As chairman of the Stamford Symphony, James Marpe of Westport never expected to find himself “posing for posterity”. But that is exactly what happened when he was selected to be one of the “Faces of Fairfield County 2009”. During the past year, professional portrait artists from the Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists (CSOPA) donated their time to create portraits of notable citizens of Fairfield County for an historic art exhibition. Portrait subjects were selected to "Pose for Posterity" because of their professional achievements and contributions to the community.
Mr. Marpe worked with CSOPA artist Grace DeVito and the finished portrait is one of several on display now through November 11 at the Lockwood Mathews Mansion. The Norwalk Hospital Foundation sponsors the charitable exhibition and, since Mr. Marpe chose to purchase his portrait, a percentage of the proceeds will be used by the hospital in areas of greatest need. A grand public and press cocktail reception will take place to officially unveil each portrait on Thursday, October 22 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Their event is FREE, but RSVP to Cindy Wagner at csocietyopa@aol.com or 203.454.0280.
James Marpe of Westport selected for portrait
Mr. Marpe recently stepped down as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Stamford Symphony after a seven-year tenure. Under his oversight, the Symphony recruited their dynamic young Music Director, Eckart Preu, and expanded their education programs.
Mr. Marpe’s commitment to education will continue as he serves as Vice Chairman of the Westport Board of Education. He has also served in a leadership capacity for the Westport Interfaith Housing Association, the Westport / Weston YMCA, the Green’s Farms Congregational Church, and the Westport Rotary Club. Other volunteer activities include Habitat for Humanity (volunteer builder, Bridgeport), CRIS Radio (newsreader to the blind), University of Pennsylvania – Wharton (alumni volunteer), Case Western Reserve University (Alumni Admissions Representative), and O.A.R.S. (Olympic Athletes Rowing at Saugatuck).
He is a member of the League of Women Voters, Penn Club of New York, Saugatuck Rowing Club, Shorehaven Golf Club, Westport / Weston Family Y, and the Y’s Men Club of Westport. He will continue to serve on the Stamford Symphony’s Board of Directors and is available as a special advisor to the newly elected Chair, Steve Parrish of Westport. Mr. Marpe has been married for 28 years to Mary Ellen, owner and director of Westport’s Academy of Dance. Their daughter, Samantha, is a graduate of Staples High School (2002) and Penn State University (2006). Mr. Marpe’s hobbies and activities include rowing, bicycling, golf, international travel, photography, theater investment and wine collecting.
Viewers of the portrait will see some of these interests subtly revealed in the painting. Mr. Marpe said, "Never having set for a portrait before, I did not know what to expect other than having in my mind those traditional cliché images of beret'd artists at easels and their models having to sit or stand without moving for hours. Of course, the process was nothing like that at all. I was pleasantly surprised when my artist, Grace DeVito, took most of our first couple of sessions to come to our house and just talk to me and my wife to get to know as much about me as she could. We talked about my life experiences and interests for hours before she began a single study. Those discussions continued right through my final sitting. She became a real ‘friend of the family’, including a pal of our surprisingly shy Bernese mountain dog. In viewing the final product of her work, I could see how Grace had translated those discussions into subtle but identifiable elements of my portrait that clearly enhanced the ultimate result."
Grace DeVito, portrait artist
Grace Mehan DeVito strives in all her work to capture the essential dignity of her subjects and provide an insight into their unique qualities. Her goal is the demonstration of emotional truth and to engender a relationship between the viewer and the subject. She was trained in the techniques and style of the Old Masters, with a deep appreciation and respect for the insight, power, and humanity of the classical realist approach. She is particularly aware of composition, disposition of light and color, and the handling of space. Ms. DeVito has twice being awarded first place in the Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists Annual Show, a silver medal from The Society of Illustrators, and a gold Addy. She earned her B.F.A. from The School of Visual Arts and has studied with Laurel Stern Boeck and Marvin Mattelson.
Ms. DeVito is a past Director of the Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists, a non-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting the classical art of portraiture serving patrons and artists through workshops, exhibitions and outreach events. For free admission to the grand public and press cocktail reception on October 22, RSVP to CSOPA at csocietyopa@aol.com or 203.454.0280.
