Noted Westport photographer Michael Chait joins our online gallery this week.
We welcome him — and all other artists.
Professional and amateur; no matter your age; the style or subject you choose — and whether you’re a first-timer or old-timer — we want your submissions. Watercolors, oils, charcoal, pen-and-ink, acrylics, mixed media, digital, lithographs, collages, macramé, jewelry, sculpture, decoupage, needlepoint — we want whatever you’ve got.
Just email a JPG to 06880blog@gmail.com. And please include the medium you’re working in.
“NYC Newsstand Circa 1977 — Lexington Avenue & 53rd Street” (Michael Chait — Available for purchase; click here)
“It Dawned on Me” (Michael Tomashefsky — Available for purchase; click here)
Untitled (Duane Cohen — Available for purchase; click here)
“Really Big Rudbeckia” — watercolor on Arches paper, 16.5 x 11.5 (Kathleen Burke — Available for purchase; click here)
“My Little Pony” — acrylic and resin, 24 x 36 (Patricia McMahon — Available for purchase; click here)
“Butterflies Are Free” — doodling of color with 3D butterflies (Dorothy Robertshaw — Available for purchase; click here)
“Night Guard” — abstract (Tom Doran — Available for purchase; click here)
“PSOS” (Mark Yurkiw — Available for purchase; click here)
“Lucky Me! 46 Years Ago She Said ‘Yes!'” — watercolor black paint on paper (Eric Bosch)
“Strong, Handsome, and Friendly with Great Vibrations – His Entourage Also Enjoys the Music and More!” (Mike Hibbard)
Untitled (Martin Ripchick — Available for purchase; click here)
“And We Were Told Everything is Under Control!” — watercolor and graphite (Steve Stein)
“Conversation” (Lawrence Weisman)
“Sissy” — pencil on paper (Bill Fellah)
(Entrance is free to our online art gallery –as it has been for 6 years. But please consider an anniversary donation! Just click here — and thank you!)
We always showcase a variety of artists in our Saturday online art gallery.
They always span an impressive spread of mediums, styles and subjects.
But this week’s offers the widest range of ages. We’ve got a first-time submission from a 4th grader — and another first-time offering from a 97-year-old.
Can we ever beat that?
Hey: We can try! As always, we invite you to be part of next week’s exhibition. No matter your age; the style or subject you choose — and whether you’re a first-timer or old-timer — we welcome your submissions. Watercolors, oils, charcoal, pen-and-ink, acrylics, mixed media, digital, lithographs, collages, macramé, jewelry, sculpture, decoupage, needlepoint — we want whatever you’ve got.
Just email a JPG to 06880blog@gmail.com. And please include the medium you’re working in — art lovers want to know.
“Mill Pond Foggy Foggy Night” (Michael Chait — Available for purchase; click here)
“Hey There From Emilia-Romagna, Italy” — digitally painted original photograph (Michael Tomashefsky — Available for purchase; click here)
“Running in the Rain” (Salit Kulla)
“Charleston, SC” (Tom Doran — Available for purchase; click here)
“Bitter End Knots” — Bitter End Yacht Club, Virgin Gorda (Nancy Breakstone — Available for purchase; click here)
“Flowers Peeking Through the Ice” — 21 x 21 oil and acrylic on aluminum (Dorothy Robertshaw — Available for purchase; click here)
“Spring Forward” — acrylic and resin (Patricia McMahon — Available for purchase; click here)
“Gold Wave, $5 an Ounce” — Dutch-pour technique on canvas (Eric Bosch)
“Seeing Spots” (Allison Arth, grade 4, One River Art student)
“Shadows of my Former Self (Officer, Golfer, Pickleballer” — triptych photo (Tom Lowrie, age 97)
Photographer Mike Hibbard says, Earthquake hits Kathmandu City. Millions of pieces in this puzzle. AI can help rebuild the temple.”
“A Type Setter’s Nightmare” — watercolor and pencil (Steve Stein)
“Lion Around” (Martin Ripchick — Available for purchase; click here)
“What’s it All About?” (Lawrence Weisman)
“Allison” — pencil on paper (Bill Fellah)
“Jan. 6th” (Mark Yurkiw — Available for purchase; click here)
(Entrance is free to our online art gallery. But please consider a donation! Just click here — and thank you!)
We open today’s online art gallery with a tribute to Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
We continue with some fall-themed works. And we end, as usual, with a series of intriguing drawings.
That’s our gallery in a nutshell: art with themes, and without. A variety of mediums. Surprises, and old favorites.
As always, no matter how young (or old) you are; what style or subject you choose — and whether you’re a first-timer or old-timer — we welcome your submissions. Watercolors, oils, charcoal, pen-and-ink, acrylics, mixed media, digital, lithographs, collages, macramé, jewelry, sculpture, decoupage, needlepoint — we want whatever you’ve got.
Please email a JPG to 06880blog@gmail.com. And please include the medium you’re working in — art lovers want to know.
“Pink Aid” — Artist Dorothy Robertshaw is “honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month with an acrylic impasto canvas of hope” (Available for purchase — click here)
Untitled (John Maloney)
“Autumn Leaves Near the Sound Between Compo and Old Mill” (Judith Katz)
“Branching Out” (Patricia McMahon — Available for purchase;click here)
“October 18 Sunset Compo” (Michael Chait)
Untitled (Duane Cohen — Available for purchase; click here)
“Southport Harbor in Winter” (Kathleen Burke — Available for purchase; click here)
Artist Eric Bosch says, “Like so many of us, I enjoy Edward Hopper’s paintings, having studied many of them at various museums. Here’s a copy I did of his famous ‘Rooms For Tourists.'”
“Just a ‘walk in the park!'” – Hike to the top of Casa Grande for lunch; Big Bend National Park, Texas (Mike Hibbard)
“Sir Ian McKellen” — pencil on paper (Bill Fellah — Available for purchase; click here)
Untitled (Martin Ripchick — Available for purchase; click here)
“The Impatient Ghost” — watercolor (Steve Stein)
“Bad Smell” (Lawrence Weisman)
(Entrance is free to our online art gallery. But please consider a donation! Just click here — and thank you!)
Hand-painted horseshoe crabs — mounted on a wood frame — are among the intriguing highlights of this week’s online art gallery.
They’re a first for this feature.
But as always: No matter how young (or old) you are; what style or subject you choose — and whether you’re a first-timer or old-timer — we welcome your submissions. Watercolors, oils, charcoal, pen-and-ink, acrylics, mixed media, digital, lithographs, collages, macramé, jewelry, sculpture, decoupage, needlepoint — we want whatever you’ve got.
Please email a JPG to 06880blog@gmail.com. And please include the medium you’re working in — art lovers want to know.
“Sketch of a Sculpture at the Met Museum of Art” (Bill Fellah — Available for purchase; click here)
Untitled — Fence near Old Mill — oil on aluminum impasto (Dorothy Robertshaw; Available for purchase; click here)
“Wilted” (Karen Weingarten)
“It’s Our Diversity that Makes Us Stronger” — Eric Bosch collected these dead horseshoe crab shells, washed ashore at Compo Beach. All 20 were hand painted, and mounted on a 29″ x 29″ painted wood frame. (Available for purchase; click here).
Untitled (Duane Cohen; Available for purchase; click here)
“Surfer” (Michael Chait)
“Levon” (Patricia McMahon; Available for purchase; click here)
“Sneezy Yum” (Tom Doran; Available for purchase; click here)
Auditioning for the Beautiful Bird Burlesques Feather-fan Frolic (Mike Hibbard)
“The Day of Atonement — Off to Shul for Yom Kippur” — watercolor (Steve Stein)
“Parisian Gentleman” (Lawrence Weisman)
(Entrance is free to our online art gallery. But please consider a donation! Just click here — and thank you!)
We’ve made a tiny tweak to our online art gallery.
One of our artists says that marking a piece “for sale” is a bit crass.
He’s right. From now on, any artwork that an artist offers for sale will say “available for purchase.”
The process is the same. Just click the link in the caption, then fill out the email that pops up.
Buyers arrange the purchase — price, original or print, framed or unframed, shipping or pickup, etc. — directly with the artist. Happy shopping!
Meanwhile, a reminder about our works: We invite submissions from all “06880” readers. No matter what style or subject you choose — and whether you’re a first-timer or old-timer — we welcome your submissions. Watercolors, oils, charcoal, pen-and-ink, acrylics, digital, lithographs, collages, macramé, jewelry, sculpture, decoupage, needlepoint — we want whatever you’ve got.
This feature is open to all. Age, level of experience, subject matter — there are no restrictions. Everyone can contribute.
Please email a jpeg to 06880blog@gmail.com. And please include the medium you’re working in — art lovers want to know.
“Flying Fish” — encaustic was embellished with gold leaf (Dorothy Robertshaw — Available for purchase;click here)
“Deep Blue” — digital photography, combined with Photoshop and Midjourney manipulation (Ken Runkel — Available for purchase; click here)
Untitled (June Rose Whittaker — Available for purchase; click here)
Untitled (Duane Cohen — Available for purchase; click here)
“Peck’s Ledge Sunset” — watercolor (Kathleen Burke — Available for purchse; click here)
“Another Mist Opportunity” (Michael Tomashefsky — Available for purchase; click here)
“Daisy the Daffodil Detective” (Patricia McMahon — Available for purchase; click here)
“Parade of Tulips” (Cindy Wagner — Available for purchase; click here)
“Bubbles” (Karen Weingarten)
“A Nautical Gate in Stonington” (Peter Barlow)
“So Nice to See Green Pouring in My Window Again” (Tom Doran — Available for purchase; click here)
“Sauna and Loofah” (Steve Stein)
“88 … 89 … 90” (Lawrence Weisman)
(Entrance is free to our online art gallery. But please consider a donation! Just click here — and thank you!)
We’re beginning our 6th year of this feature. It started in the very early days of COVID. The goal was to encourage homebound residents a chance to paint, draw or photograph their feelings about the pandemic.
It quickly evolved into a gallery for art of all themes, and all genres. Submissios poured in, from Westporters and “06880” readers far away.
When the immediate crisis eased, we kept going.
Now — 5 years later — today’s edition includes the most number of works ever: 17.
Thanks to all who are represented today. And all who have helped make this a valued and much-anticipated feature of “06880,” every Saturday morning since March of 2020.
So, to reiterate: We invite submissions from all “06880” readers. No matter what style or subject you choose — and whether you’re a first-timer or old-timer — we welcome your submissions. Watercolors, oils, charcoal, pen-and-ink, acrylics, digital, lithographs, collages, macramé, jewelry, sculpture, decoupage, needlepoint — we want whatever you’ve got.
This feature is open to all. Age, level of experience, subject matter — there are no restrictions. Everyone can contribute.
Just email a jpeg to 06880blog@gmail.com. And please include the medium you’re working in — art lovers want to know.
“Go Outside and Play!” — digital illustration (Ken Runkel)
“Take Down These Barriers and Get Out of My Way!” (Mike Hibbard)
Many of our online gallery’s favorite artists return. They offer their usual — but always new and fresh — works, to entertain “06880” readers on a cold winter morning.
No matter what style or subject you choose — and whether you’re a first-timer or old-timer — we welcome your submissions. Watercolors, oils, charcoal, pen-and-ink, acrylics, digital, lithographs, collages, macramé, jewelry, sculpture, decoupage, needlepoint — we want whatever you’ve got.
This feature is open to all. Age, level of experience, subject matter — there are no restrictions. Everyone is invited to contribute.
Just email a jpeg to 06880blog@gmail.com. And please include the medium you’re working in — art lovers want to know.
Untitled (Tom Doran)
“The Winter Waterscape” — encaustic wax (Dorothy Robertshaw)
“Ludlow Dreaming” (Rowene Weems)
“Credit Card Collage” (June Rose Whittaker)
“Georgia on my Mind” (Michael Tomashefsky)
“Dew Drops Off of Hillspoint by Schlaet’s Point” (Matt Murray)
“Herreshoff S-boat ‘Tonic’ — oil on Masonite (Peter Barlow)
“Yankee Baseball” — at Westport River Gallery (Fazzino)
“Happy Hour” (Lawrence Weisman)
“A Polar Bear Scene at Compo” — pencil and charcoal (Steve Stein)
Untitled (Duane Cohen)
(Entrance is free to our online art gallery. But please consider a donation! Just click here — and thank you!)
The Westport Representative Town Meeting celebrates the 75th anniversary of its first meeting this coming Tuesday (December 3, 7 p.m., Town Hall).
The public is invited. The legislative body’s regular monthly meeting follows in the Town Hall auditorium, at 7:30.
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Sponsors have flocked to the new PAL/YMCA Westport travel basketball program.
And it’s not just local busineses and services. In addition to orthodontists, a cleaning company and restaurants, 3 families sponsored teams.
But their names on not on the young players’ jerseys. Instead, thanks to donations from the McCalisters, Liz Hauer and Groves, the causes they believe in — Adrienne Flemming fitness program, Hearts in Harmony and CT Children’s Hospital, respectively — are emblazoned on the back.
Sponsorship includes game jerseys and shorts, practice jerseys, a shooting shirt and backpack, at no cost to players.
The 8th grade (oldest) jerseys were sponsored by PAL. Both teams chose a message that reflects the core belief of the Staples High School program.
On the boys’ jerseys is “STANCE,” an acronym the Wreckers boys live by. The girls’ jersey say “DRIVE,” which this year’s captains and new coach Tommy Sparks chose to reflect the program’s beliefs.
This year’s travel basketball program involves 11 boys and 9 girls teams, plus a 3rd grade girls developmental squad.
Sponsors include Electric Symphony, Fairfield Dermatology, CT ENT, Purple Cow Cleaners, The Bridge at Saugatuck, Outpost Pizza, Academy Camps, The O’Dell Group, Embrace Orthodontics, Metta Management, Heartlent and The Cal Group.
Honoring a favorite non-profit.
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The Westport Farmers’ Market is beloved for its home-grown produce, baked goods, cheese mongers and more. Savvy shoppers know it’s the place to be, every Thursday.
Once a year — on a Saturday — the WFM hosts a special Holiday Artists’ Market. This time, the fare is courtesy of local artists.
This year’s event is Saturday, December 7 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Gilbertie’s Herbs & Garden Center).
Over 40 artists will show and sell their wares. The Bubble & Brew mobile café will be there; carolers, too, plus a photo booth.
Among the attractions: Ms President US‘s Clara Scotto, of Westport, will showcase upcycled, upmarket teen fashion. All proceeds from t-thrift sales will be donated to Person to Person in Darien.
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What’s so funny about Walrus Alley?
Once a month — usually the last Tuesday — the downtown restaurants hosts 3 comics.
This week’s headliner was Chris Clarke.
Chris Clarke, at Walrus Alley on Tuesday night. (Hat tip and photo/Matthew Mandell)
Yesterday’s story about the return of lights to the William F. Cribari Bridge — we’ll have them after all! — reminded readers of the joys of crossing the 135-year-old span during the holidays.
And it reminded Westport artist Michael Chait of this video he produced, illustating the dazzling colors over the Saugatuck River.
“Fifteen Cents on the Dollar: How Americans Made the Black-White Wealth Gap” is the subject of a special Westport Library conversation.
The December 4 (7 p.m.) event exploring inequality with authors Louise Story and Ebony Reed. It’s part of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s “In Community Conversation” series, in partnership with TEAM Westport.
“Fifteen Cents” authors Louise Story and Ebony Reed join FCCF president and CEO Mendi Blue Paca for a panel discussion with local community leaders, followed by an audience Q & A. Click here for more information.
Westport Police made 4 custodial arrests between November 20 and 27.
A 22-year-old Astoria, New York woman was charged with larceny, identity theft, and conspiracy to commiti thosoe crimes, after an investigation into a complaint about a stolen IRS refund check that had been stolen and deposited. She was held on a $150,000 bond.
A 30-year-old Cos Cob man was arrested for larceny and identity theft, based on $5,500 in fraudulent charges. He posted a $10,000 bond.
A 22-year-old Waterbury man was charged with violation of probation. He was held on a $20,000 bond.
A 59-year-old Stamford man was arrested for failure to appear.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 9 citations
Failure to comply with traffic control signals: 5
Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 4
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 4
Failure to obey stop sign: 4
Traveling unreasonably fast: 3
Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 3
Failure to renew registration: 2
Passing a standing school bus: 1
Speeding: 1
Driving while texting: 1
Failure to yield to a pedestrian: 1
Failure to insure a motor vehicle: 1
Improper marker lamps: 1
Improper number of headlamps: 1
Be sure you have the right number of headlights!
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Jolantha — Weston’s favorite pig — is all dolled up for Thanksgiving.
She is also very glad that the meal of choice on this holiday is turkey, not pork.
And finally … it’s amazing the things I remember from my childhood, decades back. (Just as amazing: how easily I forget things from seconds ago, like why did I just walk into this room?).
Every Thanksgiving at Burr Farms Elementary School, we sang this song:
I thought it was a nice holiday tune. Not until decades later did I realize it was a hymn.
But that wasn’t the only religious component of my Westport public school education. In first and second grade — until the Supreme Court outlawed it — every day began with the Lord’s Prayer.
That’s right. Just after the Pledge of Allegiance, our entire class — Catholics, Protestants, Jews, and everyone else — bowed our heads, and said, “Our Father, who art in heaven …”
(Happy Thanksgiving! Today, I am thankful for the chance to share my love of Westport with our wonderful online community. Enjoy the day!)
“06880” has reported several times on early voting — used for the first time in Connecticut this fall for a presidential election. (Click here, then scroll down for details.)
Here’s info on absentee ballots:
Connecticut law allows you to receive an absentee ballot if you cannot appear at your assigned polling place on Election Day because of active service in the military, absence from the town in which you are eligible to vote, sickness, religious tenets that forbid secular activity on the day of the election, duties as an election official at a polling place other than your own during all of the hours of voting, or physical disability. To receive your absentee ballot, please complete, sign, and submit an application online.
Please provide your name, date of birth, and town as it appears in the voter record in order to look up and verify your voter information.
Click here to complete an absentee ballot request.
The second Westport Safety Action Plan public meeting is tomorrow (Thursday, October 17, 7 p.m., Town Hall auditorium).
Officials will present results of the recent public survey, and offer safety analysis and information on project selection.
Click here to learn more about the Westport Safety Action Plan.
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Westport has begun the process to replace the maintenance building in Longshore.
That’s the shed that, ever since the town bought the 188-acre property in 1960, has occupied prime real estate, between the Inn and tennis court/pool parking lots.
The new site may be where the brush dump is now located.
There was a performance yesterday of the staged reading, script-in-hand series (plus delicious lunch) that has entertained and delighted audiences at local venues for 20 years.
There have been 350 performances, with 200 professional actors and 135 playwrights.
Additional shows are today (Wednesday) at the Pequot Library in Southport, and tomorrow (Thursday) at Greenwich Arts Council.
“All good things must come to an end,” Carole Schweid, artistic director for the series’ organizer, JIB Productions, told “06880” in July.
She has had health issues, and executive producer Diana Muller is retiring.
Many local actors turned out to say farewell yesterday. The cast included several long-time favorites, including Weston’s James Naughton.
First Selectwoman Jen Tooker awarded Schweid honorary recognition for the 2-decade run of one-act plays.
“They have been theatrical jewels for Westport theater fans,” says Marcia Falk.
She’s volunteered with the crew for 7 years. “I loved being part of such an exceptional Westport tradition,” Marcia says.
Brava, Carole and Diana. Thank you for 20 years of inspiring, thought-provoking, and much-needed entertainment!
Of course, audiences at the final Westport “Play With Your Food” performance celebrated with cake. (Photo/Marcia Falk)
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Michael Chait is a Westport photographer, known for his fresh looks at familiar local images.
Now those photos will be on sale, at a pre-holiday discount of 30%.
The event is Sunday, November 10 (2 to 5 p.m.) at his studio — which, fittingly, is in one of Westport’s most historic buildings.
It’s on the second floor of 11 Riverside Avenue. The building — long owned by the Gault family — is where, in the 1800s, merchant ships tied up.
The 2011 Staples High School and 2015 Middlebury College graduate performed at his first music festival (Black Bear Americana Fest); began hosting a Bob Dylan series at Cafe Wha?; opened for prominent artists like Marcellus Hall, Will Dailey and Ira Wolf, and got his first radio airplay.
Now he’s released his first new music in 6 years.
“Invulnerable” — his album of original songs — is available now. It straddles 2 stylistic worlds: the discursive balladeering of archetypal folk, and the more impressionistic lyricism of post-Dylan folk.
Dustin — who performed at last summer’s Soundview Stroll at Compo Beach — is booking concerts for the coming months.
We look forward to his “bringing it all back home.” In the meantime, you can listen to “Invulnerable” below. (Be sure to click the three-stripe icon in the upper right.)
Staples High School’s October Students of the Month are seniors Brianna Caporale and Henry Lobsenz, juniors Sarah Kalb and Grady McHugh, sophomores Jace Darby and Maya Stafford, and freshmen Derin Leon and Moni Mazaheri.
Those students “help make Staples a welcoming place for their peers and teachers alike,” says principal Stafford Thomas.
“They are the ‘glue’ of the Staples community: the type of kind, cheerful, hard-working, trustworthy students that keep the high school together.”
Nominations come from teachers, who select “all-around good citizens.”
October Students of the Month (from left): Grady McHugh, Henry Lobsenz, Derin Leon, Jace Darby, Sarah Kalb, Maya Stafford, Brianna Caporale. Missing: Moni Mazaheri.
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More Staples news: Kate Bulkeley, Olivia Cohn and Olivia Saw will represent the schools next months, at the 11th Normandy International Youth Leadership Summit in Le Havre, France.
Delegates are high performing students interested in world affairs. At the event, the Westporters and other teens from 18 countries around the globe will develop action plans to address an issue affecting their community and the world — then implement them.
From left: Kate Bulkeley, Olivia Saw, Olivia Cohn.
Affordable housing — one of Westport’s hottest topics — was the subject of yesterday’s Westport Rotary Club luncheon talk.
David Newberg — chair of the Westport Housing Authority since 2004 — discussed the past, present and future of local affordable housing.
The WSA owns, manages and develops affordable housing in town. Their 221 units house 450 people, most of whom are from Westport. The WHA has spent $65 million dollars over the years restoring and developing these units.
Newberg said that the major obstacle to building more units to meet demand is the scarcity of buildable land. The major reason that land is so hard to come by, he noted, is that people generally do not want affordable housing in their neighborhoods. It can take years to get land allocated for this purpose.
David Newberg, at the Westport Rotary Club. (Photo/Ellin Curley)
Though only one submission referenced last weekend’s Memorial Day — our first, stunning abstract photo taken on Westport’s Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge by Michael Chait — several other pieces suggest the coming of summer.
Of course, many others suggest many other things. That’s the whole point of our weekly online art gallery. It’s eclectic. It’s wide-open.
And it’s your feature. Everyone is invited to contribute. Age, level of experience, subject matter — there are no restrictions.
All genres are encouraged. Watercolors, oils, charcoal, pen-and-ink, acrylics, lithographs, collages, macramé, jewelry, sculpture, decoupage and (yes) needlepoint — whatever you’ve got, email it to 06880blog@gmail.com. Share your work with the world! (PS: Please include the medium you’re working in — art lovers want to know.)
Click here to help support “06880” via credit card or PayPal. Any amount is welcome, appreciated — and tax-deductible! Reader contributions keep this blog going. (Alternate methods: Please send a check to “06880”: PO Box 744, Westport, CT 06881. Or use Venmo: @blog06880. Or Zelle: dwoog@optonline.net. Thanks!)
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