Willimantic residents appear on the big screen at the Mansfield Drive-in this Memorial Day in “Everybody’s at
the Drive-In” a video featuring participants in The Willimantic Portrait Project, an award-winning art project
begun at Artspace Windham last year – http://www.futurehistory.com/portrait_project/
In November 2012, photographer Harrison Judd created an impromptu photography studio in the midst
of a solo exhibition at Artspace Gallery, Main St., Willimantic – offering free portraits to all and
capturing several hundred of the wonderfully diverse faces that make up our local and extended
community. In May, 2013, both the exhibition and The Portrait Project received a Connecticut Main
Street Center Excellence Award for Historic Preservation and community building.
On Memorial Day Weekend 2014, May 24 – 26, the Mansfield Drive-in will present “Everybody’s at
the Drive In” on all screens, reuniting the project’s participants (at a discount)* and connecting them
with an even larger audience. The video will be accompanied by a soundtrack created by local musicians
Jack Collins, Jan Jungden, Mark Davis, June Bisantz and Jim Mercik.
From it’s spontaneous beginning to this dramatic public conclusion, this project reveals the generosity of
spirit that characterizes our community. The portraits, soundtrack and final showing of the project at the
Drive-in have all been the result of freely given time, energy and talent by local artists, musicians and
business owners.
Please join us for this groundbreaking public art project that celebrates Willimantic’s commitment to
community participation, individuality and creativity.
For those who want a preview of the video, the Portrait Project video can also be viewed on the web at:
*The Portrait Project participants will receive a 50% discount at the gate, upon surrendering a printed
coupon and also showing a copy of their portrait taken during The Portrait Project.