Silhouette Portraits Outline Event Goers

By Eliza Hallabeck

People interested in having their silhouette portraits caught by artist Deborah O’Connor on Sunday, November 13, lined up outside the town historian’s office at Edmond Town Hall.

One by one, for $30 a portrait, people sat in a black chair before a window in the corner office while Ms O’Connor pulled a likeness out of paper, with the use of scissors.

“It was about as good as it can be. That was a great day,” said Ms O’Connor on Monday.

The event took in $4,000 for the Newtown Historical Society, which also sponsored the event.

As a pamphlet for the event read, “Long before the camera was invented, portraits were captured by a silhouette artist using only a piece of paper and scissors.”

Ms O’Connor added that Cindy Glaberson, with the Newtown Historical Society, “worked her fingers to the bone” gluing silhouettes during the day. Ms O’Connor also worked nonstop throughout the afternoon, with people waiting for their chance to sit before the artist.

Ms O’Connor also said she would be willing to return to Newtown if the Newtown Historical Society were to sponsor the event again.

Ms O’Connor is a trained artist, and has been cutting silhouettes for more than 30 years, both in this country and abroad. She has resettled in Rhode Island, and the historical society feels fortunate to be able to host her for its fundraising efforts. Samples of her work and further information are available at C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street, or at www.silhouetteartist.net. Her work has been described as drawing with scissors, and can be done using a photograph as long as it is a true profile.

Children, pets, and other families members were welcomed during the event to sit for their silhouettes.