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Springfield’s Robine Wright and Russian-born Vladislav Yeliseyev have each captured the Westcott House in paintings. They were on exhibition with more than 20 of Wright’s other works at Seasons Bistro and Grille, 28 S. Limestone St. No. 1, through March 18. The Westcott House paintings now are on display at the Westcott House’s visitor center.
The inspiration struck last fall when Yeliseyev, a watercolor artist, was invited to appear as a guest at an event at the Springfield Museum of Art. He is a fan of architecture and Frank Lloyd Wright, and Ohio artist Robine Wright offered to introduce him to Westcott House executive director and curator Marta Wojcik.
“It was magical when Vlad and Marta got talking,” said Robine Wright.
Yeliseyev later surprised Wojcik and Robine Wright by painting his own watercolor version of the Westcott House. This inspired Robine Wright to create an oil painting of the structure as well as her version of the Westcott Car.
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The latter was selected as part of the 2017 Best of the Ohio Plein Air Society show at the Columbus Museum of Art, where it is on display through June.
The two Westcott House paintings will be up for sale at the Westcott House’s annual gala this summer, which each artist donating 20 percent of the sale of their works to the Westcott House Foundation.
Robine Wright is opting not to sell her Westcott Car work, though. She said it’s part of being an artist and having a gift to share.
“There are tons of places to paint,” she said “We have old buildings and new buildings. I’d like to think Springfield makes a difference.”
Wojcik said this is a good start to several planned activities relating to the 150th anniversary.
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“We were thrilled they took the initiative to create these lovely paintings for us. We hope people will drop by our store to view them on display,” she said.
While other Frank Lloyd Wright properties will have activities to increase awareness of his legacy, the Westcott House will unveil period specific furniture added to the house in May. A book release party for the new book “Wright in Ohio,” which will include a contribution from Wojcik, will occur in June along with the gala.
The Westcott House fall lecture series will also have a Frank Lloyd Wright theme when it returns. Dates and times for these events will be announced in the future.
For more information and dates of these activities, go to the Westcott House website at www.westcotthouse.org.
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