BY PETER VAN HEERDEN
The Westport Arts Center is proud to launch our new season of visual and performing arts, encompassing new classes for teens and adults, concerts, exhibitions, tours and so much more. September kicks off the new season with the exhibition Edward Burtynsky: Nature Speaks, from the Andrew and Christine Hall Collection, featuring large-scale color photographs of the landscape in various degrees of disarray, from nickel tailing in Ontario to disintegrating shipwrecks in Bangladesh. This look into the environment will be complimented with our fall caf̩ series curated by Wholesome Wave. In November we move into the art of Magic and the magic of making marks with our annual Themed Group MembersӪ Exhibition. Submissions for member artists to to this exciting exhibition are due October 24. Check on-line at www.westportartscenter.org for application details.
Our education season has been expanded to provide new classes for teens and adults. New classes include a building workshop for students who prefer to work in three dimensions and staycation camps for February and April school breaks. The new gallery series will allow teen artists to explore the gallery in behind the scenes tours and discussions with projects inspired by the artists seen in the exhibition. Our new portfolio development class for students applying to colloges will emphasize technical skill to help students develop their portfolios.
From September to May, monthly jazz and chamber concerts will be sure to delight audiences as we welcome back popular performers Bernard Purdie and the Juilliard String Quartet, and international performers such as Croatian guitarist Ana Vidovic, and local gems like the Hartford Jazz Orchestra.
Behind the scenes, we have been expanding our outreach initiatives, from senior citizens to veterans to cancer patients. After the positive reception of our therapeutic arts program at Smilow Cancer Hospital we will bring our WAC Gives Back program to Bridgeport Hospital in early September.
If you have not visited us, registered for a class, or seen our beautiful space on the Saugatuck River, then please stop by and experience all we have to offer.
Peter Van Heerden is executive director of the Westport Arts Center, a member of the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County.
