Tag Archives: Westport River Gallery

Roundup: State Senate, STEM Journal, Dave Stalling …

Posted on March 8, 2022 | 5 comments

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Michael Gordon has ended his campaign for Connecticut’s 26th District State Senate seat.

The former Westport Board of Education chair says: “After diving in a few weeks ago, I’ve come to realize that I can’t juggle effectively the multiple demands of family, work and this campaign/the State Senate.

“The simple truth is that I thought I could do all of it at a high level, but I’ve learned that I can’t. I was excited both to campaign and to serve, but I’m also clear that now is not the right time if I want to do the job well.

“I want to thank our wonderful friends for their enormous outpouring of support, kindness and offers of help. I also want to thank the many kind and wise new friends I’ve made throughout the 26^th District. I wish Ceci Maher and Ken Bernhard the best of luck, and I look forward to supporting our nominee this fall.”

Michael Gordon

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The Westport Public Schools’ STEM program is robust. But for students who even more science, technology, engineering and math, Staples High School’s STEM Club is perfect.

For 6 years, one of their signature projects is a STEM Journal. Published 2 to 3 times a year, and packed with information on everything from the environment and medicine to astrophysics and psychology, it’s a great outlet for teenagers who love both research, and writing about it.

Its model is the journals published by universities and research institutions. Most of those have editorial boards — experts who review articles, provide advice and assist editors.

Staples’ STEM Journal wants to improve their scientific credibility, and link students with professionals. So they’re putting out a call for editorial board members. Interested in joining? Click here for more information.

But you don’t have to be an editorial board member to help the STEM Club. They need funds to publish print editions. To contribute, click here.

And to read any of the 11 STEM Journal issues published so far, click here.

The most recent edition

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Growing up in Westport, so close to the water — and years in Boy Scouts — influenced and inspired David Stalling’s love for and desire to protect wildlife and wild places.

The 1979 Staples High School graduate — and former Force Recon Marine — now lives in Montana. Now he’s got an even deeper understanding of life, and what it means to be part of the natural world. He’s thought often about grizzly bears and wolves, and the need for complete and balanced ecosystems.

The other day, he was a guest on the “All Things Wolf and Wild” podcast. He discussed Western wildlife — but also his youth back East. Click here for the fascinating episode.

Dave Stalling

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Westport River Gallery (1 Riverside Avenue, at the Post Road West corner) specializes in, among other things, European art.

This month they highlight 2 Ukrainian artists. Click here for details.

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Paul Delano describes today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo:

“These very small crocuses are in my yard, looking toward Newtown Turnpike. You have to be almost on top of them to see them. I love putting crocuses in the grass because they are little surprise gems that are up and gone by the time grass needs to be mowed.”

(Photo/Paul Delano)

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And finally … what better way to celebrate International Women’s Day than this?

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Posted in Arts, Environment, Local business, Media, Politics, Staples HS

Tagged Dave Stalling, Michael Gordon, Staples High School STEM Club, STEM Journal, Westport River Gallery

Roundup: Remarkable Playhouse, Pop Art, WVEMS, More

Posted on October 19, 2020 | 2 comments

Stage and screen met Saturday night. The Westport Country Playhouse’s gala was held outdoors, at the Remarkable Theater.

Doug Tirola and Mark Lamos’ short-form documentary saluted the WCP’s 90-year history, and many of the artists who have appeared onstage.

The evening included filmed performances by Playhouse alumni like Kate Baldwin, a long with Jane Alexander, Lissy Newman, Christopher Plummer, Stephen Sondheim, Richard Thomas and more.

Don’t worry about the photo below: Everyone was masked, except while eating.

(Photo/Molly Alger)

Speaking of stars:

Paul Newman, I Love Lucy, Martha Stewart, Rodney Dangerfield, Robert Ludlum, Redford, Superman, Dennis the Menace, Great Gatsby, Bewitched, Anne Hathaway, Christopher Lloyd, Helen Hunt and gazillions of others — all lived in Westport, had a show based here, or were otherwise connected to our town.

This multi-media original showing them all is now available exclusively at Westport River Gallery (corner of Riverside Avenue and Post Road West).

It was created by songwriter Frankie Vinci. His rock journey has led him to create raw, colorful pop art/mixed media pieces.

Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service’s annual fundraising drive is underway.

Nearly 100 volunteers and 6 full-time staff provide superb pre-hospital care to anyone living, working or passing through Westport. They give more than 18,000 hours of their time each year, responding to over 2,300 emergency calls. They also teach CPR, EMT and Stop the Bleed classes.

This year has been especially trying. Because of COVID, over 900 calls meant donning full PPE. Still, they answered the calls.

WVEMS purchases all of the equipment needed — from a box of Band-Aids to an entire, state-of-the-art ambulance. But they could not do it without us.

Tax-deductible donations make it all possible. Click here to help.

So Westport Volunteer EMS can continue to help us.

And finally … did you know that October is National Pasta Month?

2 Comments

Posted in Arts, Entertainment, Local business, Organizations, Westport Country Playhouse

Tagged Remarkable Theater, Westport River Gallery, Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Services

Walking Tour Of Downtown Art Galleries

Posted on July 25, 2020 | 1 comment

We joke about the number of women’s clothing stores in downtown Westport.

But there are nearly as many art galleries — places to buy paintings, sculpture and more — as there are spots for skirts, shoes and Spandex.

Six galleries hug both banks of the river. Each has its own style. Taken together, they reinforce Westport’s reputation as an arts town.

Amy Simon Fine Art recently moved from Southport to 123 Post Road East. A dealer with over 30 years’ experience at places like the Guggenheim and Metropolitan Museum of Art (and with the estate of Jackson Pollock), Amy showcases work by established and emerging artists, Chinese contemporary art, and limited edition prints by the likes of Warhol, Rauschenberg and Lichtenstein.

Amy Simon Fine Art

Around the corner on Church lane is Sorelle Gallery, a recent arrival from New Canaan. The women-owned and managed business (the name means “sisters” in Italian) — which also has a robust online presence — includes plenty of reasonably priced work. (NOTE: Today at 1 p.m., Sorelle is hosting a reception — with Prosecco. All are welcome.)

Sorelle Gallery

Perhaps Westport’s best known — and most visible — gallery is Pop’TArt, at the head of Main Street by the Post Road. Originally a pop-up, it focuses on contemporary American art that pushes visitors to think about current headlines. All artists live in or have ties to Fairfield County. Pop’TArt hosted the hugely successful Aware breast cancer campaign, and currently exhibits statues by Bolek.

Pop’TArt

Three galleries lie just across the Saugatuck River. Bankside Contemporary by historic National Hall calls itself more than just a gallery. It’s a “communal gathering space,” offering a relaxed, casual atmosphere along with art.

Artwork by Steve Lyons at Bankside Contemporary (Photo/Phil Nourie)

Around the corner on Wilton Road is Quidley and Company Fine Art. Open by appointment now, with a focus on only one or two artists at a time, it features landscapes, portraits and figurative works, marine and still lifes. Owner Chris Quidley owns another gallery in Nantucket.

Quidley and Company

Across the street, Westport River Gallery at the corner of the Post Road and Riverside opened in 2004. Owners Ken and Pat Warren carry international fine art, and work with collectors, corporate clients and decorators from across the nation.

Westport River Gallery

That’s not all the art in the area, either. The Artists Collective of Westport has organized shows in the 47 Main Street storefront. The Downtown Merchants plan special events soon.

Keep your eye on this space. And on all those galleries too.

(Hat tip: Rebecca Mace)

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Posted in Arts, Downtown, Local business

Tagged Amy Simon Fine Art, Bankside Contemporary, Pop'TArt Gallery, Quidley and Company, Sorelle, Westport River Gallery

COVID-19 Roundup: Hotspots; Help; Candy; Goggles; More

Posted on April 11, 2020 | 3 comments

A pair of Bedford Middle School 7th graders (and Science Olympiad team members) have taken distance learning to a new level.

Using information from the CDC and WHO, Adi Mittal and Andrew Rebello created a website that helps anyone in the US find the nearest coronavirus hotspot — a place in their state with a noteworthy number of cases.

Hotspotsnearu.com (click here) is insanely easy to use. Just click in your Zip code; you’ll see a map with information on your distance from it. Bookmark it, and check often!

Daniel Sullivan — Westporter Michael and Amy Greenberg’s son-in-law — is a chef. When furloughed on March 13, he was in the process of starting a catering business.

Still, he wanted to help others in need. With an 18-foot open-air BBQ trailer — including a smoker and wood-fired grill — the answer was easy.

On Facebook, Daniel hoped to raise $600. That would cover a great meal, for 200 hospital staff.

He blasted through that goal. Friends came through with $2,700.

Soon he’ll cook meals for Stamford Hospital and Orange Regional Medical Center, in his Middletown, New York home town. He hopes to do the same for Norwalk Hospital, and Westport’s police, fire and EMT workers.

“I want to keep folks fed as long as I can,” Daniel says. To help him do that, click here.

Daniel Sullivan

Westport River Gallery — the great spot on the corner of Post Road West and Riverside Avenue featuring American, European and Asian fine art — is closed.

But owner Ken Warren — who works inside, cleaning and hanging — put this sign outside:

A steady stream of people stop, pick up a piece of two, knock on the window and give a thumb’s-up. One man left a $20 bill.

“Free candy helps people smiling during an unsmiling time,” Ken says. Candy on indeed!

Julia Marino — Westport’s Olympic snowboarding star — made a PSA for the US nation team’s “Goggles for Docs” initiative. The project collects ski and snowboard goggles, which offer great protection for healthcare professionals as they work with COVID-19 patients.

Julia’s mother Elaine — a noted local volunteer — loved the idea. Her home is now a local collection point.

Anyone with new or used goggles (adult or children’s size) can sanitize them with wipes or spray, place them in a sealed plastic ban, then leave them in a bin on the front steps at 129 Sturges Highway (near Cross Highway). The sealed part is important: The top of the bin stays open, so no one touches it. Questions? Email esmarino@msn.com.

Elaine Marino, and her Goggles for Docs bin.

Yesterday, Virginia Jaffe and her Greens Farms Elementary School sewing moms donated 135 washable, re-usable masks to Norwalk Transit’s bus drivers. Next up: 100+ to Homes with Hope.

Westporter Kanika Taylor works with homeless and recovering addicts in Bridgeport, through CCAR. She says that while Sacred Heart University has generously opened its dorms to people in shelters who have the virus but don’t require hospitalization, sheets, blankets, paper plates and microwaveable dishes are desperately needed. Donations can be dropped off at 387 Clinton Avenue, Bridgeport.

In addition, financial donations can be made to a restaurant that provides 2 fresh meals to Bridgeporters; the cost is $10 for food and supplies. Send checks to Carmen Colon, c/o Alpha Community Services YMCA, 387 Clinton Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06605.