WESTPORT — Some of the town’s most beloved public artwork — and the only public gallery open 24/7 — has been restored and newly unveiled, thanks to fans and supporters of Miggs Burroughs’ “Tunnel Vision,” a.k.a. the new “Tunnel of Love & Community,” which runs between Main Street and Parker-Harding Plaza.
On Friday afternoon Burroughs, a well-known local artist and community activist, officially turned the new lights on his work.
After eight years of the lenticulars diminishing in quality due to arcane lighting fixtures, Burroughs was displeased with the look of the work.
His friend Mark Yurkiw of Westport, however, stepped in and organized a fundraising campaign that brought new fixtures and technology to the collection.
“Miggs was extremely unhappy that all of this grew to be less than he made it,” said Yurkiw, who praised the longtime resident’s commitment to Westport.
“Miggs has spent his entire life here trying to do something good for the town,” he said.
Kudos to Miggs for yet another contribution to Westport’s art scene. He is the ultimate all-time Westport volunteer. He contributes so much so quietly, willingly and aesthetically. A true Westport hero!
Thanks to all those who contributed and helped to address the issues of this cool tunnel. The Town will be proceeding on many more dramatic issues relating to Parker Harding as the Downtown Plan thinking and analysis for Parker Harding and Jessup Green takes place over the next many months to a couple of years. The “tunnel” evidences both an appealing space for art and a connector between Parker Harding and Main Street. Such interaction is likely to be addressed further by First Selectwoman Tooker and the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee.
Don Bergmann