Westport Arts
Advisory Committee
Committed to increasing public awareness of Westport's cultural resources.
HERE'S WHAT"S HAPPENING!
Art, Jazz + the Blues—curated by Anne Boberski, Ive Covaci and the WestPAC Committee—explores the powerful intersections between visual art and music, drawing from the rich holdings of the Westport Public Art Collections (WestPAC).
The exhibition centers on Giants of the Blues, a sweeping series of seven group portraits by Westport native Eric von Schmidt (1931–2007) honoring blues, jazz, and folk musicians from the 1920s to the 1960s. Complementing von Schmidt’s paintings are approximately forty artworks from the WestPAC collection depicting musicians, inspired by musical themes, or exploring the resonances between musical and visual forms. A selection of important loans from galleries, museums, artists and private collections deepen the conversation, and a screening room features historic performance footage of musicians portrayed in von Schmidt’s paintings. As the jazz great Charlie Parker once said, the show invites visitors to “hear with your eyes and see with your ears.”
Born in Trinidad, Charles has captivated audiences worldwide with his riveting blend of straight-ahead jazz, Caribbean rhythms, cinematic textures, and socially conscious storytelling — from Jazz at Lincoln Center to stages across the globe — and now he brings that same electrifying energy to Westport with his quartet for one afternoon only.
This engaging discussion brings together musicians, artists, educators, and scholars to consider how jazz and blues music continue to inspire visual expression, creativity, and collaboration within our community and beyond. A guitar performance with Tim Cole kicks off the evening at 5:30pm
Brothers Chris and Dan Brubeck—who first recorded together in 1966—lead this dynamic ensemble through straight-ahead jazz inflected with funk, blues, and global rhythms. Their chart-topping album LifeTimes showcases the Quartet’s masterful improvisations and adventurous exploration of odd time signatures, drawing on a legacy that includes performances at major festivals worldwide and collaborations with orchestras from Philadelphia to Singapore. With guitarist Mike DeMicco and pianist Chuck Lamb rounding out the group, the BBQ honors the spontaneous spirit of jazz while forging its own distinctive path.
WAAC's current initiatives include an annual TEA (Thinkers, Educators, Artists) Talk; the installation and maintenance of sculptures and monuments in town parks and the establishment of a Poet Laureate for Westport as of July 1, 2019.
Have an interest in helping arts organizations in town? Joining the Westport Arts Advisory Committee?
Please reach out to Amy Wistreich, 2nd Selectwoman