The third annual Martha’s Vineyard Artist Talks, curated by Clińee Hedspeth and featuring internationally acclaimed artist Jonathan Green, was very successful. Mr. Green was interviewed by Ms. Hedspeth, the arts and cultural commissioner of Chicago, along with Kara Olidge of the Getty Research Institute. They covered a range of professional and personal topics. An enthusiastic crowd embraced the interview and it seemed that at least 10 of those present were actually from Charleston, S.C., the creative backdrop of much of Mr. Green’s work.

Many collectors, such as Nancy Washington and Marilyn Holyfield, were also in attendance. It was announced that the Martha’s Vineyard Artist Talks will journey to Chicago in the fall of 2026 to participate in an artistic retrospective exhibition for Mr. Green. See you next year here and in Chicago.

In the mid 1800’s, a well known landscape gardener named Andrew Jackson Downing sought to write about how to distinguish the American home from the English home. He wrote specifically about the “porch” as a distinguishing feature. Indeed, the porch is a corner stone of the Vineyard cottage and our culture. Many use the porch as an outside living room or convening room, often larger than any room in the cottage. Longtime summer resident Fred Lowery convenes a three-week “porch party” off Seaview Drive that sets the tone for belonging and gathering. What began as an Omega Psi Phi brotherhood event on the porch is now a summer visiting place for so much more. Last week the porch was visited by Mayor Steve Reed of Montgomery, Ala., and Mayor Justin Bibb of Cleveland, Ohio. Fred and good friend Dorria Ball expanded the porch to a dinner that capped this new tradition in Oak Bluffs. Mr. Downing would be proud.

Bennie and Pratt Wiley hosted their annual fundraiser for Cong. Ayanna Pressley last week drawing a large crowd. Ms. Pressley encouraged all to get involved in voting and intense civic engagement. Surprise guest was Cong. Jim Clyburn who was visiting the Island from South Carolina.

Oak Bluffs resident Pamela Everhart assembled a group of approximately 30 high-powered women at her cottage to meet Rev. Shavon Arline-Bradley, the new president and CEO of the National Council of Negro Women. The organization was founded in 1935 by Mary McLeod Bethune as a vehicle to ensure that women were intimately involved in the practice and policy of the civil rights movement. Located in Washington DC, it was made popular by the late Dorothy Height. The meeting was designed to give more visibility to the new leader and to elicit both financial and volunteer support.

The Divine 9 Panhellenic Council assembled the national leadership of Greek fraternities and sororities at the Strand Theatre this past Sunday to discuss new plans for registering voters for the midterm federal elections. Next year action plans and effective programs were discussed.

The Boston Chapter of Girl Friends — still glowing from the phenomenal success of their national conclave hosted this summer in Boston — curated a Girl Friend takeover at Cousen Rose Gallery, Nomans and Deon’s this past weekend. Buffalo Girl Friend Susanna Schenk entertained many in this sisterhood at her cottage in Vineyard Haven! Never too much of a good thing for this national social club.

Paradise in earth is living the Vineyard experience. Enjoy it as life is fleeting.

Rest in Peace Randall Edward Taylor