Friday Flashback #425

The Westport River Gallery — on the left side, where Post Road West turns into Riverside Avenue — overflows with interesting art, from an array of international artists.

But a work by a Connecticut artist — with a very Westport theme — stands out among the scores of landscapes and scenes from around the world.

“Westport USA” is a multi-media 36×36 creation of Connecticut pop artist Franki Vinci.

It’s an explosion of Westport residents, present and formers (and a few folks, real and imagined, with ties to this place).

“Westport USA” (Frankie Vinci) — click on or hover over to enlarge.

There are the usual suspects: Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Martha Stewart, Rodney Dangerfield, F. Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald, Patty Hearst, Bette Davis, Michael Bolton.

(Plus, of course, Keith Richards. He lives in Weston. But, as anyone who has seen him around town knows, he’s really one of us.)

There’s “I Love Lucy” and “Bewitched” (both TV series were “set” in Westport, at least for a while). Superman (drawn by longtime resident Curt Swan). Norman Rockwell, who helped found the Famous Artists School (located a few yards from the gallery, on Wilton Road).

And George Washington, who famously slept here (and complained about his accommodations).

How many of the nearly 50 references do you recognize in “Westport USA”? How many surprise you with their Westport connection?

Click “Comments” below, to share your reactions and remembrances to this remarkable piece of art.

(Friday Flashback is one of “06880”‘s many regular features. If you enjoy this — or anything else on our website — please consider a tax-deductible contribution. Just click here. Thank you!)

7 responses to “Friday Flashback #425

  1. Melissa Stewart Newman

    No Eartha Kitt????

  2. Is that Charlie Karp in the bottom row, 3rd from left, next to Jim McKay? If so, very cool!

  3. No Harvey Weinstein?

  4. And no Dan Woog!

  5. what’s wrong with Mr. Bloomberg?

  6. oh, and no Mrs Woody Allen?