#Painters in Westport

[jacobtheo]

Flooring Contractors in Westport | Vinyl, Laminate, & Refinishing Experts

Flooring is one of the most critical aspects of any interior space, whether residential or commercial. It sets the foundation for design, functionality, and comfort. If you are considering upgrading your floors or refinishing existing ones, professional Flooring Contractors in Westport can provide high-quality services that cater to your specific needs. Alongside their expertise, combining services with skilled Painters in Westport can elevate the overall aesthetics of your space.

In this article, we will explore the importance of professional flooring services, focusing on vinyl flooring installation, laminate flooring installation, and floor refinishing services.

Why Choose Flooring Contractors in Westport?

Hiring experienced flooring contractors ensures that your project is completed with precision and quality. Here are a few reasons to rely on professional Flooring Contractors in Westport:

Expertise and Knowledge

Professional contractors bring years of experience to every project, ensuring accurate installation and flawless finishes. They understand various flooring materials, offering valuable advice on the best options for your home or office.

Long-lasting Results

Proper installation and refinishing extend the lifespan of your floors. Contractors use advanced tools and techniques to deliver durable and visually appealing results.

Tailored Solutions

Every space is unique, and professional contractors provide customized solutions that match your style, preferences, and budget.

Time and Cost Efficiency

Working with experts saves time and minimizes errors, ensuring your flooring project stays within budget and is completed on schedule.

Vinyl Flooring Installation: Durable and Stylish

Vinyl flooring is a popular choice for homeowners due to its versatility, affordability, and durability. Here’s why vinyl flooring installation is worth considering:

Advantages of Vinyl Flooring

Water Resistance: Vinyl is an excellent option for moisture-prone areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and basements.

Durability: This flooring is highly resistant to wear and tear, making it ideal for high-traffic spaces.

Variety of Designs: Vinyl flooring mimics the appearance of hardwood, tile, or stone, offering endless design possibilities.

Comfort: Vinyl has a slightly cushioned feel underfoot, providing comfort and reducing noise.

Low Maintenance: It is easy to clean and requires minimal upkeep, making it a practical choice for busy households.

Professional Vinyl Flooring Installation

Expert contractors ensure precise installation by preparing the subfloor, cutting vinyl planks accurately, and securing them to prevent gaps or uneven surfaces. The result is a flawless and durable finish that enhances the beauty of your interiors.

Laminate Flooring Installation: Affordable Elegance

Laminate flooring is another excellent option for those looking for a cost-effective yet stylish solution. It is known for its durability and ability to replicate the look of hardwood or tile.

Benefits of Laminate Flooring

Budget-Friendly: Laminate flooring offers the appearance of expensive materials at a fraction of the cost.

Durability: Its scratch-resistant surface makes it ideal for households with pets or children.

Ease of Installation: Laminate flooring often features a click-and-lock system, allowing for quick and efficient installation.

Wide Variety: With a range of colors and textures, laminate flooring can suit any interior design style.

Low Maintenance: Regular sweeping and occasional mopping keep laminate floors looking fresh and clean.

Installation Process by Professionals

Flooring Contractors in Westport ensure proper laminate flooring installation by leveling the subfloor, arranging planks for a seamless fit, and securing them tightly. Their expertise guarantees a polished and durable finish.

Floor Refinishing Services: Revitalizing Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are a timeless choice, but over time, they may show signs of wear, including scratches, stains, or fading. Floor refinishing services can restore their original beauty, breathing new life into your space.

Benefits of Floor Refinishing

Enhanced Appearance: Refinishing removes imperfections, revealing the natural elegance of hardwood floors.

Cost-Effective: Refinishing is a more affordable alternative to replacing old floors entirely.

Improved Durability: A fresh coat of finish protects the wood from future damage, extending its lifespan.

Customization: Staining options allow you to update the look of your floors, from traditional tones to modern finishes.

Eco-Friendly: Refinishing preserves existing materials, reducing waste and environmental impact.

Refinishing Process

Floor refinishing involves sanding away the old finish, repairing any damages, and applying a new stain and protective coat. Professional contractors use advanced equipment and techniques to achieve a smooth and even result.

Combining Flooring and Painting for a Complete Transformation

Upgrading your floors is just one part of enhancing your interiors. Pairing flooring services with interior painting from experienced Painters in Westport can create a cohesive and stunning look.

The Role of Interior Painting

Color Coordination: Professional painters help select colors that complement your flooring, creating a harmonious aesthetic.

Enhanced Space: Light paint colors can make a room feel larger, while darker shades add depth and sophistication.

Smooth Finishes: Experienced painters ensure clean lines and even coverage for a professional-grade result.

Benefits of Combining Services

Coordinating flooring and painting projects saves time and ensures a seamless transition between updates. For example, completing painting before installing new floors prevents accidental splatters, protecting your investment.

How to Choose the Best Flooring Contractors and Painters

Finding the right professionals is essential for achieving high-quality results. Here are some tips to help you select the best Flooring Contractors in Westport and Painters in Westport:

1. Research and Reviews

Look for contractors with positive customer reviews and a proven track record of success.

2. Verify Credentials

Ensure the contractors are licensed, insured, and certified to perform the services they offer.

3. Request Portfolios

Ask to see examples of their previous work to gauge their expertise and attention to detail.

4. Compare Quotes

Obtain multiple estimates to compare pricing and services, but prioritize quality over the lowest price.

5. Communicate Clearly

Share your vision and expectations with the contractors to ensure they understand your goals.

Final Thoughts

Investing in professional flooring and painting services can transform your space into a beautiful and functional haven. With the expertise of Flooring Contractors in Westport and skilled Painters in Westport, you can achieve stunning results that align with your vision and lifestyle.

From vinyl flooring installation to laminate flooring installation and floor refinishing services, professional contractors provide tailored solutions for every need. Combine these upgrades with fresh interior painting to create a cohesive and inviting atmosphere.

The key to success lies in choosing experienced professionals who understand the importance of precision, quality, and customer satisfaction. Whether you’re upgrading a single room or your entire home, the right team will bring your dream space to life.

[travsd]

John Steuart Curry: Show Biz Images

While I have long known the most famous work of regionalist painter John Steuart Curry (1897-1946), I’m quite sure I never knew the name of the artist, because if I had I would have taken note of it long ago. His middle name (his mother’s maiden name) is a rare variant on my own surname, of which there are apparently endless twists: Stewart, Stuart, Steward, Stuard. Anyway, I stumbled upon him…

[westportprofessionalhousepain]

Unleash the Beauty of Your Home with House Painter Westport!

At House Painter Westport, we take pride in transforming houses into beautiful, vibrant homes. As a leading painting company in Westport, CT, we specialize in providing top-notch painting services that breathe new life into your living spaces. Our team of skilled house painters is dedicated to delivering exceptional results that exceed your expectations.

With years of experience in the industry, our painting contractors in Westport have the expertise and knowledge to handle projects of all sizes. Whether you need a single room painted or want to revamp your entire home, we've got you covered. We use high-quality paints and state-of-the-art techniques to ensure a flawless finish that enhances the aesthetics of your property.

If you're looking for reliable painting contractors in Westport, CT, look no further than House Painter Westport. We offer personalized solutions to meet your specific needs. To request a free estimate or discuss your painting project, please contact us at (555) 123-4567 or fill out the contact form on our website. Our friendly and professional team will be happy to assist you. Trust House Painter Westport to transform your house into a work of art.

Westport Professional House Painters

74 Church Ln Unit 3, Westport, CT 06880, United States

1-475-244-9056

[westportpainting]

Westport painters

Westport Painters offers the very best commercial and residential painting services in Westport. We use our cutting edge painting equipment to tackle any job - home, residential, or commercial. Give us a ring at and we will set you up with an appointment right away! 

Westport painters

[geracaoalpha]

Alpha’a X Moletni&C: A Love Letter to Design in NYC

Alpha’a recently wrapped up an inspiring project curating a collection for Molteni&C’s new New York flagship store.

Molteni&C has been at the forefront of the Italian design industry for decades. All of the modern design firm’s furniture is made in Italy but it has an international presence with hundreds of retail spaces in over 80 countries.

Our in-house curator Iman Mazhar worked closely with the leading Italian furniture and design firm to highlight local NYC and East Coast artists alongside world renowned artists. The result is a vibrant collection that complements the space and creates an inspiring dialogue about design.

As a nod to Moldenti&C’s forward thinking approach to design, we sourced works that experiment with form: textured and layered paintings, minimal pieces, works with geometric patterns, as well as some sculptural and 3D works. We selected warm vibrant colors and hues of blue to add vibrancy to the showroom’s interior and included monochrome works to add moments of calmness. 

Mazhar worked with Alpha’a artists, independent artists and gallery represented artists to create a dynamic roster of artists for the final selection. Alpha’a artists David Stephen Johnson and Senem Oezdogan were highlighted as well as works from artists from Praxis Gallery, Opera Gallery, Nohra Haime Gallery, and Hemingway African Gallery.

Molteni&C’s New York store is located on Madison Avenue in the heart of Manhattan. The building was designed by Vincent Van Duysen and combines Italian style and elegance with classic New York design.The spacious two story storefront is over 12,500 square feet with four large shop windows that offer passersby a peek into Molteni&’s stunning display. 

Shoppable designs by the Group’s three brands: Molteni&C, Dada and UniFor fill the New York space alongside prints installed by Alpha’a. Moletni&C’s open layout imagines a range of settings for the brands’ furniture to shine, from an intimate home setting to a contemporary office environment. All artworks displayed at the store are available for purchase on site.

Meet the artists in the Molteni&C X Alpha’a collection and purchase their works on alphaa.io:

David Stephen Johnson , Alpha’a

David Stephen Johnson is an abstract painter based in Westport, Connecticut who often works with large scale canvases, exploring color and shape. He is self taught and is influenced by post-war abstract expressionists and great action painters.

Senem Oezdogan, Alpha’a

Senem Oezdogan is a Brooklyn-based mixed-media artist who uses color and form to create optical illusions. Smooth gradients give a sense of volume to the bold shapes that are subsequently flattened by her illusionistic use of spatial composition. 

Claudia Vieira, PRAXIS 

Claudia Vieria lives and works in Porto Alegre, Brazil and New York City. She recreates spaces by drawing and painting on the walls. She often creates site-specific installations and immersive drawn environments in which the action of drawing the line is as important as the final appearance of the work.

Julie Hedrick, NOHRA HAIME GALLERY 

Julie Hedrick is a Canadian-American artist known for her abstract and vibrant oil paintings. Hedrick’s art displays a characteristic peeling texture, tactile complex surfaces and an elemental human quality.

Francisca Sutil, NOHRA HAIME GALLERY 

Francisca Sutil is a Chilean painter known for her research of the chromatic surface and the relationship between color and light. She uses her work to encourage reflection and meditation. She creates prints and drawings on textured handmade paper, pigmented gesso surfaces, and vertical oil bands she calls Spaces. 

Sophia Vari, NOHRA HAIME GALLERY 

Sophia Vari is a world-renowned Greek visual artist. She specializes in bronze sculpture and is also known for collages, oils, and watercolors and her use of patina along with contrasting colors. Her work is an investigation of form and balance.

Hemingway African Gallery 

Alpha’a selected sculptures from Hemingway African Gallery. The NYC gallery’s collection is ethically-sourced, often directly from artisans across the continent, and ranges from antique to decorative.

Alfred Haberpointner, OPERA GALLERY

Alfred Haberpointner is an Austrian sculptor who uses wood as his primary medium. He is best known for his wooden plates that he cuts, burns, saws and then bleaches and re-pigments creating a texture, rhythm, intensity and movement.

[thejudgingtrash]

(unedited and I’m not a native speaker so please point out if you see something odd!)

One day (1,4k)

A quiet day. The air was warm and dry. The wind chimes sang the melody of the clouds and the invisible currents. The paint of the old house was brittle. It would take days to repaint it, if a professional painter would take the job it would tear through savings. But the money was tight, and Percy knew that he had to put his efforts into elsewhere. The hand he was holding reminded him of that. The green on the wood that was decades old could be blown away to reveal the natural layer underneath it. The old Colonial stood in front of them, proud and almighty, but it was nothing more than a lie that has been fed through generations.

The lawn looked nearly identical to the last time Percy had visited. Wild. Unkept. A fight of nature taken back what was rightfully its. And it was he that had mown it to keep it in somewhat of a shape. The old swing had been removed as it was broken beyond repair. It laid in the basement, waiting for a small child to beg for its usage once again.

Attempts to make her move into something smaller and easier have failed. In some cases, it triggered her, and she began to scream and cry. The hands that were thrown weren’t of violence. They were of despair and the deepest pain. That was the sign when Percy knew he had overstepped his welcome. But the misunderstood clouds of sorrow and deep hatred passed and revealed her other side. The motherly side. The sunny side that loved to live and love.

Percy Jackson had returned. It was his semiannual visit to Westport, Connecticut. The youth had vanished from his face, although not entirely. It was a weird state where old and young stood in front of each other. The youth wanted to remain, but the adulthood came to claim its place. A not so young man who had both legs fully integrated in life rang the bell that gave a soft jingle and knocked on the turquoise door.

It swung open after a while. “Oh, hello Percy!” May smiled. She recognized him. Relief. There were times when she did not. “Is it time again?”

“Hello May,” Percy greeted her and entered. Little steps followed him.

The house had been decluttered. May had a knack for keeping everything she deemed interesting and never threw it out. Percy would come with the big blue bags and make her decide what items were necessary and which she wanted to keep. It upset her. But she understood it. At least Percy hoped she did.

“I have made cookies. I might have burnt them a little bit. Oopsie.” Her gaze shifted to the right into another twinkling pair of eyes.

May got on one knee. Her morning dress was clean this time and not burned and pungent like the many times before. “Luke!” she cried with big eyes. “You’re back!”

Her hands grabbed the soft cheeks. “But you are so small,” she whispered. It broke Percy’s heart. “Weren’t you taller?” May Castellan tilted her head and the silver hair fell down her shoulder. She had aged. It had been more than a decade ago, closer to two.

“It’s me, grandma May. It’s me, Theo,” the young boy said.

“My son, May. Do you remember?” Percy asked her.

A wondrous expression rested on her face. “You have become a big brother,” she remembered slowly. “A little girl!”

Theo began to grin and proudly showed his two missing front teeth. “Yes, I’m a big brother now! Ari is so pretty!”

“When will I see your little sister?” May asked and clapped her hands in excitement.

The fact that Annabeth was against a visit with young Ariadne as a safety measurement was something that Percy just couldn’t voice. He knew his wife was right. And still his consciousness made him do these visits. The aged demigod couldn’t save her son, but he refused to fail May Castellan. So, he visited her. Only for certain amounts of times, of course. He never blamed Annabeth and Thalia for staying away. He never blamed Nico for bringing him to this place for the first time. It was destined and running away from the Moirai was never the best option. That was something that had been etched into his mind since he had been a young boy of twelve years in his first year at Camp Half-Blood.

“You will see her soon once she’s grown a little bit more,” he deflected.

“I bet she is a pretty baby. Just like Luke was.”

“Yes. Yes, she is,” Percy said. Was the air getting stuffier? Or why did he feel the tears coming? His chest was heavy and filled with regrets. He blinked the pesky wetness away.

Fatherhood made him come to realize more. It made him understand more. Patience. Love. Forgiveness. It made him understand the complete and utter injustice that was the broken shell of May Castellan. The living contradiction. More dead than alive, a broken record. A mother that was yearning for her son. A mother that was screaming for her son. A son that would never return home again. A mother that couldn’t see that her son would never return home again. Yet the broken fragments of her mind would never let her rest. It would never make it easy for her until she would have her last breath. And what lied beyond that was something that Percy could not imagine.

The wicked ways of the ancient forces. The same gods that had blessed her, had thrown her into despair. They had turned their backs. Even her former lover. A tunnel of sadness where only in certain times and particular angles an illusion of light shone through. That was May Castellan.

The three moved into the kitchen where Percy let his son only eat two cookies and for once little Theo listened to his father. May Castellan didn’t lie, she really had burnt the cookies. But the younger Jackson was too polite to not eat some and thanked May as she wanted to give him more.

“Shall we clean the yard, May?” Percy proposed like he always did.

“Oh yes!” agreed May with glowing eyes like she always did.

He would mow the lawn and trim the bushes and May would take care after the roses. She loved the roses. The roses, the tulips and the sweet lavender that the bumblebees loved to dance around. All reminders of a better and safer time. Times that had passed as flowers would wither in mere moments. Especially those that were unkempt.

Theo played with Rhodius, the son of Blackjack, another young and wild pegasus that let the young boy sit on his back. The Jacksons had used him as a means of transportation. Percy eyed them closely as he did a little bit of yard work. Rest assured; the Pegasus was an excellent babysitter.

After an hour and a half of work, the adults sat down on the porch. Percy brushed the sweat off his forehead. May rushed into the house and brought out glasses of orange juice. Percy tried to not pull a face as he came to realization that she had confused the salt and sugar containers once again. “Luke, my boy,” May said. A dreamy expression rested on her face as she watched young Theo play and chase after the trained legs of the magical creature.

“Percy, when will Luke come back? When will I see my boy?” May asked and turned around to him. Her eyes. They were glazed. The cerulean eyes were so full of life yet mirrored death. Were it the tears or were it the wretched prophecy and the following illusions of the future that haunted her ever since? He would never know. How could he ever know?

“When will my Luke come back?” she cried.

Stomping through the grass. Theo stood in front of his father and saw the heartbroken Mrs. Castellan.

Theo looked up to his father. Even the small boy knew that May Castellan was sick. Slowly dying of a broken heart that could never be mended. Slowly dying of the visions that haunted her and had driven her into her unsafe state.

Percy had subconsciously pressed Theo’s hand as the child sat down on his father’s lap. Percy looked apologizing into the sea green eyes that mirrored his. Only the gray ring and the gray dots that looked like they have been splashed with a paint brush reminded Percy of his mother. His wife. His dear Annabeth.

His heart was heavy and the frown on his face aged the demigod even more. The white in his hair had come back. The streaks had been thicker even.

“One day, May. One day,” he said. One day, he promised.

[americanpaintingct]

Business Name: American Painting & Window Cleaning

City: Westport

State: CT

Zip Code: 06880

Country: USA

Business Phone: (203) 874-0638

Business Email: rpergolotti1989@gmail.com

Website: https://americanpaintingct.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Americanpaintingwindow

Business Description: For more than 35 years, American Painting & Window Cleaning has been Fairfield County's most trusted company for all interior and exterior painting, window cleaning, power washing & gutter cleaning needs.

Google My Business CID URL: https://www.google.com/maps?cid=7684330454318363260

Business Hours: Sunday Closed Monday 7:00am-6:00pm Tuesday 7:00am-6:00pm Wednesday 7:00am-6:00pm Thursday 7:00am-6:00pm Friday 7:00am-6:00pm Saturday Closed

Payment Methods: Cash Check Visa Master Amex

Services: Painting, Gutter Cleaning Service, Pressure Washing Service

Keywords: CT Window Cleaning, CT Window Cleaners, CT Gutter Cleaning, Power Washing CT, CT House Painters

Business/Company Establishment Year: 1985

Location:

https://goo.gl/maps/daVzvC6jg45cEjjs8

Service Areas:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/2/viewer?mid=1i6sbv4cSsEVq2T9QPTqeLci_-pT0DZQv

[localizee]

For more than 35 years, American Painting & Window Cleaning has been Fairfield County's most trusted company for all interior and exterior painting, window cleaning, power washing & gutter cleaning needs.

[elitefinishingllc1]

Why You Should Hire Elite Finishing LLC Painters For Your House Painting

What is a Painting Contractor and How Do They Work? Professional Elite Finishing LLC painting contractors either are contracted directly by a homeowner or are employed by an interior designer or painting company. Either way they provide painting services within the designated area and/or under the direction of a licensed and registered painting contractor. Painting contractors will typically complete one project, such as a kitchen renovation, on a single contract. This allows them to get a feel for the entire painting process and therefore save money.

Painting contractors must purchase their own painting equipment and provide their own insurance. Some painting contractors work out of their own homes, but many contract with a company or office that provides them with work space and tools. The most common equipment used by painting contractors includes air guns, air compressors, paint sprayers, and brushes. Paint contractors may also use power sprayers, power painters, sprayers with atomizers, rollers, and even stoves to help speed up the painting process.

Elite Finishing LLC will typically use one or more of the following painting techniques: Drywall painting techniques, Wet painting techniques, Epoxy painting techniques, or Spray on painting techniques. Although there are numerous painting techniques available today, the majority of contractors choose to use the methods that they are most comfortable with. Contractors should consult a home improvement professional and ask questions regarding their painting techniques to ensure they will be effective in protecting the interior of a property from damage and deterioration. Regardless of the painting techniques being used, all painting contractors should provide the homeowners with a list of benefits associated with their service to include the following:

When hiring painting contractors one of the main benefits involved with hiring one of these professionals Westport interior painters is the assurance that these individuals will be able to complete the project successfully. Painting projects can take anywhere from several days to months to complete depending on the type of project. Homeowners want to have the confidence that the painters they hire will be able to complete the job in a timely manner and provide them with a value for their money. By hiring painters that have experience, a good reputation, and are willing to work quickly and accurately on your project, you can be confident that they will do their best to complete the job professionally and on schedule.

Another benefit associated with hiring Elite Finishing LLC to do a house exterior painting job on your home is the fact that they will come into your property and perform an estimate of the total cost of the job. Having an estimate will enable you to have some sort of bargaining power when it comes to contracting with this particular individual. When hiring a contractor, it is important to understand that the costs associated with painting jobs will depend on a number of factors such as the type of job being done, the amount of paint needed, and how many layers are being applied. By getting a quote from a contractor prior to the start of the painting job, you will be better prepared to communicate with them about the estimated cost of the project.

Hiring Elite Finishing LLC that are willing to do all of the work for you should be one of the first choices you make if you are looking for help painting your house. While some people may have some objections to painting contractors that are also painters, most painters have their own equipment which means that they won't have any problems completing a house painting job at a reasonable price. If you have a painting project in mind but are unsure about whether or not you can afford a professional painter, it may be a good idea to ask local businesses for recommendations. Many business owners will be glad to help you by allowing you to use their facilities and allowing you to take care of painting projects on their property.

Contact Us:

Elite Finishing LLC Address:56 Church Ln, Westport, CT 06880 Phone:203-426-0283 Email:info@elitefinishingct.com

https://goo.gl/maps/cSnBjDE4hsqjPqhb6

[galleryofunknowns]

Unknown Artist, 'Portrait of a Man', oil on canvas, late 1700s, American?, currently in the collection of the Museo Nacional Thyssen Bornemisza, Madrid, Spain.

The portrait, formerly attributed to Gilbert Stuart (b.1755 - d.1828), was previously thought to be of Hercules Posey (b.1748 - d.1812), an enslaved cook in the employ of George Washington. Below the cut is an edited version of of a Philadelphia Inquirer article written March, 2019, on the life of Hercules and the research undertaken in the portrait.

“This is very different from how Stuart would have done it,” said Dorinda Evans, a Gilbert Stuart scholar and professor emerita at Emory University, who was certain that both the painter and subject had been misidentified.

The other scholars, curators, and conservators appeared unanimous. But there was one more blockbuster twist. The hat, perceived to be a chef’s toque for as long as the painting has been known to modern viewers, was in fact not a cook’s hat at all, Evans said, but a Caribbean headdress similar to one worn by free Dominicans in the West Indies depicted in paintings by the Italian artist Agostino Brunias.

The experts’ verdict: The painting is genuine to the late 1700s, and the unknown subject was a person of noble importance. But it wasn’t painted by Stuart. And the subject wasn’t even a chef — definitively ruling out Hercules and setting in motion a cascade of implications for historians at a moment when interest in him and others enslaved by the Washingtons remains high.

In fact, the conclusions of this meeting of experts, conducted in private two years ago but made public only now, helped spur a researcher last month to discover what might in fact be a record of the elusive chef’s burial place.

That chef just wasn’t the man in this painting.

“No American cook in the colonies dressed like that,” said Evans, noting that the now-familiar chef’s toque did not appear until the 1820s. “It’s a fantasized image of what people want, because people want to have an image of Hercules. And people see the things they want to see.”

The painting, long held as a potential key to the chef’s story, turned out to be a false clue, another myth in a Washington universe full of them, “like the cherry tree and the wooden teeth,” said Mount Vernon senior curator Susan P. Schoelwer, who coordinated the study day along with associate curator Jessie MacLeod.

“There is a real possibility of a sense of loss there. It’s such a powerful portrait,” she said. “There is a real hunger for a dignified portrait of an enslaved person we can identify with as an individual. But when I weigh that against something that … really isn’t what it was supposed to be, I’m always going to opt for being a seeker after truth.”

Hercules the man was very real. He was sold to George Washington as a teenage “ferryman” in 1767 by a neighbor, John Posey, as payment for a debt. And his labors for the Washingtons were well-documented at Mount Vernon and in Philadelphia, where he was renowned for the feasts he cooked at the President’s House between 1790 and 1796. He escaped from Mount Vernon in 1797 — on George Washington’s birthday — and was never captured.

These facts, drawn from house accounts, farm logs, letters, and reminiscences, have fashioned the chef as a hero whose culinary talents earned him special privileges from the Washingtons and an income from selling kitchen scraps that afforded him a notable sartorial style. He was recalled by Washington’s stepgrandson, George Washington Parke Custis, as a “great master-spirit” in the kitchen who, after the meal, would don fine black silks and a gold-headed cane for evening promenades down High Street.

Though he was dressed stylishly, walking the streets of an abolitionist-minded city known as a haven for free blacks, Hercules was still an enslaved man — and he was eventually left in Virginia and set to hard plantation labor.

What became of Hercules after his dash for freedom has long remained a mystery. This painting, now owned by the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid, was long thought to be a clue.

But fundamental questions about the painting’s relationship to Hercules persisted. They were definitively dispelled in the ultraviolet light of the private study day two years ago when the painting was removed from the walls of Mount Vernon after an exhibition in preparation to be returned to Spain. Paloma Alarc��, the Thyssen-Bornemisza curator who attended, agreed to the examination (and my attendance) under the condition its results not be made public until the museum could conduct its own follow-up studies.

She said that time has now come; the museum has hit a dead end: “We are blind, we must confess. … Maybe we will never know who this guy is.”

This is hardly the first old painting to be misidentified in the often shadowy world of art collecting. Its identification as Washington’s cook was likely added in the mid-20th century to increase the value on a work already misidentified earlier in the century as by Stuart, who famously painted the president in 1796. It remained in private hands and largely unstudied by scholars until it was sold in 1983 to Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza, whose massive collection became the museum, which simply cataloged its previously ascribed provenance as the painting arrived.

But Hercules, as one of the most visible individuals enslaved during that era, in part due to this image, carries extra cultural significance because of the growing dialogue about the founding fathers and their troubling involvement with slavery. And as I shared news of the painting’s removal from the record, it brought a mix of disappointment and resignation.

“Although we always questioned it, it’s kind of devastating to find out it’s not him,” said Erica Armstrong Dunbar, a professor of history at Rutgers University whose book, Never Caught (Atria, 2017), documents the escape of Ona Judge from the President’s House in Philadelphia, where she was enslaved alongside Hercules and seven others. “We don’t have any other such portraits of the enslaved who lived at Mount Vernon.”

On Dec. 15, 1801, Martha Washington wrote to Richard Varick, the mayor of New York City, to thank him for looking into the whereabouts of “my Old Cook Hercules. … I have been so fortunate as to engage a white cook who answers very well. I have thought about it therefore better to decline taking Hercules back.”

What Martha Washington did not mention was that she had already freed her husband’s slaves in January of that year, acting early upon a wish from George’s will with an emancipation that also applied to Hercules.

That New York correspondence has long been the last known clue to Hercules’ fate. And it’s a thread that Ganeshram and Sara Krasne, a colleague at the Westport Historical Society where the novelist is executive director, began to pursue in February with a startling new discovery — a New York City death notice that just might be him.

They looked back to John Posey, Hercules’ previous owner, for more clues. They found one. Krasne uncovered the burial record for Hercules Posey, a Virginia native born in 1748 who was listed in the 1812 city directory as a laborer who lived at 33 Orange St. and who died of consumption on May 15, 1812. He was buried at the Second African Burying Ground in Lower Manhattan — a grave that Ganeshram believes is still under the Christie Street sidewalk on the Lower East Side.

“What are the odds with all these factors — being named Hercules and Posey, being black from Virginia and more or less the same age — of it not being him?” Ganeshram said. “People chose to believe the painting was him [despite all the doubts]. I think this evidence is much stronger.”

A pair of historians agreed.

“She may really be onto something,” said Mary V. Thompson, the Mount Vernon research historian who is soon set to publish her own book on slavery at Mount Vernon. “The name, age, and birthplace information are really compelling.”

“[They] may have found the needle in the haystack,” Dunbar, the Rutgers professor and author, concurred. “I would feel totally comfortable speculating that it was him.”

And so, 222 years after Hercules’ daring escape, the great chef may have been found.

“The portrait was not Hercules, but look what popped up instead,” Dunbar said. “He’s totally not trying to go away — he wants you to know.”

“To think he was right there, and may still be, gives me chills,” Ganeshram said. “Hercules is bigger than the painting, and he always has been.”

LaBan, Craig (2019, March 1). 'George Washington's enslaved chef, who cooked in Philadelphia, disappears from painting, but may have reappeared in New York', Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved from https://www.inquirer.com/food/craig-laban/george-washington-slave-chef-cook-hercules-gilbert-stuart-painting-wrong-20190301.html.

[storibeart]

Westport fine arts festival this weekend booth 93 Website: sumiyotoribe.com Etsy shop: storibe.etsy.com Youtube: youtube.com/storibeart Patreon: patreon.com/sumiyotoribe #watercolor #painting #art #fineart #nature #landscape #trees #woods #seasons #healing #japanese #asian #artist #painter #watercolorist #techniques #creative #process #watercolorpainting #naturepainting #水彩 #絵画 #自然 #癒し #季節 #アート #westportfineartsfestival #風景画 #水彩画 #景色 https://www.instagram.com/p/CPdcHUKHRF2/?utm_medium=tumblr

[elitefinishingct]

Elite Finishing LLC

When it comes to painting your home or commercial property, not just any painting contractor in Westport will do; you need a painter with experience, licensing, and a can-do attitude. At Elite Finishing LLC, we believe in providing our clients with an affordable painting service that doesn't skip on quality or durability. With our team of experienced and licensed Westport painters, you're sure to have an interior painting or exterior painting service that you love!

There's more to house painting than just walls! Elite Finishing LLC also offers cabinet painting and cabinet refinishing options. Call today or visit us online to book a free painting estimate for your South Central Connecticut home.

Contact Us:

Elite Finishing LLC

Address: 56 Church Ln, Westport, CT 06880, USA

Phone: +12034260283

Email: info@elitefinishingct.com

Website: https://elitefinishingct.com/

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[mergersacquisitionsadvisory]

Best Oregon Coast Shopping Antique Stores

Cannon Beach is pure pleasure to explore, whether you're a client or only a browser. Contemporary portray, sculpture, blended media, jewellery and more from native and nationwide artists. Domestic & worldwide wines & specialty meals in Nye Beach Oregon Coast shopping since 1998 https://oregonsnorthcoast.com/.

Wondering where you’ve heard the town title “Tillamook” before? Taste the answer at theTillamook Cheese Factory, the place samples of cheddar, cheese curds and delectable ice cream demand a cease. All along the coast, dozens of Oregon state parks provide great spots for hikers and campers. Favorite parks for tenting embrace Fort Stevens and Nehalem Bay (both on the north coast) and Honeyman on the central coast.

The Heron's Nest features a big number of presents, collectibles and souvenirs for all ages. Also it’s Christmas 12 months-round at The Heron's Nest with traditional and beach theme decor and gifts for the vacations.

Nye Cottage offers up beads, beading provides, playing cards, books, and presents. It lately moved only a wee bit up the street to 258 NW Coast Street, # I. Newport Tile Works is an artisan tile studio with handcrafted photographs impressed from the shore and the garden. These individualistic tiles are excellent as accent items or for full bathroom, kitchen, or home installations.

Cannon Beach galleries are caught within the '80s, rife with bronze bear sculptures and rainbow sunsets. For anyone able to vomit on that next watercolor of Haystack Rock, Archimedes is not a lot a breath of recent air as a hallelujah chorus. Limited-edition prints show Darth Vader blowing an epic bubblegum bubble or Dan May's depressed storybook creatures, which will look familiar to anyone who's attended a Portland road honest.

The Kite Company is positioned immediately on Highway 101 in Newport. For a style of the dramatic Oregon coastline, drive 10 miles (sixteen km) west of Tillamook to Cape Mears, the first stop on the popular Three Capes Scenic Drive. Enjoy Cape Lookout and Cape Kiwanda before rejoining Highway one hundred and one a few half-hour south of Tillamook. Cannon Beach, 20 minutes further down the highway, can appear a world away, with a laid-again, artsy seashore-city vibe that compels visitors to take it gradual — particularly when the solar is setting behind picturesque Haystack Rock.

This store is Anthropologie-meets-Macys, with a classy seaside fashion. Offering two levels and 6,000 sq. feet, you may savor a visible feast of housewares, furniture, work, clothes and jewelry. The art of interiors is on lovely display in each detail, with each room staged in such comfy magnificence and refined design that you will wish to cozy up and transfer proper in.

Where to Shop?

Monthly author visits, annual e-book festivals and other occasions are provided as properly. World of Gifts in Seaside is the place buyers can discover a large choice of odds and ends as well as trinkets and souvenirs.

features a rainbow of gemstone jewellery from the whimsical to the elegant, in addition to crafts and artworks by a wide range of artists. Glass artwork, bronze and wood sculpture, and metal wall hangings are additionally specialties of the house. For extra data on Nye Beach, see For extra info on Newport, see Beach Connection's digital tour of the area. The items at Toujours Toujours Boutique is a hub of exotic, eclectic, energizing, thrilling pure fiber clothing and accessories for girls, often with a world flair and all the time distinctive.

Seafood carry items to remind you of the bounty of Oregon's ocean and river sources.

Pick up your java at Waves of Grain Bakery (3116 S Hemlock St.; 503.436.9600), which serves domestically roasted Sleepy Monk coffee—along with delectable cinnamon rolls and sticky buns.

Well thought to be the whale watching capital of the Oregon coast, the western edge of Depoe Bay is outlined by a wonderful cliffside seascape that's excellent for recognizing whale spouts.

Surrounding Haystack Rock to the north and south, a white- sand beach invitations sunbathing, sandcastle constructing, and sometimes good conditions to fly a kite.

The organized interior makes the shop straightforward for you to navigate to the trinkets and treasures that you want.

Despite a relatively low inhabitants (less than 1,000 folks), Manzanita supplies plenty of cultural attractions together with stay music, which might usually be heard flowing via the streets. Manzanita additionally supplies a properly-stocked market and loads of places to spend the evening, together with the welcoming The Inn at Manzanita. If you occur to be visiting in September, particularly in case you are a dog owner, make sure to check out the annual Muttzanita Dog and Beach Festival. Inland and surrounding town, the Siskiyou Mountains provide a shocking backdrop and much more to explore.

The Aspirin Shop

Patrons of the Seaside Thrift Store will discover clothes, jewelry, collectibles, furnishings plus many American made and unique gadgets. Blue Bond Studio and Gallery options work by artist Blue Bond carried out in oil on canvas. Animals, people, still life, and surroundings footage delight guests.

Explore Places to Shop

Blue can also be a trainer, and enjoys passing on his huge knowledge to novices and skilled painters alike. The Westport Winery Tasting Room in Seaside presents wine, olive oil, vinegar and gourmand food tasting, plus a fantastic number of wine, decor and coastal gifts. Beach Books is a regionally owned guide retailer that includes best sellers and titles by regional authors.

The Blue Heron additionally presents a wonderful petting farm for the children to visit. If you are in search of a incredible place to eat lunch, attempt the Blue Heron Deli with fresh baked bread and do-it-yourself soups and salads. For a great coastal getaway with out the crowds, Manzanita encourages guests to benefit from the seashore nevertheless they like. Manzanita is a bit more sleepy than different towns on the coast, and this provides to the enchantment if you are looking for a spot to rest and loosen up.

The retailer shares more than 6,500 square ft filled with delta kites, dragon kites, field kits and critter kites. In enterprise since 1991, the retailer also supplies banners and flags.

Spirit of Oregon

The only beach scenes listed here are pop artwork prints from former REI designer and California surfer dude Erik Abel. It's snack time, and lucky for you this retail attraction, with two areas, offers a generous inventory of free samples and treats. Here in the heart of cranberry nation, lovely bogs line the panorama and a rich harvest historical past continues to grow. For nearly 50 years, this household-owned enterprise has created a bounty of cranberry-infused creations, together with candies, cookies, jellies and chocolates. Tradition still runs this show, where all candies are made by hand in small batches — from Oregon's very personal cranberry capital.

Bevens' Market & Deli

[westportpainting]

3 Bargain Home Enhancement Ideas

With regards to home improvement, numerous homeowners accept they need to spend through a great amount of dollars to get something going. This anyway is totally surreal. You can work on the look and feel of your home for under $500.

Is it hard to believe? Well continue to read and you will find 3 home improvement thoughts that are kind with the spending plan.

Thought #1 - Add a New Layer of Paint

Are your dividers looking somewhat old and cleaned up? Provided that this is true, a new layer of paint might be exactly what you need. You can change a boring room into something splendid with a pail of paint. That is the force of painting. It's additionally why it's perhaps the most widely recognized home improvement thought.

While there is no need to be an expert to paint your home, it is significant you essentially know the fundamentals of painting. Else you will accomplish more damage than anything else.

Thought #2 - Add Crown Molding

In case you are hoping to add a little appeal to your home, crown forming is the best approach. What's more, it's not as troublesome as you might suspect. One thing you should do is cut the material with a saw.

To make this interaction a little simpler it's ideal to utilize a molding that is made out of lightweight polystyrene froth and covered in hard plaster. This sort of trim is simpler to cut and introduce. All you need is a joint compound and it will go straight up.

You don't need to stress over any interesting points or battered joints. You can in a real sense copy and paste. It's so straightforward you can have it done at the end of the week.

Thought #3 - Caulk the Bathroom

Caulking is a home improvement thought that regularly gets disregarded. In any case, it is one of the most straightforward approaches to keep your washroom looking new.

Over the long haul the caulk around the restroom will begin to give indications of maturing. The most widely recognized signs are breaking and earthy colored spots around the edges.

Whenever caulk breaks, it makes way for mildew, as water can leak through and advance toward different pieces of the home. To keep away from this kind of issue, add a new dot of caulk around your washroom.

The incredible thing about caulk is that it is exceptionally modest and extremely simple to apply. All you need are a couple of instruments you likely as of now have around your home, and an hour of time.

While caulking is simple, you actually need to take as much time as necessary and do it right. Else you should caulk again one year from now.

There you go, three of the most bargain home improvement thoughts out there. This can all be accomplished for under $200.

You don't have to break out dividers or purchase all new furniture to work on your home. Something as straightforward as adding a new layer of paint, or caulking the restroom, will go significantly farther than you think. Also, the best part is neither one of the ones will burn through every last dollar.

[saleintothe90s]

406. Stalking

I’m always fascinated about how a stalker works — what drives them to never forget a person. To think about them every day, all day. The money spent on following the person around, the postage spent.

One of the most infamous celebrity stalkers of the 1980s and 1990s was Margaret Ray, who stalked David Letterman. Ray, who was schizophrenic, constantly broke into Letterman’s home in Connecticut, often sleeping on the tennis court. In 1988, she convinced housepainters that she was his housekeeper and she drove off with his Porsche—when she was arrested on the New Jersey side of the  Lincoln Tunnel, she told cops she was David Letterman’s wife and her child (who was in the car with her) was the son she had with Letterman.

In October of 1998, Ray committed suicide by kneeling in front of a train. Before her death, she turned her obsessions to astronaut Story Musgrave. 1 Letterman didn’t escape his stalkers however, in 2005 a former painter at his ranch in Montana plotted to take Letterman’s son, Harry for ransom. 2

The young actress Rebecca Schaffer was murdered by a deranged fan while her career was on the rise. Robert Jean Bardo tried to come on the set of her short lived sitcom My Sister Sam several times (including bringing a knife one time), but was turned away each time. Bardo’s decision to kill Schaffer came when he saw her in the movie Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills in which there was a scene in which she was in bed with a character. 3 He accessed Schaffer’s address through a personal detective who attained the address through DMV records. 4. On July 18, 1989 he arrived at her doorstep. He spoke with her briefly, she signed an autograph, and told him to leave. Bardo arrived back at the apartment shortly after.  Schaffer opened the door thinking it was the script to Godfather III in which she was going to audition for later that day. Bardo shot her in the chest, killing her almost immediately.

One of the earliest cases of internet stalking came in 1994 when Andrew C. Archambeau wouldn’t stop emailing and leaving voicemails to a woman he met through a video dating service. In one of his emails he said:

"I've been trying to court you, not stalk you," Mr. Archambeau wrote her electronically on April 15. "If you let me, I would be the best man, friend, lover you ever could have."

Unfortunately, he lived in Michigan which was one of the earliest states to extend stalking laws to cyber space.  5  It was hard to find information, but I believe he was charged with a misdemeanor. 6

 7

(source) 

Former White House intern Tangela Burkhart stalked George Stephanopoulos (then President Clinton’s communications adviser) while at the White House and in the years following. When he moved to New York City, so did she.  8 In late 1999, Burkhart was spotted three days in a row at a coffeehouse Stephanopoulos frequented.  In 1998, she was arrested twice for stalking him. 9 In early 2000, she was ordered to stay away from parts of New York City. 8

After their daughter went missing in 1974, the family of Amy Billig received consent phone calls for nearly 20 years from a man who claimed that he knew where Amy was, or he knew what was being done to Amy:

Throughout the ordeal, the one constant in their lives was the caller -- Mrs. Billig describes his voice as "low, threatening" -- from whom they began hearing within weeks of the disappearance. In one call, according to court documents filed in the case against Mr. Blair, the man told Mrs. Billig that "she would be abducted like her daughter and sold into a slave trade." In another, he told her she only had two weeks to live. 10.

In October of 1995, the police finally caught up with him. By tracing his calls to a cell phone they discovered that the caller was Henry J. Blair, a 47 year old veteran of the United States Customs Service. A married guy with two kids. He was found guilty of  misdemeanor stalking in March of 1996. Blair claimed:

In his confession, Blair blamed his calls on obsessive-compulsive behavior arising, he said, from the stress of his job. He claimed he never sought psychiatric counseling because it might have wrecked his career. “Just a bunch of crank calls” is how he described his vicious campaign, insisting that he “would never act out on anything…. The pressures would mount. I would call, and then it would subside.” 11

Finally, this article:

What 9 year old pre-internet says that?! I guess he got it from a song?

1. Bruni, Frank. “Behind the Jokes, a Life Of Pain and Delusion; For Letterman Stalker, Mental Illness Was Family Curse and Scarring Legacy.” The New York Times, November 22, 1998, sec. New York. https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/22/nyregion/behind-jokes-life-pain-delusion-for-letterman-stalker-mental-illness-was-family.html

2. “Letterman Tot Kidnap Plot Foiled.” Accessed February 13, 2020. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/letterman-tot-kidnap-plot-foiled/.

3. Moffatt, Gregory K. Blind-Sided: Homicide Where It Is Least Expected. Westport, Conn: Praeger, 2000. 94-95.

4. EW.com. “Six Years Ago Rebecca Schaeffer Was Fatally Shot.” Accessed February 13, 2020. https://ew.com/article/1995/07/14/six-years-ago-rebecca-schaeffer-was-fatally-shot/

5. Lewis, Peter H. “Persistent E-Mail: Electronic Stalking or Innocent Courtship?” The New York Times, September 16, 1994, sec. U.S. https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/16/us/persistent-e-mail-electronic-stalking-or-innocent-courtship.html.

6. Casey, Eoghan. Digital Evidence and Computer Crime: Forensic Science, Computers and the Internet. 2nd ed. London ; San Diego, Calif: Academic Press, 2004. 160.

7. Stephanopoulos, George. All Too Human: A Political Education. Boston: Back Bay Books, 1999. 298.

8. The Buffalo News. “EX-BUFFALONIAN IS ORDERED TO AVOID STEPHANOPOULOS,” January 13, 2000. https://buffalonews.com/2000/01/13/ex-buffalonian-is-ordered-to-avoid-stephanopoulos/.

9. Barron, James. “Public Lives.” The New York Times, September 21, 1999, sec. New York. https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/21/nyregion/public-lives.html.

10. Navarro, Mireya. “The Night Caller: 21 Years of Unspeakable Grief.” The New York Times, December 3, 1995, sec. U.S. https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/03/us/the-night-caller-21-years-of-unspeakable-grief.html.

11. PEOPLE.com. “The Night Caller.” Accessed February 14, 2020. https://people.com/archive/the-night-caller-vol-45-no-8/.

[abstractpainters]

@david.stephen.johnson.art David Stephen Johnson - Abstract Painter based in Westport, CT David Stephen Johnson in his Westport Studio, CT "The act of painting is unmediated by thought. It starts with a simple stroke or mark that leads to the next one in a continuous flow. Possibility and uncertainty are inherent to my practice. Always a play between anxiety, apprehension and, sometimes, when I get lucky, exhilaration." DSJ, 2020 #abstractpainters #abstractexpressionism #abstractogram #abstractobsession #abstractpainter #abstractpainting #abstractart #abstracto #abstraction #contemporaryartist #contemporaryart #modern #modernartist #painter #artoftheday #artnews #artcollector #artist #art #abstractartist #canvas #artwatchers #painting #artwork #artistsoninstagram #artgallery #gallery #canvas #americanartist #americanart https://www.instagram.com/p/CHv5hkHHjoC/?igshid=hg14kczzp3r4