Westport Artist in Residence Program debuts at Westport Woods

Three will create outdoor artworks at Westport Woods in June, July and August

Posted 6/4/21

WESTPORT — The Westport Cultural Council announces the Westport Artists in Residence Program (WARP), a project that will bring outdoor art to Westport Woods. 

During the months of June, …

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Westport Artist in Residence Program debuts at Westport Woods

Three will create outdoor artworks at Westport Woods in June, July and August

Posted

WESTPORT — The Westport Cultural Council announces the Westport Artists in Residence Program (WARP), a project that will bring outdoor art to Westport Woods. 

During the months of June, July and August, three artists will immerse themselves in the beauty of the

“The Westport Cultural Council is excited to co-create with The Westport Land Conservation Trust and work with talented artists who will be experiencing the local beauty of Westport while creating their artworks. We look forward to learning through the experiences that these artists bring to us," said Merri Cyr, curator at WARP.

 The inaugural WARP includes three artist ‘fellows’:  Roberley Bell, Matt Magee, and Andy Moerlein (see schedules below). Each will bring different styles and mediums highlighting a variety of aspects in the natural landscape.

During their residencies, the fellows will create artworks and projects seeking to engage the community by inviting viewers to witness them at work. In addition, each artist will conduct workshops that are open to the public, and host an artist forum about the work they created at the Shattuck gallery on Main Road in Central Village. The Westport Cultural Council thanks DeDee Shattuck for for hosting the artist forums at the conclusion of each residency. 

 “We are delighted to be the host of the inaugural WARP program and thrilled to have such talented artists to work with. Engaging the community through creative works of art in this landscape truly illustrates the value of conserving this special place,” said Ross Moran, executive director, WLCT.

Roberley Bell is the first artist in residence and started work on June 7. She creates sculpture and site-specific public projects that explore aspects of our environment by abstracting natural forms, appropriating manufactured objects and repurposing artifacts to craft fantastical landscapes. She is interested in the space where the artificial meets the real and with deconstructing notions of idealized views of nature. Bell strives to employ our imagination and our senses even as we are forced to examine our relationships with the spaces around us.

For the residency, Roberley will be creating an iteration of her work Locus Amoenus, which takes on notions of ecosystems and conservation with the artist’s customary playfulness. This new iteration will include a brilliantly painted ghost tree nestled within a chain link house. Viewers will be asked to participate by contributing a story of a tree they remember. Memories will be written on colorful tags which will hang on the tree. 

All are invited to participate in Roberley Bell’s artist workshops on June 18 and 19 at Westport Woods, 573 Adamsville Road, Westport. For more information on programming see www.westportlandtrust.org. One workshop is oriented toward families, the other toward adults. Advance signup is requested Visitors may also see the artist at work Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10-12 pm, during her residency.  

 The inaugural WARP fellow schedule:

Roberley Bell

June 7- June 25

Workshop- June 18-19 at Westport Woods- 10-12pm

Closing talk - Thursday, June 24, 6 pm at the DeDee Shattuck gallery

 Matt Magee 

July 1- July 21 

Workshop- July 10-11 at Westport Woods- 10-12 pm

Closing talk - Thursday, July 22,  6 pm at the DeDee Shattuck gallery

Andy Moerlein

August 1- August 21

Workshop - August 14-15 at Westport Woods - 10-12 pm

Closing talk - Thursday, August 19, 6 pm at the DeDee Shattuck gallery

 

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