, Center for Contemporary Printmaking, Pelham Arts Center, and Rye Arts Center.
Timmons began exhibiting her work in 2018. Retirement allowed her to dedicate more time on her own art, which she has exhibited widely in both New York and Connecticut. She is an exhibiting member of both the Mamaroneck Artists Guild in Larchmont, New York, and the Rowayton Arts Center.
Riverside Park by Jason Pritchard, oil painting
South Gallery
December 14, 2024, through February 4, 2025
Reception: Thursday, January 9, 6-8 pm, in the Trefz Forum; click here for more information.
(Reception kicks off at 6 pm, followed by a conversation between Pritchard, Christine Timmons, and Miggs Burroughs at 7 pm.)
Jason Pritchard uses the medium of oil to capture atmospheric coastal scenes with the intention of illustrating a sense of space and connection to the New England region that he loves.
Utilizing the practice of en plein air painting (painting outdoors to capture the subject in its natural setting) for smaller pieces, Pritchard then uses these pieces as preparatory studies for larger paintings, combining them with photographs that he takes while visiting the areas depicted in his work. He then completes the final piece in his studio.
"It’s important for me to visit the location to access the feeling of what it’s about to help replicate my sense of reaction back onto the canvas," Pritchard said. "Few things make me happier than taking a nice long walk along a beach, hearing the sound of the tide crashing nearby as I explore both physically, then later in my mind’s eye, the thoughts of my experience back into my painting. I embrace the process of unpacking those memories and calibrating the colors, the shifting light and the changing weather elements back in my studio. These variables prompt the type of brush movement, hues and tones I enlist which are often wrapped under an impressionistic skyline, intending to heighten the mood of my paintings further."
Left: Compo Beach by Jason Pritchard, oil painting; Right: Jason Pritchard
The British-born American artist is best known for his seascape oil paintings of New England. He grew up in East Anglia in the UK, a region that inspired British landscape painters such as John Constable and Thomas Gainsborough who he greatly admires.
During his childhood, his father owned a family printing business, so there was always an abundance of spare paper to hone his drawing skills from an early age. In his 20s, Pritchard moved to London and took up watercolor painting prior to moving to New York in 2005, where he studied oil painting at the Art Students League of New York for several years.
Recent accomplishments include being selected as a 2020 Emerging Artist by Cape Cod Art Magazine, acknowledging his growing body of Cape Cod Seascapes paintings. He has exhibited work in New York City, Long Island, and his home region of Connecticut.
Claudia Mengel with her painting, New Beginnings
Sheffer Gallery
December 14, 2024, through February 4, 2025
Reception: Wednesday, December 18, 6-8 pm, in the Trefz Forum; click here for more information.
(Reception kicks off at 6 pm, followed by a conversation between Mengel and Miggs Burroughs at 7 pm.)
Despite its intended goal of turning common metal into gold, a mystical aspect of alchemy was at the heart of its expression in the Middle Ages. It was thus associated not only with chemical experimentation, but also with the spiritual belief in ultimate transformation.
Viewing these canvases, one can almost feel that transformation, thanks to Mengel’s playful experimentation with paint and her soulful combination of interior ideas and experiences. In creating these pieces, the artist turned from her earlier, actively dynamic gestural style to slow the pace of her brushstrokes in order to achieve a greater intimacy. As the poet condenses language to reveal the unwritten theme and finds unity in rhythm and verse, Mengel reflects upon the natural world, whose patterns depict the seen and the unseen, and transcribes them onto a unified canvas. There, the marks of blue, green, pink, red, and yellow are combined to give each a heightened intensity, reflecting a sense of light throughout. The washes of pastels, the layering of impasto, and the occasional collage all help to physically create and capture light not only on the surface, but also in the eye of the beholder. Their patterns and textures create relationships that bring an energy — and perhaps even a magic — to the narrative they impart.
In addition to the dialogue within each work, however, there is also an important relationship among them as a group. The artist’s first painting went on to influence the next, and so it continued, one canvas at a time. Like children in a family, they are related to each other — born of the same mother — yet have different personalities and speak in different voices.
Thus, in viewing these pieces, one is invited to lend one’s own voice to this broader dialogue, by reacting first to the individual works and next, to the group as a whole. Only then can the viewer see the “gold” in this transformation, thanks to the artist as alchemist.
On the topic of her artistic process, Mengel said, “To be an artist, one needs to be in a world of inner connection — at times both poetic and spiritual. Although I draw upon art history especially the Impressionists and Abstract Expressionists, I paint from my own impressions and memories. It is my experience as an artist to take my ideas, images, and inspirations and transform them on the canvas, where together they create a dialogue.”
A longtime resident of Westport and a lifetime artist, Mengel graduated with a BFA from Brainard Art School at State University of New York at Potsdam. Subsequently, she studied painting with Yale University Professor Robert Reed and painting with Boston University Professor Hugh O’Donnell. In addition, she studied concepts of art in Darien with Constance Kiermaier and has done two residencies at the Vermont Studio School. Her work is in private and corporate collections in the United States and abroad.
Jesup Gallery
September 7 – December 10
“Jazz emphasizes this, and blues emphasizes this, and country emphasizes this… but where they all start is in this beautiful boiling American Music pot.” – Rhiannon Giddens
Drawn once more from the collection of American blues keyboardist and record producer Mark Naftalin and his wife, Ellen Naftalin, this exhibit highlights the art of country music, with album covers dating from the 1920s through the 1970s.
Country music is not — and never was — one style of music. It has always been a mixture of many styles, springing from many roots and sprouting many new branches to create a complicated chorus of American voices, joining together to tell a complicated American story, one song at a time.
Country music rose from deep and intertwined roots. From fiddle tunes and hymns, to work songs and ballads; to smoky saloons and secluded Appalachian hollows; to barrios along the southern border, and the wide-open spaces of the American West.
As country music evolved, its greatest artists never created their music in a vacuum. They were influenced by their own experiences, but also by the other types of American music they listened to. That cross-pollination of experiences and styles resulted in innovations in sound, tempo, and instrumentation, creating dynamic new branches of country music.
Description excerpted from film documentary Country Music (2019)by Ken Burns.
Thank you to Ellen and Mark Naftalin for digging though their treasure trove of LPs and sharing this piece of unforgettable American recording history.
Exhibit support provided by The Drew Friedman Community Arts Center.
Sheffer Gallery
September 7 through December 10
Reception: Tuesday, September 10, 6-8 pm, in the Trefz Forum; click here for more information.
(Reception kicks off at 6 pm, followed by a keynote presentation by cartoonist and comics historian Brian Walker starting at 7 pm.)
Curated by Walker with help from the Library’s Exhibit Curator Carole Erger-Fass, Cartoon County: The Golden Age of Cartooning in Connecticut derives from Westport Public Art Collections and aims to explore an important piece of local history. It will feature 40+ original cartoons by some of the area’s greats, including Dik Browne, Mel Casson, Stan Drake, John Cullen Murphy, Leonard Starr, Jack Tippit, Mort Walker, and more.
Proximity to major syndicates and publishers in New York City drew cartoonists to Fairfield County. Many worked at home in their studios, frequenting Max’s Art Supplies on the Post Road and seeking companionship with their professional peers at local spots: over a game of golf at Longshore, or at local restaurants like Mario’s Place, across from Westport’s train station.
Related: Westport Library Resource Guide: Cartooning in Connecticut
Cullen Murphy, author and son of the cartoonist behind Prince Valiant and Big Ben Bolt, refers to the history of cartooning in Connecticut with fondness.
“For a period of about 50 years, right in the middle of the American Century, many of the nation’s top comic strip cartoonists, gag cartoonists, and magazine illustrators lived within a stone’s throw of one another in the southwestern corner of Connecticut,” he wrote in Cartoon County, “a bit of bohemia amid those men in their gray flannel suits.”
The Westport Schools Public Art Collections (WestPAC) was conceived by local art teacher Bert Chernow, who began acquiring a diverse collection of artworks in 1964. Featuring many notable local artists, Westpac comprises more than 1,800 works in a broad range of media including paintings, watercolors, drawings, prints, illustrations, cartoons, photographs, sculptures, and murals.
Westport cartoonist Mel Casson was instrumental in building WestPAC’s Cartoon Collection, which includes more than 120 original comic strips, gag cartoons, editorial cartoons, and illustrations. Over the years, the Westpac collection has been displayed in schools and public buildings around town to educate and entertain residents.
This exhibit features many highlights from the collection, representing the major cartoon genres. The graphics on the walls are from Mort Walker’s 1980 book, The Lexicon of Comicana, which will be reissued by New York Review Books in 2025.
Special thanks to Westpac co-chairs Ive Covaci and Anne Boberski, and to the Drew Friedman Community Arts Center for their continued support.
South Gallery
September 7 through December 10
Reception: Tuesday, September 10, 6-8 pm, in the Trefz Forum; click here for more information.
(Reception kicks off at 6 pm, followed by a keynote presentation by cartoonist and comics historian Brian Walker starting at 7 pm.)
The State of Cartooning will display works by active members of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society, including Greg, Brian, and Neal Walker, who carry the legacy of their father, Mort Walker, the creator of Beetle Bailey. Other featured artists include Ray Billingsley, Bob Englehart, Bill Janocha, Sean Kelly, Maria Scrivan, and more.
Founded in 1946, National Cartoonists Society (NCS) activities and events primarily took place in New York City until 1983, when the first Reuben Award Ceremony was held in Los Angeles. At that time, the NCS also began organizing a system of regional chapters for members to participate in. There are currently 23 chapters in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Brian Walker started the NCS Connecticut chapter in 1993, involving many remaining Golden Age cartoonists. Meetings were held at local restaurants, including the Silvermine Tavern, Cobbs Mill Inn, The Redding Roadhouse, and Red Barn. From 1994 to 2017, a special Legend Award was presented to 22 Connecticut Cartoonists at their annual fall dinner. Although membership has decreased as the older generation has passed on, the Connecticut chapter is still active. The State of Cartooning displays works by some of the current members of the NCS.
Related: Westport Library Resource Guide: Cartooning in Connecticut
Bill Janocha is a cartoonist and illustrator who majored in Illustration at Syracuse University. He served as a studio artist at Walt Disney Productions and created comics for Marvel's Crazy Magazine. He was also featured in Mad Magazine and has written gags for the B.C. comic strip series, in addition to articles for Nemo, Hogan's Alley, Comic Book Artist, and encyclopedic bios for 100 Years of American Newspaper Comics. Janocha created characters and storyboards for Pee Wee's Playhouse on CBS and animated for Madonna's Who's That Girl feature film. His cartoons for Hearst newspapers have been featured in Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year series. Janocha has illustrated books, including Hooked on Hopium, A Most Unusual Farm, and The Life and Art of Mort Walker: A Survey of His Cartoons, comingout this fall. He lives with his family in Stamford.
Sean Kelly is an award-winning illustrator whose portfolio includes The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Entertainment Weekly, New York, Businessweek, Rolling Stone, and The Atlantic, among others. A frequent contributor to The New York Times, Kelly has produced many political op-ed commentaries. He has received honors from The Society of Illustrators, The Society of Publication Designers; and The National Cartoonists Society, who presented him with the Best Illustrator Award. In 2018, he illustrated Stephen Colbert’s Midnight Confessions. A graduate of Brown University who also studied at Rhode Island School of Design and was a Getty Arts Journalism Fellow at the University of Southern California, Kelly lives in Southport.
Ray Billingsley is the creator of Curtis, one of today’s most significant and poignant comic features. Billingsley draws inspiration from real life, combining the fresh quality of situational humor, melodrama, comedy, and pathos. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Curtis is read in more than 250 newspapers nationwide. The strip depicts the urban existence of Greg and Diane Wilkins, a Black family that lives in a weathered brownstone. In recognition of his storylines in which Curtis tries to get his father to quit smoking, Billingsley has received numerous awards and recognition from the American Lung Association, including the Humanitarian Award from the American Lung Association of Southeast Florida in 1999 and the President’s Award in 2000. Working from his studio in his Connecticut home, Billingsley balances his life with his family, friends, and his faithful companion, Higgins the Basset Hound.
Maria Scrivan is a New York Times best-selling author, award-winning syndicated cartoonist, and speaker based in Greenwich, Connecticut. Her laugh-out-loud syndicated comic, Half Full, appeared daily in newspapers nationwide for a decade, and is available three days a week on gocomics.com/half-full. Scrivan licenses her work for hundreds of greeting cards for Recycled Paper Greetings, and her cartoons have appeared in MAD Magazine, Parade, Highlights, National Lampoon, and many other publications. Nat Enough, her debut graphic novel, was an instant New York Times best-seller and launched her critically acclaimed six-book series of the same name. She is also a contributor to Marvel Super Stories, released in 2023.
Bob Englehart attended Chicago's American Academy of Art, then began his editorial cartoon career at Chicago Today, before moving on to the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, the Dayton (Ohio) Journal Herald, and the Hartford Courant. He has been an adjunct professor teaching “Cartoons in American Society” at Eastern Connecticut State University and is currently a freelance editorial cartoonist and writer. Englehart is the author of two cartoon collections, a memoir, and a novel. His cartoons are included in several permanent collections including the Connecticut Historical Society, the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library at Ohio State University, the Newseum in Washington, D.C., and others. His work has been the subject of many major solo exhibits, most recently at the Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford and the Connecticut Historical Society. He is syndicated worldwide by Caglecartoons.com.
Chance Browne, also known as Bob, attended The School of Visual Arts and Park College, distinguishing himself as an illustrator, art director, and musician before eventually going to work for his father. After his father, Dik Browne, launched Hagar the Horrible in 1973, Chance stepped in to help with Hi and Lois, acting as primary artist on the strip in the mid-1980s. He also served as editor for Hagar the Horrible, which was drawn by his brother Chris. A true renaissance man, Chance still found time to paint, do freelance graphic design, and play guitar with a variety of blues bands and jazz ensembles. He passed away on March 1, 2024.
Eric Reaves started out his career as a high school art teacher, followed by his tenure as creative director for a top apparel manufacturer. There, he created artwork for Disney, Warner Bros., Nintendo, Barbie, and several other top brands. In 1994, he began cartooning professionally when he joined Paws, Inc., the studio of Garfield. As assistant cartoonist, Reaves helped draw the Garfield comic for 17 years. In 2009, he began helping Chance Browne draw the Hi & Lois comic strip. He joined forces with Browne Creative Enterprises full time in 2012. Having been a lifelong fan of Dik Browne’s art, Reaves describes drawing Dik’s characters as, “a humbling, yet daily thrill!” On occasion, he teaches as an adjunct professor at Indiana Wesleyan University, his alma mater. He and his wife of 25 years have five children, so his ability to relate to the Flagstons comes quite naturally! He enjoys engaging with his children’s multitude of activities, creating art in several different mediums, and he finds relaxation in a stream with his fly rod, catching large trout.
Brian Walker has a diverse background in professional cartooning and cartoon scholarship. He was one of the founders of the Museum of Cartoon Art and has served as curator for more than 70 cartoon exhibitions. He taught cartoon history at the School of Visual Arts and also served as editor-in-chief of Collectors’ Showcase magazine. He has written, edited, and contributed to more than three dozen cartoon-related books, including the recently published history The Comics: The Complete Collection for Harry N. Abrams, Inc. He has been contributing to both Beetle Bailey and Hi and Lois since the early 1980s. Walker graduated from Tufts University.
Greg Walker studied liberal arts and journalism at Syracuse University and has worked in film, commercial photography, newspapers, and graphic arts. He started his cartooning career writing and drawing comic books, including well-known titles such as Rocky and Bullwinkle, Barney and Betty Rubble, Underdog, Sarge Snorkel, and Beetle Bailey. He began providing gags to his father’s strips in the early 1970s, and in addition to writing, currently does the inking and lettering on Beetle Bailey. In the 1980s, Walker also collaborated with Guy and Brad Gilchrist on the Rock Channel comic strip, and with his brothers Brian, Neal, and Morgan on Betty Boop and Felix.
Neal Walker says, “Growing up with comics, I’ve never been able to imagine doing anything else.” He graduated with a BFA from Syracuse University in 1983. He collaborated with his brothers on the Betty Boop and Felix comic strip from 1984 to 1988 and produced the Beetle Bailey comic book for Scandinavia beginning in 1989. He has also worked in animation as an animator, studio assistant, computer operator, and editor for advertising, industrial film, and children’s educational video content. He designed a Beetle Bailey screensaver and sculpted a Beetle Bailey bronze statue, now installed at Mort’s alma mater, the University of Missouri. After Mort Walker’s passing in 2018, Neal pencils and continues to write gags for Beetle Bailey.
Mort Walker produced Beetle Bailey for 67 years, three months and 12 days — that’s 24,576 strips, the longest tenure by any cartoonist on an original creation. Dubbed the Dean of American Cartooning, Walker was one of the most prolific cartoonists in the comics business, with the creation of nine different syndicated strips credited to him during his lifetime, including Beetle Bailey, the third-most widely syndicated strip in the world. He served as president of the National Cartoonists Society and the Newspaper Features Council and was the founder of the Museum of Cartoon Art. His creation remains one of the most popular features in newspapers today and is continued by his sons Greg, Brian, and Neal. It is ironic that Beetle Bailey, the laziest character in the history of comics, was created by Mort Walker, one of the hardest-working and most prolific cartoonists of all time. Mort passed away at the age of 94 on January 27, 2018.
Former Westport Library board member Rob Haroun and his wife, Julie, have a long history with the Library, as patrons, volunteers, and donors. Their most recent contribution is one every Westporter will be able to see: A generous donation to improve the landscaping around the building, and notably, landscaping that is annual and low maintenance.
Among the improvements are a new irrigation system and new plantings along Jesup Green, the Riverwalk path to Library, and the hill below the café deck. All work is being completed by Outdoor Design and Living, and the Harouns worked assiduously with the town and the Library to ensure all regulations were in full compliance.
Rob recently spoke with us about why he chose to give to the Library, how he dedicated his time to this project, and why giving to the Library matters to him and makes a difference for all of Westport.
How did you first get involved with the Library and why?
I first became involved with the Library through Steve Smith of the Westport Building Department. Steve and I are friends and would often discuss Westport town projects. He recommended me for an RTM appointment for the Library to be on its building committee for the transformation project (the Library’s complete renovation project, completed in 2019). At first, I was a little hesitant, thinking that it was a little out of my comfort zone. However, Steve encouraged me, and in 2016, I became a trustee and eventually chair of the building committee.
What prompted your donation to upgrade the landscaping at the Library?
Julie and I have raised three children and regularly took them to the Library for various events, including the summer reading competition. As a trustee, I have noticed the incredibly generous donations that others have made toward the transformation project. These donations have contributed to upgrades in the Children’s Library and audiovisual equipment for the Versa Studios, significantly improving the interior facilities. It was clear that these donors placed great importance on how their donations were being utilized.
Having worked as a real estate developer for over 30 years, primarily focusing on properties in Westport, I was intent on ensuring that the exterior of the building was properly landscaped to reflect the first-class facility that we all enjoy in this town. However, landscaping the library's exterior posed a challenge due to the property being under the town's jurisdiction. Approval from various town bodies was required for any activity outside the building. Moreover, there were frequent debates between the town and the Library regarding maintenance responsibilities and the level of care.
To prevent further disputes, Julie and I decided to address this issue by setting aside funds from our donation for the proper care and maintenance of the external landscaping. We are confident that these funds will cover the maintenance for the next five to 10 years. We have lived in town since 1992, raised three children and have built a business in town. It is our way of giving back to an institution that is near and dear to our hearts.
What about your support for the Library is especially important or gratifying?
I am deeply gratified by the friendships we have formed over the years with fellow trustees, administrators, and staff. From Bill Harmer to Robin Powell to Melanie Myers, all have been great partners in our efforts. I'd like to give a special shout-out to all the dedicated trustees who devote countless hours to ensuring the proper governance and world-class functioning of the Library. They are the ones who deserve commendation.
What is your favorite thing to do at the Library?
There isn't just one thing! All the BOOKED for the evening events, speakers, music, kids programming... all that encourages a love for learning!
What would you tell other community members who are considering a donation to the Library?
What I would say to other families or members that are looking to get involved with the library is: DO IT! The Library is a gem in our town, offering endless learning possibilities for all ages.
I would also like to thank all the town bodies that made this approval process relatively smooth. Most notably, Mary Young at planning and zoning and Colin Kelly at the conservation department, who was instrumental in selecting many of the plantings.
Overall, Julie and I are extremely pleased with how the Library facilities are enjoyed by everyone. We are fortunate to have a world-class Library in our backyard, open to all and accessible to everyone.
Starting Saturday, June 1, children may sign up for our Summer Reading Program, which continues through Labor Day weekend.
Read anything, anytime, anywhere all summer long.
Register online and keep track of minutes read. For every 100 minutes, you can decorate a summer sun that will be displayed in the Library. Earn a treat from Shake Shack at 500 minutes. When you reach 1,000 minutes, you can choose a book to keep from our selection of titles. For more summer fun and prizes, play summer bingo and earn more free books.
Signup begins: Saturday, June 1
Summer Reading ends: Monday, September 2
Our thanks to the Westport Young Women’s League for sponsoring our summer reading program and to Shake Shack for providing our 500-minute prize.
Heyo, Readers! Get ready for the Library’s 8th Annual Adult Summer Reading Challenge, your chance to saddle up and out-read your competition.
If you have participated in the past, welcome back — the rules are all the same. If this is your first time joining us, we're thrilled to have you, and we've got a fresh round of 25 great categories to keep you busy this summer (categories to be unveiled June 1). You can do all of them or only one, or anything in between, just as long as you have fun reading! Challenge yourself; we dare you!
Once you have read a book that fulfills a category, you can submit it via the form on our website (also available starting June 1) and keep track of your progress on our leaderboard.
The leaderboard is an awesome place to see what everyone else is reading, and give recommendations to our community of readers. You can also join our Westport Reading Challenge Facebook Group and talk books all summer long.
Why should you join the challenge? Because as Rita L, one of last year's participants, said: “The Westport Library’s summer reading challenge is one of the best in the state! I love seeing what everyone else is reading and getting ideas about books that I end up LOVING but never would have read otherwise! Reading is my favorite hobby, and the Summer Reading Challenge takes me to the next level every year!”
Wednesday, April 3, is Library Giving Day 2024, a 24-hour online giving day to support the resources, programs, and innovation of The Westport Library. Every dollar raised today will ensure the Library continues to thrive and provide essential services and programs to our community.
Library Giving Day is a special day for supporters like you, who depend on and enjoy public libraries, to donate to The Westport Library, your community hub. And in turn, your support will go back to the community of Westport through the Library’s programs, services, and materials.
Make your Library Giving Day donation to The Westport Library today, and thank you for your continued support!
For more on Library Giving Day, click here. And please donate below!
Jesup Gallery
March 16 through June 10
From the collection of Ellen and Mark Naftalin, this exhibit features album covers of some of the pioneering jazz musicians who changed the face and sound of American music forever.
Jazz developed in the United States in the very early part of the 20th century. New Orleans, near the mouth of the Mississippi River, played a key role in this development. The city's population was more diverse than anywhere else in the South, and people of African, French, Caribbean, Italian, German, Mexican, and American Indian, as well as English descent interacted with one another. African American musical traditions mixed with others and gradually jazz emerged from a blend of ragtime, marches, blues, and other kinds of music.
After the first recordings were made in 1917, the music spread widely and developed rapidly in a series of different styles including traditional jazz, Dixieland, swing, bebop, progressive and modern jazz. At the same time, jazz spread from the U.S. to many parts of the world, and today jazz musicians — and jazz festivals — can be found in dozens of nations. Jazz is one of the United States' greatest exports to the world.
Jazz musicians like to play their songs in their own distinct styles, and so you might listen to a dozen different jazz recordings of the same song, but each will sound different. The musicians' playing styles make each version different, and so do the improvised solos. Jazz is about making something familiar into something fresh, and about making something shared — a tune that everyone knows — into something personal. Those are just some of the reasons that jazz is a great art form, and why some people consider it “America's classical music.”
Description excerpted from “What Is Jazz” on the website of The Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
Thank you to Ellen and Mark Naftalin for digging though their treasure trove of LPs and sharing this piece of unforgettable American recording history.
Exhibit support provided by The Drew Friedman Community Arts Center.
Return to the main "Art At the Library" page
Jesup Gallery
January 12 through March 12
Artist reception: Monday, February 12, 6-7:30 pm
Terry Tannen was born and raised in Connecticut. After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design, she pursued a career in corporate design and branding working for iconic graphic designer Herb Lubalin, NBC TV, and co-founding her own firm G&K Design Group.
Capturing the beauty and natural design of nature has always been what inspires her creative work — whether it be through design, photography, painting, or sculpture. Her work has been exhibited in New York City, Westport, and Southampton, N.Y.
“This collection of sunrise photos is from a series taken over Mill Pond Beach in Westport,” Terry said. “It is a tribute to the last year of my beloved husband Charles Tannen's life. Chuck was an avid lover of nature, photography, and adventure. As his fight with Parkinson's progressed, our goal became finding the beauty in what was in our present moment, in gratitude. Thus, Awakenings.”
