news+programs may | june 2017 GREENWICH HISTORICAL SOCIETY is dedicated to promoting Greenwich’s unique and colorful past. Our collections actively chronicle the life of our town Landmark Recognition Program, for future generations, our programs and exhibitions help people of all ages better understand their connection to history, Celebrating 30 Years of Preservation and our preservation efforts safeguard an architectural heritage that includes the National Historic Landmark Bush-Holley he Greenwich Historical Society has House, the site of the Cos Cob art colony. actively sought to recognize homes Greenwich Landmarks and other sites for their architectural 30th Anniversary BUSH-HOLLEY HISTORIC SITE is a member of the Connecticut Art Trail, or historical distinction for the past T30 years. This program, which began in 1987 a partnership of 18 world-class museums and historic sites across the state. Discover as Signs of the Times, has presented plaques to collections rich in New England history and over 300 structures and sites. Each property culture and view artwork from one of the earliest American Impressionist art colonies. has been professionally researched, with the documents preserved in the Historical Society’s HOURS Archives. These documents have proven to be Storehouse Gallery popular and useful to homeowners, historians Open Wednesday through Sunday, and preservationists, as well as architects, build- 12–4 pm ers and real estate professionals. Docent-led Tours of Bush-Holley House Recognition as a local landmark does not restrict a property’s future use in any way, but Wednesday through Sunday, 1, 2 and 3 pm and by appointment we believe that collecting and making available information about our town’s architecture and Curator’s Eye Tours history promotes pride in ownership of historic Wednesday and Sunday at 12:15 pm properties and encourages their preservation and/ Library and Archives or adaptive reuse. Most important, we intend the Wednesdays, 10 am–12:30 pm program to draw public attention to Greenwich’s and 1 pm–4 pm, or by appointment remarkable architectural heritage. Biondo Michael Photo: ADMISSION Plaques will be awarded to the Edwin H. tive reuse of the Louise Mueller Preserve and to $10 for adults Paul House (1959), the first mid-century modern Greenwich Point Conservancy for restoring the $8 for seniors and students structure to be recognized; Sunridge Farm (1923 Gateway Garden and Old Barn at Greenwich Point. Always free to members and and 1929), a back-country estate; Conyers Manor David Scott Parker, architect for our newly children under 18. Cold Storage Barn (1909), now the Brant Founda- redesigned campus, will give the keynote lecture, Free to all visitors the first Wednesday tion Art Study Center; and the Perrot Memorial “Escaping the City in Style: The Architecture of of each month. Library (1930). In addition, Preservation Action 19th-Century Connecticut Innovators.” CONTACT US Awards will be presented to the Greenwich Land Greenwich Historical Society Trust in recognition of their restoration and adap- Sunday, May 7, 2017 39 Strickland Road Cocktails and Passed Hors d’Oeuvres Cos Cob, CT 06807 Generously sponsored by: Reception begins at 4:00 pm. 203-869-6899 Program from 4:45–6:00 pm. www.greenwichhistory.org/contact David Ogilvy & Associates Charles Hilton Architects Belle Haven Club, 100 Harbor Drive, Greenwich DIRECTIONS White Construction Purchase tickets online at www.greenwichhistory.org or Off I-95 at Exit 4. call 203-869-6899 no later than April 24, 2017. Details at www.greenwichhistory.org/visit Greenwich LOOK, Exclusive Media Sponsor All images from the collections of the Greenwich Historical Society unless otherwise cited events + programs events + programs Celebrating Jim Henson and the Art of Puppetry: An Evening with Cheryl Henson n May 2, Cheryl Henson, that, 60 years on, has morphed from an contributions to the development of Sesame second-eldest daughter of Jim ambitious educational experiment to a Street and other educational programs, proj- and Jane Henson, will share worldwide enterprise that continues to ects and experiments. From 1992 – 2000, personal reflections on the push the limits of creativity and innovation. Cheryl executive-produced the award- Olife, work and legacy of her famous father. From groundbreaking Sesame Street to The winning biennial Henson International Ms. Henson’s program will offer a unique Muppet Movie to Fraggle Rock, Jim Henson’s Festival of Puppet Theater. The five festivals perspective on a creative family journey imagination and technical genius continually encompassed 136 different productions from fueled and expanded his characters’ relatable 31 countries in 24 theaters throughout New Lisa (left) and Cheryl Henson pose monster humanity—despite the fact that many York City. The festival won both Drama puppets for their father Jim’s photo shoot in of his characters were, well, monsters. Desk and the OBIE Awards and is widely ac- their backyard in Greenwich, 1968. Photo: Jim Henson. Courtesy of the Henson family. Cheryl Henson will touch on how Henson’s knowledged to have changed the perception innovations forever transformed and of contemporary American puppet theater. elevated the art of puppetry, why his work continues to delight and why his legacy is Tuesday, May 2, 2017, 7:00–8:00 pm so important to the future of contemporary Doors open at 6:30, and light refreshments will be puppet theater. served. The lecture will begin at 7:00 pm and will Cheryl Henson is a member of the last roughly 45 minutes, with a 15-minute Q&A Board of Directors of The Jim Henson Com- session to follow. pany and has been the president of The Jim Vanderbilt Education Center Henson Foundation since 1992. Her unique perspective on the world of puppet theater The Storehouse Gallery will be open from was established in childhood, when she and 6:00–6:45 pm, and free admission is included her four siblings served as test audience in the ticket price. and inspiration for Jim and Jane Henson’s Members: $10; nonmembers: $15 CT Open House Day: Puppets to Perform “Underground” his year’s CT Open House program from The Jim Henson Foundation. to discover (or rediscover) and share the will feature The Doubtful Sprout, a CT Open House Day takes place on wealth of cultural treasures in their own performance by Liz Joyce and A Saturday, June 10, 2017, noon to 4:00 backyards. Couple of Puppets. Using multiple pm. Admission to the entire site and to Tpuppetry styles, projections and songs, the all activities is free. The Doubtful Sprout story unfolds as we tunnel down through the performance begins at 1:00 pm. (Space is soil with Worm and Sprout to explore the limited; first-come, first-served.) Visitors mysterious world beneath our feet and to will also be able to make their own puppets “get the dirt” on what helps Sprout grow. in the classroom throughout the day. Family- An accomplished puppeteer, fine artist friendly tours of Bush-Holley House are and educator, Liz Joyce writes, directs and scheduled for 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00 pm, and performs a growing repertoire of works for the Storehouse Gallery, featuring Jim and audiences of children aged 10 months to 10 Jane Henson: Creative Work, Creative Play, will years that feature her take on traditional be open throughout the day. fairy tales, folk tales, educational shows and original creations, using old-world techniques About CT Open House Day and new-world street performer attitude. Her The Connecticut Office of Tourism sponsors puppet operetta, Sing a Song of Sixpence, was annual Connecticut Open House Days each awarded a UNIMA Citation, the highest June. The event is designed to showcase award in American puppetry. The Doubtful Connecticut’s diverse world of history, art Sprout was funded in part by a Family Grant and tourism, and is a great way for residents 2 | Greenwich Historical Society news+programs | may | june | 2017 | visit www.greenwichhistory.org for reservations & information about all programs events + programs Roll It: A Special Screening of Jim Henson’s Commercials and Experiments and Youth 68,’ and Time Piece, an eight- the Walt Disney Company. minute masterpiece that showcases Henson’s The program will be introduced by talent for making music out of everyday Karen Falk, co-curator of Jim and Jane sounds. Special attention will be devoted Henson: Creative Work, Creative Play. Falk has to work done while the Hensons lived in been archives director and historian for Greenwich, including scenes shot in town. The Jim Henson Company since 1992 and Craig Shemin was a staff writer for the is vice president of The Jim Henson Legacy Jack L. Hiller © 1959 Henson Company for 14 years and is presi- and author of Imagination Illustrated: The Young Jim and Jane Henson at Work dent of The Jim Henson Legacy, a nonprofit Jim Henson Journal. Falk collaborates with organization devoted to preserving Henson’s numerous cultural institutions on Henson- n this manic mini film fest, curator work. Among his credits: the script for the related projects. Craig Shemin will tee up and comment New York Pops concert, Jim Henson’s Musical Thursday, June 1, 2017, 7:00–8:30 pm on a mind-blowing series of shorts, World (Carnegie Hall), The Muppets Kitchen, crazy commercials, experiments and The Muppets Character Encyclopedia, the Smith- Admission is free but reservations are required. other rarities from the Henson vault, sonian’s touring exhibition Jim Henson’s Fantas- RSVP to [email protected] or call 203- Iincluding an industrial film for Wilson’s Meat tic World, the Museum of the Moving Image’s 869-6899, Ext. 10. (“Must be seen to be believed”), excerpts World of Jim Henson series and numerous video The Storehouse Gallery will open one hour before from experimental TV programs The Cube compilations for The Jim Henson Legacy and the program starts.