Historical Society Open House

And Silhouette Portraits Welcomed Walk-Ins

The door to The Matthew Curtiss House stood invitingly ajar on Sunday, November 11, while the Newtown Historical Society’s Open House was running. Across the street in the town historian’s office at Edmond Town Hall hand-cut portrait artist Deborah O’Connor was busy during the society’s Silhouette Portrait Event.

By the middle of the Silhouette Portrait Event, volunteers said there had been a fabulous turnout with several “walk-ins.” People were asked to schedule an appointment to have their, their child or children’s, or their pet’s silhouette completed before Sunday, but drop-ins were also welcome.

Inside the town historian’s office, Ms O’Connor, sat in a chair facing her subject, each of who was situated in a chair perpendicular to Ms O’Connor’s. While studying her subjects, Ms O’Connor cut their portraits from a single piece of paper.

The cost was $30 for the first silhouette, and a second copy was $15. Ms O’Connor offered various sized mattes and onsite framing.

Currently living in Rhode Island, Ms O’Connor, a trained artist, has been cutting silhouettes for more than 30 years, both in this country and abroad.

The event was a fundraiser for the Newtown Historical Society.

At The Matthew Curtiss House costumed docents led visitors through the 1750 house museum, explaining a number of aspects about the home and describing what the life of its inhabitants would have been like.