Even in death, Susan Malloy continues to give back to Westport.
The noted artist/philanthropist died recently, at 91. Just weeks earlier, she had agreed to participate in this weekend’s Westport Woman’s Club Art Show.
The event is a big one. For decades — starting in the early 1900s — the WWC sponsored an annual show. Some of America’s best artists were represented — because many club members were wives of artists, or artists themselves.
During the Depression, WWC shows helped unemployed artists and their families make ends meet. Local artists were always prominently featured.
In the 1980s, the art show ended. Now — after a 30-year hiatus — it’s back.
Malloy won’t be there this weekend (Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3), unfortunately. It’s the first big event to be held in the WWC’s newly renovated Bedford Room.
But her paintings — selected by family members — will.
Susan Malloy’s paintings will be at the Westport Woman’s Club Art Show…
Malloy’s art will be shown alongside 14 of the area’s most talented and inventive artists’ — folks like Nina Bentley, Tom Kretsch, Katherine Ross and Jo Titsworth.
Their styles include ceramics, assemblage, digital and conventional photography, watercolors, jewelry, oils, acrylics, lenticulars and more.
Trace Burroughs will be there too. The brother of art show curator Miggs Burroughs, he’ll make his 1st Westport art debut since 1958. (He was 8 years old then, and sold almost 300 Jackson Pollack-like drip paintings. One was bought by Milton Greene, who was summering with Marilyn Monroe in Westport.)
100% of the proceeds from sales of Malloy’s work will go to the Westport Woman’s Club Scholarship Fund.
An additional 30% of sales of other artists’ work will also go to the Fund. All of that money is earmarked for need-based scholarships for Staples High School seniors. The WWC expects to hand out $30,000 in scholarships this year.
…as will Tom Kretsch’s photos.
That’s on top of $30,000 to 30 local non-profits and community service organizations. (Those funds come from the Yankee Doodle Fair.)
The Woman’s Club will also donate free use of their Bedford Hall meeting space to 8 different groups. That’s a $6,400 value.
The art show is dedicated to Malloy’s memory. What better way to honor it than to admire her work this weekend — and maybe take home one of her final pieces.
(The Westport Woman’s Club Art Show opening reception is set for Saturday, May 2 from 5-8 p.m. The show continues Sunday, May 3, from 12-4 p.m.)
