Westport’s arts scene is robust. And it has been, for over a century.
Right now the 2 major visual arts players are MoCA\CT, and the Artists Collective of Westport.
In this first of a 4-part series, “06880” culture correspondent Robin Chung Moyer explores how we got here.
Sources asked for anonymity, to describe sensitive issues.
The management of any institution is rife with roadblocks. And in an institution for the arts, financial realities can sometimes guide, or perhaps overwhelm, artistic missions.
Which brings us to the highly anticipated — and controversial — 2019 opening of MoCA Westport (now MoCA\CT).
As early as the 1920’s, Westport’s arts scene drew attention. In 1929 a newspaper called this “the home of the most distinctive arts community in the world.” (Um … Rome? Paris?)
James Earle Fraser was one of Westport’s earliest, and best known, artists. He designed the buffalo nickel, the “End of the Trail” sculpture of a Native American slumped over a tired horse, and the Theodore Roosevelt statue at the Museum of Natural History.
In 1934 the town of Westport provided $3,000 ($75,000 today), to kick off the Westport- Weston Arts Council (WWAC). The goal was to encourage and nurture the burgeoning arts scene, including writers, actors, fine artists, cartoonists, illustrators, musicians and more.
WWAC thrived for decades, in a variety of venues. In 1983 it found a physical home in what had been Greens Farms Elementary School. After years of declining birthrates, it and 2 other elementary schools were closed.
The WWAC leased the building from the town, for $1 a year. They changed their name to the Westport Arts Center (WAC). They rented the school’s classrooms at affordable rates, as studios for members.
The WAC also built an exhibition space for shows and performances, in the former gymnasium. In return, they were responsible for the building’s maintenance and upkeep.
From 1983 through 1998, this was the Westport Arts Center.
Gradually, the school population rebounded. In the late 1990s, town officials decided the building would revert back to a school.
They broke the WAC’s lease, leaving members without economical studio options or dedicated exhibition space.
After a years-long search the WAC landed in a brightly renovated Riverside Avenue gallery, not far from the Post Road. They sponsored exhibits from members and other artists around Connecticut, and offered arts education for youngsters.
The long, narrow space was not adequate, however. Offices were cramped, and it could not accommodate large pieces.
Westport Arts Center, on Riverside Avenue.
Around 2018, the executive director of the WAC and supporting board members decided they needed a larger, more suitable location. After examining the Baron’s property on Compo Road South, and Martha Stewart’s former television production facility, they chose the latter.
A press release gushed, “Thanks to 50 years of connecting an entire community around a love of the arts, it will open its new doors at 19 Newtown Turnpike under an evolved identity and mission.”
A town official added, “We are excited to see the Arts Center expand to meet the creative demands of our active, artistic town … the new campus will be a regional cultural destination, drawing audiences to Westport from all over Connecticut, Westchester County and New York City.”
Mo\CA, at 19 Newtown Turnpike.
WAC member sources for this article say they were not made aware of either the search, the new name or the new mission — which mentioned a local audience but not local artists.
Nor did it say that the building is primarily in Norwalk, with most taxes paid to that city.
Instead, members learned the news from the press release.
What happened next? That’s in Part 2 of this series.
(“06880” regularly covers Westport’s arts scene — and the town’s history. If you enjoy stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Excellent article looking forward to reading part two as I am an aspiring artist here in Westport in my retirement as an Interior Designer 🧑🎨. When I moved to Westport in 1996 my main focus was raising my three children and my business.I did enjoy being in a few shows on Riverside Drive. And now I am so happily an active member of the #ArtistcollectiveofWestport a fabulous group of very, very talented artists … I thank Dan Woog for all of his support in his 06880 art blog he has really jumpstarted my new career .
I would love to substitute at Greens Farms School for a day or two, and I’d do it for free.I started kindergarten there in 1952, the year before Mr. Ready became Principal. Our class was in the smaller building on the right side as you drove up the driveway. I remember a Miss Spencer. There was a Mr. Jack too. Does anyone remember any other teachers from that time period?
Mrs Asquith was the 4th grade teacher and she taught me the phrase “ by the skin of your teeth “ at a parent teacher conference at the end of the school year. There she told me I passed 4th grade by the skin of my teeth. I moved on the Burr Farms School as students were redistricted.
Dan,
Great piece about the Art Center. You brought back memories.
I spent so much time in 2010 working with my former RTM colleague, First Selectman Gordon Joseloff and Shelly Kassen, (and Lance Lundgren, former president of the Art Center) and the braintrusts at the USPS, trying to purchase the former main post office building on the Post Road to convert that amazing circa 1930s structure into the Art Center. See my attached plans. I proposed a design that would have also included “The Loading Dock Cafe” (with outdoor seating on the existing loading dock) a new small theatre with moveable seating, a small restaurant and a much smaller post office facility.
We believed foot traffic in this building would be constant, …just what we all wanted. The ceiling height in the basement was about 13’, ideal for administrative offices, classrooms and other activities. I was given the original 1933 blue prints from the USPS to work off of. In my opinion, that project was a HUGE missed opportunity for the community.
We were also working with a group of local folks (an ad hoc committee) who wanted to construct a new small movie theatre for art films and live productions, in the rear yard. They had hoped to merge their interests with the Art Center and share the space and the operating expenses. We worked with the USPS officials to try to maintain a smaller presence on the site (in lieu of their current location) since the community had been using the site as the main post office since the 1930’s.
There were a lot of moving parts to this deal. As is often the case in life (particularly in sports) we had a great line-up on paper but couldn’t execute.
Ultimately, despite requiring a sign-off from the First Selectman, the USPS wizards ignored the Selectman’s request and sold the building to an out of town developer. The building (as you are aware, sat vacant for years, then the failed restaurants and now, oh, another chain store, just what we needed to rip the soul out of our art community.
Yet, this was a great Downtown location, with public parking a short walk to everything. It’s funny, as an architect, we design so many projects that are never built.
~ Joseph V. Vallone, A.I.A.
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