Westport, Connecticut Inspires "767" Covers for The New Yorker!

Over 200 people flocked to 
The New Yorker in Westport opening reception at the      Westport Historical Society!

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Fairfield County   "It"    excitedly attended the opening reception for "The New Yorker in Westport" exhibit. During the 20th Century, Westport was a magnet destination for numerous artists.  Local sights and scenery provided inspiration for many of the 767 covers created by Westport artists for The New Yorker magazine.

The Westport artists featured in the book include Charles Addams, Perry Barlow, Whitney Darrow, Jr., Edna Eicke, Arthur Getz, Alice Harvey, Helen Hokinson, Albert Hubbell, David Preston, Garrett Price and Charles Saxon.

One example of the similarity of Westport then and now is the 1935 cover influenced by the Westport Country Playhouse when it was located in a historic barn. The recently taken comparative photograph by Westport resident Michael Goss, shows the current rendition of the theatre is true to the look and feel of the original barn.

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Here is The New Yorker cover that features Westport's beloved Compo Beach.  Goss spent countless hours waiting for the perfect cloud/sky moment to illustrate the timelessness of this delightful beach!

Despite dreary weather, a side effect of Hurricane Joaquin, the place was packed with enthusiastic supporters intrigued by the history of Westport artists and their contribution to The New Yorker.

Here is a picture of co-author Eve Potts.  She lived in Westport for almost four decades. Potts realized when browsing through “The Complete Book of Covers from The New Yorker, 1925-1989” that many of the covers were recognizable scenes in Westport and created by artists she knew from living there! 

Andrew Bentley of Westport, entertained us with stories of co-authoring the book with Potts and some of the photographic adventures of Goss.  Bentley kindly signed my limited edition book.

"The New Yorker in Westport" coffee table book is $40.  To order a copy click here.  

Not only do scenes in Westport still look similar to when The New Yorker covers were created, but even people in Westport match the covers! 

Here is "It" Tech Finance Guru Michele in front of the "Train over the Saugatuck River".

All of the proceeds from the book sale that evening went to the Westport Historical Society to further its mission of preserving, presenting and celebrating the history of Westport, Connecticut.

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The evening at the Westport Historical Society was an artistic blast!

See you soon!

"It"   Woman       Kyle