Beechwood Arts Builds A New Hive

When Frederic Chiu and Jeanine Esposito sold Beechwood — their magnificent Weston Road property, including a 216-year-old home and towering beech tree — and ended their Beechwood Arts & Innovation series, artists, musicians, foodies and the couple’s many friends were heartbroken.

Over 12 years, Beechwood had evolved from a music showcase in a sunny, circular room, into a multi-generational, ever-changing, truly innovative salon.

Violinist Joshua Bell, artists in every medium, chefs — and an eclectic cast of culturally curious area residents — gathered every 3 or 4 months. They listened, observed, ate, asked questions, debated, and gained new perspectives on our universe.

But since moving to Norwalk, Frederic — an internationally known pianist — and his equally talented artist wife Jeanine were hard at work on a new project.

They’ve been as busy as bees. Now they’ve unveiled “The Hive.”

The first 2 public events will take place at the Westport Library. After 32 years here, Frederic and Jeanine remain firmly tied to their town.

The Hive’s mission was inspired by the couple’s experience at Beechwood — especially, the community connection and collaboration that evolved among a diverse mix of artists and audiences.

The connections that developed between people who would not otherwise have met led them from a focus on “reimagining what the arts experience could be,” to “reimagining what the community experience can be – within and across communities.”

Thus, the Hive’s mission focuses on deepening community connection and understanding.

The Hive’s values “embody the ethos of the beehive: enthusiastic collaboration, continual communication, flexibility, transformation, respect, empathy and belonging.”

That should create quite a buzz.

After leaving Beechwood as a venue, they’re now collaborating with a number of community-driven organizations across Fairfield County: arts, libraries, community services, teen groups and more.

Jeanine Esposito and Frederic Chiu. (Photo/Jane Beiles for he New York Times)

They’re meeting with directors throughout the area, gaining input on how to provide value for their organizations through Hive programs.

It’s important for Frederic and Jeanine that at every event, community members be active participants.

“Without them, there is no ‘show,'” Jeanine notes.

The first 2 afternoons present community members on stage, showing art, telling stories, or “laying it down” on the piano.

Both will be followed by a community conversation (not, Jeanine emphasizes, “a Q&A”) on the subject.

The artists’ story share, on the subject of “Unexpected Human Pollination,” is the initial event, on Sunday, June 2 (2 to 4 p.m.).

Artists should think about this prompt: “Have you ever had an experience where you found yourself coming together with others whose mindsets, approaches and/or backgrounds were completely different from your own, and it ended up with very surprising or inspiring results?”

The deadline for artists to apply is May 25. (Artists do not have to tell a story to share their work.)

Community collaboration is a passion for Jeanine Esposito (middle row, center) and Frederic Chiu (far right).

The “laying it down” sessions — in which 6 accomplished amateur pianists follow Frederic on stage to play for an audience, followed by a community conversation revealing piano-connections threads — is Sunday, June 23 (2 to 4 p.m.). The application deadline is June 8.

Click here for more information on The Hive, including ways to get involved.

And how to pollinate interesting, important ideas, all across Fairfield County.

(Like the Hive, “06880” is your place for community-building and conversations. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)